This recap of Chattooga Fest 2025 was written by Janna for Foothills Paddling Club and was posted on their website:
The first weekend of May is a special one for Foothills Paddling Club members and is marked in each of their calendars at the beginning of the year with permanent ink because this is when the club gathers at the “crown jewel of the Southeast:” the National Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, for Chattoogafest. This year marked the twelfth time that this iconic event has taken place, and just like each Chattoogafest before it, it was characterized by great paddling, camaraderie and fellowship amongst the FPC paddlers, camping, great food, and… rain. This is a hardy group however, so although rain may dampen their camping gear, it absolutely cannot dampen their spirits and the 2025 event was another enjoyable occasion for 90+ members.
Planning for this annual event starts as soon as the last one has ended and FPC members are lucky to have an organizing committee that is devoted to making Chattoogafest a fun-filled and memorable weekend. The committee this year was made up of Kendra Hathway, Patrick Walsh, Chris Grey, Don Belock, Russell Dutta, and Hope Simpson. Without these folks working tirelessly to secure donations for the silent auction and raffle, book the campground, provide dinner opportunities both nights, and all the other million details that go into planning the event, there’s no way it would happen. So the next time you see any of these people, please let them know how much we appreciate their efforts!
Members started arriving at the Chattooga Sounds campground Friday around noon. The weekend’s forecast called for scattered thunderstorms and the sky was threatening so everyone that was tent camping quickly scrambled to set up camp before the storms started. About 15 paddlers headed out for a trip on section 3.5. Remarkably the weather held for them while they were on the river, although those back at camp were treated to some serious thunder and lightning. Members continued to trickle in throughout the afternoon and early evening Friday and those that were unable to hit the river hung out and chatted.
When the 3.5 paddling group arrived back at camp they regaled us with stories from their trip, led by Patrick Walsh. Hope Simpson had a successful PFD (personal first descent) down Bull Sluice and Felicia Friesen ran the Bull in style, going down it backwards. Patrick and Scott Manley were twinning (and easy to spot) in their banana yellow Liquid Logic Torques. Francesca Budd had a redemption run for herself on 3.5 on Friday and absolutely crushed every rapid on section 3.5.
The Chattoogafest planning committee had arranged for pizza from Humble Pie for dinner that evening (16 pizzas!) and as soon as it arrived the members converged on it hungrily. Humble Pie’s pies always hit just right, and if there is better pizza somewhere, I sure haven’t found it yet! As they ate, members hung out chatting and catching up with each other. After dinner, reluctant to have a repeat of the exploding fire ring from last year, a fire was started in the far fire ring within the group camping corral and a few folks gathered round it and caught up and talked about paddling plans for the next day. Overnight we were all treated to a steady rain which put all of our camping gear to the test.
Saturday morning Scott Bouchard and I took advantage of the kitchen at the campground (one of the best parts of Chattooga Sounds!) and got the electric coffee pot started to brew coffee for anyone that might want some. Those tent camping in the group camping area started trickling in to make their breakfasts and Tim Alexander very generously offered to share his cans of “Beverly’s Bulk Sausage” with anyone that might be interested. No one was brave enough to take him up on his offer.
It was finally time for the morning meet up and Patrick was the MC for announcing the various trips that would be happening. These trips at Chattoogafest couldn’t happen without members volunteering to be trip leaders and we are so appreciative of those that offered to lead: James Johnson, Joey Geiger, Adam Mobley, and Mary Pedrick, and Patrick Walsh.
Sir Mike had brought his fleet of rafts and Russians again this year and he very generously offered his 14 foot raft to be used as the FPC vessel. (Scott and I had brought our 16 footer, the Big Pig, and I was convinced that Sir Mike’s raft would be lighter to carry so we took him up on his offer to use it. Fun fact, it was not. His 14 footer was just as hefty as the Big Pig.) Clayton Burton had agreed to captain the raft again this year and everyone that got to join in (Gary and Stacey Mobley, William and Hope Simpson, and me, Janna Bankston) appreciated his services because there would be no raft trip without a raft guide.
The raft trip put on the water about the same time as the 3.5 trip and Scott Bouchard and Adam Mobley were our safety boaters. Thankfully we never put their skills to the test because Clayton’s expert guidance kept us all safe and in the raft. I got a crash course in rope throwing from Sir Mike and I took up position at the base of the Bull in case any of his raft passengers got ejected. Thankfully I didn’t have to test my skills either! We got to watch several FPC members run the Bull which is always fun. Ellen Walsh’s run was my favorite!
One of the best parts of Chattoogafest is reconvening Saturday night and getting to hear about everyone’s adventures. One notable adventure came from our brave Section 4 paddlers. We got to see Dane Newman’s battle scars on his face that he sustained in a rock-to-the-face adventure on his run, and got to hear about his long swim at Corkscrew and a resulting boat rescue when his boat was stuck at Crack-in-the-Rock. Luckily, aside from Dane’s abrasions everyone else that was on the trip (Patrick Walsh, Russell Dutta, Scott Manley) had a good day.
Dinner Saturday night was provided by FPC and was fantastic. Chris Grey cooked up some of the best barbeque pork again this year and we all enjoyed it. We appreciate him taking on that task and feeding the hungry FPC masses! After dinner it was time for a few words from our new FPC president Mel Ailiff who welcomed us all and thanked the FPC planning committee for putting on such a fun event. It was now time for the raffle and silent auction! FPC was auctioning off a few of the club boats so everyone had an opportunity to bid. The raffle prizes were outstanding and we all need to be sure to thank the donors and sponsors who donated items, experiences, and trips: Over $2000 was raised! Tim Alexander donated handcrafted pieces again this year, a charcuterie board similar to last year’s featuring Sasquatch at Bull Sluice, and a river themed live-edge wood table. Both were beautiful and unique and got to go home with lucky new owners.
Unfortunately the rain started back up again right as the raffle and silent auction were wrapping up which made it hard for much socializing. Many folks called it a night and headed for the cover of their tents but a few committed people found shelters to continue the evening, not letting the rain take away their opportunity to hang out with friends.
Soggy gear awaited us all Sunday morning and we reluctantly put it on but the excitement of a day on the river made us quickly forget. We had the usual morning meet up and members gathered round the volunteer trip leaders for the various trips.
Joey Geiger introduced a group of us to the West Fork of the Chattooga river and it may be a new personal favorite for me. It was beautiful and mostly calm and had just enough challenging class 2 rapids to make it exciting without being overly scary. Joey’s two young boys are naturals on the water and we all enjoyed watching them confidently navigate this section of river.
The only downfall to Sunday at Chattoogafest is that we don’t get to reconvene to rehash our adventures. From what I heard though, Sunday was a high water day, and according to 3.5 trip leader Patrick Walsh, it made for a few exciting lines at Screaming Left!
When members got off the river they packed up their camping gear and headed home, already marking their calendars for next May for the next Chattoogafest.
A very special thanks to the companies and outfitters that made donations and contributions:
Chattooga Outfitters
Humble Pie
Foamie Friends
Headwaters Outfitters
Immersion Research
Liquid Logic
NRS
Pyranha
Smokey Mountain Meadows
Sunrift Adventures
Whitewater Center- Charlotte
Watershed Dry Bags
