Catawba, South Fork,
|
|
High Shoals
| Usual Difficulty |
I (may vary with level) |
| Length |
0.2 Miles |
River Description
From Boatertalk:
Date: Sep 01 2003, 2:02 GMT
From: ncriverboarder
There are two spots in on the south fork of the catawba gaston county that I have looked at as I
have been driving through. Both of them are short so you can park and run them.
One is high shoals immediately below the dam at the town of high shoals. I stopped by the bridge
over the river on old hardin road. I wasn't able to walk all the way up to just below the dam due
to the water being high and there is an old factory that is fenced in, blocking getting a better
walk in to just below the dam. There were a few people clearing overgrown growth on the factory
grounds so I was afraid of getting busted for trespassing. From what I can see at the bridge, it
looks like few good slides right below the dam, then short ledges right before the bridge. Right
before the bridge the river flows through small trees and brush at high water.
See also
S.Fk.Catawba,
McAdenville for the other spot mentioned.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2004-06-14 13:14:23
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User Comments
Forum: BoaterTalk
Re: Any NC foothills or piedmont paddlers ever ran either of these rapids in gaston county? by
ncriverboarder Sep 01 2003, 2:02 GMT New
Date: Sep 01 2003, 12:15 GMT
From: wsboater
I haven't personally played at these spots, but I know of people that have - and they all wondered
what chemicals were in the water. Numerous textile/industrial complexes upstream of that
area.
Buddy of mine that worked for Meck. Parks/Rec called up NC Water Advisory, etc and asked what test
results they had for the water quality and was it safe to kayak in? According to the state, it is
classified as "water suitable for drinking" (just not immediately suitable I presume), whatever
that means. I mean, they dumped how many million gallons of sewage into Lake Norman the other year
and it is classified as safe with respect to recreation/water supply?
Guy kept giving him ambiguous answers about the being in contact with said "drinking" water, then
finally the guy told him that he wouldn't be coming into contact with it at all.
Take a look at the rocks out there in the river bed sometime, I'm not sure what chemicals are
there, but I know that textile dyes are a regular occurence in the area. Supposedly the locals
nicknamed the area the "rainbow river" for all the varied textile dyes that float down at different
times.
There is a lowhead dam just visible when you cross on I-85, water feature of some sort is present
below that, sounds like you have already found the trail to get to the river from below.
Wes