Carolina Whitewater: A Canoeist's Guide to the Western Carolinas [Paperback]

Bob Benner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1981

In the new sixth edition of this paddling classic, Bob and David Benner expand and update information on the rivers, streams and creeks of the Western Carolinas. More than 63 rivers are included with details on over 1,600 miles of the most scenic and challenging whitewater in the United States.

Also included is information vital to all paddlers, beginner and expert alike. There is information on clubs and organizations, state water trails, and national and scenic rivers. Ratings and descriptions include topographic maps, county locations, gages, difficulty ratings, drop/distances, run times, water quality, and much more.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In the new edition of this paddling classic, Bob and David Benner expand and update information on the rivers, streams and creeks of the Western Carolinas. More than 63 rivers are included with details on over 1,600 miles of the most scenic and challenging whitewater in the United States. Also included is information vital to all paddlers, beginner and expert alike. There is information on clubs and organizations, state water trails, and national and scenic rivers. Ratings and descriptions include topographic maps, county locations, gages, difficulty ratings, drop/distances, run times, water quality, and much more. (6 x 9, 248 pages, maps, b&w photos, charts)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Still an active "creekist" and climber, David Benner lives in Morganton, NC, where he coordinates the Physical and Outdoor Education program for Western Piedmont Community College. Bob Benner, a long time paddler, is retired and resides in Morganton, N.C.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 6 pages
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Pr; 5 edition (June 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897320085
• ISBN-13: 978-0897320085
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,080,444 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Kayaking > Whitewater Kayaking
  • #69 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Nature Travel > Adventure > Kayaking
  • #72 in Books > Travel > United States > States > North Carolina

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Word of Warning, April 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Carolina Whitewater: A Paddler's Guide to the Western Carolinas (Paperback)

This is indeed THE guide to paddling in the western Carolinas, but it contains one extremely important error: the put-in listed for the Upper Green (class III) is actually the put-in for the Narrows (class V).

The true put-in for the Upper Green is just below the Tuxedo power plant; the take-out is what Benner mistakenly describes as the put-in.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is THE book, October 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Carolina Whitewater: A Paddler's Guide to the Western Carolinas (Paperback)

on North Carolina white water. There are a number of regional white water guide books, and while they can be more helpful in some ways, they are not nearly so comprehensive. Benner has got it all. If it's in NC or SC and it's whitewater, then it's in there. The Caveat: Bob Benner is the old school author of most of the book. His son, David, is from the more elite hair-head generation. This means that the rivers rated by David are on a different scale from those rated by Bob. The good news: careful reading will reveal the difference between Bob's description's and David's.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Badly in need of updating, August 24, 2009

By 

Fanatic "C-Boater" (Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Carolinas, 8th (Paperback)

I've only paddled a few of the runs described in the book but have found a lot of information that needs updating. Apparently the authors are unaware that Al Gore invented the internet a generation ago and that there are online gages for many (?most?) of the runs described. (e.g. French Broad) but few are mentioned in the book. The description is usually along the lines of drive there and inspect onsite. You could waste a lot of time and gas if you don't consult the USGS gages first. Another example the put-in location described for French Broad section 6, is fenced off with a chain link fence topped with barbed wire. Given the rusty nature of this fence, it has been there a long time, well before the 2005 date of the latest "revision".