the flat expanse of the Coastal Plain, the Piedmont descends at roughly 3.5 feet per mile with the terrain changing gradually from rolling hills to flat upland. Deeply cut by rivers and creeks, the hills of the Piedmont rise from 400 to 1,500 feet above sea level. Though the Piedmont is underlain by the same crystalline rock as the Blue Ridge region, it lacks the mountains’ high relief. Only occasionally are the rolling plains punctuated by a prominent hill. Comprising about 40 percent of the area of both Carolinas, the Piedmont is generally well developed and populated. Rivers flowing through the Piedmont, while lacking the high gradient and pristine setting of the mountains, are attractive, some endowed with a variety of rapids and falls.
The Coastal Plain region of the Carolinas begins at the Fall Line, where the underlying geology abruptly changes from hard crystalline rock to sandy loam over marl. Known locally as the “low country,” the plain was at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in past geologic ages. The Fall Line, where a dramatic drop in elevation occurs as one moves east from the Piedmont into the Coastal Plain, runs very roughly on the line of Falls-of-the-Roanoke to Durham to Columbia to Augusta (GA). Near the Fall Line the Coastal Plain consists of small hills. Moving toward the ocean, the terrain flattens. Swamp and marsh characterize the coastline corridor to the far east with many natural lakes occurring. Below the mouth of Cape Fear River, the coastal environs assume a more tropical look with black water (caused by tannic acid from decaying vegetation), thick groves of palmettos, magnolias, tall cypress draped with Spanish moss, and live oak.
The Carolinas are alive with beautiful and diverse flora and fauna. Because of their diverse climate and soil, they have the greatest variety of plant life of any area in the Eastern United States. Longleaf pine dominates the upper Coastal Plain along with water oaks and hickories. In the Piedmont, pine remains plentiful but hardwood forests are the order of the day, with deciduous oak being most prevalent, followed by beech, birch, ash, maple, black walnut, sycamore, and yellow poplar. On the mountains the forest is generally comprised of oak, chestnut, laurel, white pine, and hemlock. Wildlife is abundant and varied, especially birds, many of which winter and breed in the coastal marshes.
The climate in the Carolinas is equable and pleasant, being cool in the mountains and almost subtropical on the Coastal Plain with the Piedmont representing the middle of the spectrum. Temperatures average approximately 10° cooler in the mountains than in the low country. The mean annual temperature for North Carolina is about 59° F and for South Carolina 63° F, with January being the coldest month and July the warmest. North Carolina receives more rain than South Carolina owing to its larger mountain region. Averages for both states approximate 54 inches on the mountains, 47 inches on the Piedmont, and 48 inches on the Coastal Plain. On the east slope of some of the mountains the precipitation is exceptionally heavy. Heavy snow is unusual except in the mountains. Winds are variable and seldom violent except during autumn storms along the coast.
Clubs and Organizations
There are a number of local and national organizations of which the paddler should be aware. We have listed those groups that we know are active in the surrounding area.
Most local clubs have as their main objectives training members to canoe more safely and preserving the streams on which they paddle. Generally they have regularly scheduled trips throughout most of the year and periodically publish newsletters, which are a valuable source of information for the canoeist.
For those who wish to improve their skills in a boat, it is almost a necessity to paddle with those having greater experience. In many areas the local club will be the only source of such experience.
Many of us begin paddling to get away from today’s busy life; to get back to nature; to see things that few others see; or to engage in an activity that few people do. For these reasons joining a club and participating in organized trips might seem alien to us. However, the fact remains, without organizations that are willing to work and fight to preserve our free-flowing streams, there may be none to enjoy in the future. We don’t care to see our rivers become the L.A. freeway at rush hour, but can we afford to be so selfish as to want to keep our favorite streams all to ourselves? How much weight will a handful carry when the Corps begins surveying for the best dam site? Your interest may be an occasional quiet float trip down your favorite stream with one or two close friends, but we hope you will see fit to support an organization in your area that may help you save that stream someday. We can save our rivers only if our numbers are large and we are well organized. Not quantity alone, but quantity with quality is needed. A good source for determining whether or not there is a club in your area might be your canoeing outfitter.
Carolina Canoe Club
P.O. Box 12932
Raleigh, NC 27605
Catawba Valley Outing Club
P.O. Box 895
Hickory, NC 28603
(828) 345-0066
Coastal Canoeists
P.O. Box 566
Richmond, VA 23218-0566
Georgia Canoeing Association
P.O. Box 7023
Atlanta, GA 30357
Lumber River Canoe Club
P.O. Box 7493
Lumberton, NC 28359
(910) 521-9321
groups.yahoo.com/group/lumberrivercanoeclub
Palmetto Paddlers
P.O. Box 984
Columbia, SC 29202-0984
(803) 653-8134
Tennessee Scenic Rivers
Association
P.O. Box 159041
Nashville, TN 37215-9041
(615) 230-9251
Triad River Runners
P.O. Box 11283
Bethabara Station
Winston-Salem, NC 27116
Western Carolina Paddlers
P.O.
