THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507130214
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 53 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
IF YOU'RE LOOKING for outdoor recreation, the Albemarle Resource Conservation and Development Council may have provided it for you. The Albemarle RC & D Council recently christened its brand new Albemarle Region Canoe and Small Boat Trails System with a canoe expedition that included its two creators.
The Albemarle Region Canoe and Small Boat Trails System is a series of 29 waterways in the 10-county Albemarle region which have been deemed suitable for canoes and small boats. Rodney Johnson, project coordinator for the Albemarle RC & D Council, and Tom Potter, trails specialist with the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation, marked the trails and produced a brochure detailing the system.
Both Johnson and Potter were on hand for the first official expedition. About 50 canoeists and kayakers made the journey down trail No. 10, the four-mile stretch of the Upper Little River.
The Upper Little River trail is typical of some of the other smaller trails in the system. It begins in a swampy area near U.S. Highway 17, winds through scenic wooded areas, and eventually widens into a major waterway.
``It took us about two years to to get the signs up and the brochure printed,'' Johnson said at a rest stop during the four-mile trip. ``There are over 200 miles of trails and together Tom and I have been on all of them.''
The Albemarle RC & D Council received an ``Adopt A Trail'' grant from the state to buy the signs and print the brochures.
Some of the 29 trails are familiar. Most folks in the Albemarle region know about canoeing activities at Merchants Millpond State Park in Gates County, even if they aren't enthusiasts. The two-mile route, which is designated as trail No. 1, is perfect for beginners. Some of the other expeditions are for the experienced only. Take for example trail No. 23, the Alligator River. That 21-mile trail includes crossings over the Intracoastal Waterway with its heavy boat traffic.
``The Alligator River is a pretty good challenge,'' Johnson said.
Most of the other trails are off the beaten motorboat path.
``Tom and I looked at the ones that were narrow enough and had fewer big boats,'' Johnson said. ``We looked for streams that were calm. Any of the shorter ones are for beginners. The 15- to 20-mile trails are for experts. These have access to stop for overnight primitive camping.''
One thing to remember, as even the expert canoeists found out on the expedition, is that windy conditions and bad weather drastically affect canoes and small boats. When the expedition decided to go out into the wider waters of the Little River, a storm with strong head winds blew up. The boats suddenly became useless and several canoeists ended up walking the boats through three feet of water for half a mile.
Also, bring your bug spray, plenty to drink, and watch for water moccasins.
If you're brave enough to paddle down all 29 of the marked trails, you can become a member of the ``Albemarle 29er Society.'' The organization was established by Bill Sterritt, a professor of physical education at College of The Albemarle. Best of all, the Albemarle 29er Society has no meetings and no dues - ``it's a personal accomplishment type thing,'' Sterritt said.
Johnson said he hopes people will become more aware of the Albemarle's natural beauty through the trail system.
``We hope this will help. They are all beautiful. You see something different on all of them,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Lee Warren of Albemarle paddles through Merchant's Millpond, a
two-mile trail in the Albemarle Region Canoe and Small Boat Trails
System.
Map
STAFF
ALBEMARLE CANOE AND SMALL BOAT TRAILS
SOURCE: North Carolina Division of Travel and Tourism
by CNB