Rangers Save Three From Drowning in Chattahoochee River

Rangers Save Three From Drowning in Chattahoochee River

Sunday, July 20, 2014

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According to Friday's NPS Morning Report, on the evening of July 6th, Rangers Paul Forward and Chris Calkins and Supervisory Ranger Sean Perchalski were patrolling Diving Rock, one of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area’s busiest areas, when Forward spotted a man in the middle of the river who appeared to be in distress.

The man went under several times as two other visitors struggled to keep him afloat. He then began to pull both of them underwater.

Forward threw them a lifeguard rescue tube and a throw bag, but the people in the water couldn’t reach them. Perchalski then threw a life vest and a second throw bag, which they were able to grab and use to stay afloat. The rangers then pulled all three to shore.

The 22-year-old man who’d originally gotten into trouble was checked out by EMS, but declined further treatment at a medical facility. The other two were extremely fatigued but otherwise okay.

This area has been the scene of several drownings in the past few years by people who’ve tried unsuccessfully to swim across the river. The most recent was on June 9th, when a 24-year-old man drowned while swimming across the river at the same exact location. The river is approximately 175 feet across at this point.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Chattahoochee River NRA Seeks Input on Proposed Annual Fee Increase

Chattahoochee River NRA Seeks Input on Proposed Annual Fee Increase

Saturday, November 2, 2013

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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is seeking comments on a proposal that would raise the price of annual park passes from $25 to $35. The daily pass price would remain the same at $3.

"Our mission is to provide recreational opportunities for urban residents," said Superintendent Bill Cox. "We realize that many of our visitors come here to experience a national park for the first time. Many prefer to pay for one visit at a time. For these visitors, the one-day cost will remain at $3, as it has been since 2005. Our annual pass will go up to $35 to help us maintain services in danger of being cut by budget reductions, such as the BacteriAlert system, and build more visitor amenities such as restrooms at popular sites such as Sope Creek."

In the federal fiscal year just ended (October 1, 2012, to September 30, 2013), the park collected approximately $627,000 in fees. The park expects to raise an additional $120,000 per year through the proposed annual fee increase.

To comment on the proposed annual fee increase, please send an email. There will also be a public open house at park headquarters in Sandy Springs (1978 Island Ford Parkway, Sandy Springs, GA 30350) on Tuesday, December 3, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. The public comment period will end Friday, December 6, 2013.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Rangers In Swiftwater Rescue Course Rescue Several Boaters

Rangers In Swiftwater Rescue Course Rescue Several Boaters

Saturday, July 27, 2013

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While participating in a 40-hour swiftwater rescue technician certification training course on the Chattahoochee River on Friday, July 12th, rangers Jay Kolodzinski and James Psillis, supervisory ranger Sean Perchalski, and members of two local fire departments performed four rescues involving seven visitors.

Due to heavy rains over the last several weeks, the training was conducted in extreme conditions with water flow rates of up to 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on a river where normal flow rates hover around 1,200 cfs. Water temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit also made hypothermia a risk.

On Friday, the fifth and final day of the training, course participants were scheduled to perform a search and rescue exercise. As the exercise got underway, they encountered several visitors whose canoes and kayaks had overturned and been swept away in the current. In cooperation with their classmates, the three Chattahoochee River NRA rangers rescued all seven visitors before regrouping to successfully complete a staged night exercise utilizing the incident command system and operational leadership.

A total of sixteen participants completed the swiftwater rescue training course, practicing rescue techniques and tactics on both the Chattahoochee River and the Amicalola River in north Georgia.


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to stop picking up trash to save money

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to stop picking up trash to save money

Saturday, March 30, 2013

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The trash cans are going away. At many of the boat ramps, picnic areas, and parking lots in Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA), the brown receptacles have already been picked up by maintenance workers and packed off to a storage facility. Of 17 locations along the park's 48-mile stretch of river, only four will keep their cans: Abbotts Bridge, Powers Island, Paces Mill, and the fitness loop trail at Cochran Shoals (between Columns Drive and Interstate North.) Visitors should still bring their own bags and plan to pack out their trash, regardless of which unit they are visiting.

"We will continue collecting trash at receptacles at our busiest locations," said CRNRA Superintendent Patty Wissinger. "But there are a lot of trash cans in the park that are time-consuming to empty because they are far apart and not as frequently used. By eliminating these, we save significant labor costs." Park officials calculate that they will save $76,000 between April 1 and October 1 by removing 134 cans from 13 sites.

Due to sequestration, the park will be hiring fewer seasonal maintenance workers this summer. After an extensive review of the various tasks done by these workers, including emptying trash cans, mowing grass, and cleaning restrooms, the last task was deemed the most important.

"We had to make a reduction, so we chose trash removal and mowing," said Wissinger. "Clean restrooms are too important for visitor health and the overall experience of the park, so that's where we're going to keep our maintenance folks working."

Reduced mowing will become apparent when the weather warms up and grass starts growing. "Some parts of the park will start having a more natural look," said Wissinger. "This will be a summer to enjoy the wildflowers instead of the lawn."


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies

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Chattahoochee River Recognized by America’s Great Outdoors River Initiative

Chattahoochee River Recognized by America’s Great Outdoors River Initiative

Thursday, May 24, 2012

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On Monday, May 21, 2012, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar identified the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and National Water Trail as one of 10 river projects across the Southeast to serve as models of the America's Great Outdoors River Initiative to conserve and restore key rivers across the nation, expand outdoor recreational opportunities and support jobs in local communities.

"The Chattahoochee River has long been a favorite place for people to get outdoors in the Atlanta metropolitan area," noted National Recreation Area Superintendent Patty Wissinger. "Our recent designation as a National Water Trail and this recognition from America's Great Outdoors highlights the continuing role that the river plays as a regional and national resource as well. Coming with the start of summer vacation this weekend, this is a great reminder to enjoy the national park in your backyard."

The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a unit of the National Park Service comprising 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River from Buford Dam on Lake Lanier to Peachtree Creek in the city limits of Atlanta. The National Recreation Area receives approximately three million visitors a year who enjoy over 70 miles of trails for hiking and running and 18 developed river access areas for boating and fishing expeditions.

Other rivers recognized in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic States include the Harpeth River in Tennessee, and the Waccamaw River which flows through both North and South Carolina.

For the full Department of the Interior press release, please click here.





Jeff
Hiking Trails in the Smokies

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Regional Fall Color Round-up

Regional Fall Color Round-up

Saturday, October 16, 2010

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The following are the latest fall color updates for the various park areas in the Great Smoky Mountains region:

* Tom Harrington's latest update on the GSMA website states that fall colors are now at their peak in the upper elevations of the Great Smokies (above 3,000 feet), and will remain at peak for the next couple of days. He also expects autumn colors for the lower elevations to be at or near peak by next week.

* Virtual Blue Ridge posted this report late Thursday:

In Virginia the Peaks of Otter is reporting color in Tulip Poplar, Dogwood, and Sourwood on the mountainside. A variety of Oaks and Mountain Ash are also showing fall colors. The Rocky Knob and Mabry Mill area are probably at peak color this coming weekend. Dogwood and Poplar are also pretty, along with Sassafras along the roadsides in the area of the Blue Ridge Music Center. This weekend will probably be the peak of color there.

High up on the sides of Mount Mitchell north of Asheville, visitors will also see some color showing nicely. The area south of Asheville is one of the highlights now with Graveyard Fields turning peak after a cold night in recent days. This is by far the best place to see good color along the southern end of the Parkway. A few of the higher elevations around Devil's Courthouse, Richland Balsam and more are about 50% right now while the rest of the Parkway south of there is about 30%-40% color. Still a nice drive with enough color to show that fall is finally here.

You can read the full report by clicking here.

* Tennessee State Parks has a new “color watch” tool on their website to help visitors plan for the best leaf peeping opportunities. For nearby Roan Mountain, ETSU professors are projecting a magnificent season of color throughout October. The website also highlights state park events, including fall hikes at South Cumberland, Nathan Bedford Forrest, and along the Cumberland Trail.

* Grandfather Mountain State Park in NC is reporting that fall colors are at their peak right now.

* And finally, earlier this week, the National Park Foundation announced its 2010 ‘Top National Parks for Fall Foliage’ list. Included on the list was the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area where peak fall colors are expected through Thanksgiving.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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