Richard Grove - Georgia Kayaker
Paddlers on Paddle Mania 2006
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The Chattahoochee River Challenger Series

As you may have determined, Richard isn't one to try something once and settle for the "status quo" - he likes to push the envelope a bit. This is the perfect explanation for what he calls his "Chattahoochee River Challenger Series". The series consists of a group of trips where he leads kayakers down an adventure on the Chattahoochee River.

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The trips range in variety from easy for the beginner to the extreme for the challenger.

Beginner:
These trips are for everyone, from the young to the not so young, and the never been in a kayak before and those who want to go on the river again. The paddles vary in mileage from 9 to 17 miles, and for a beginner, it is a wonderful paddling experience. The trips consist of a 4 to 5 hour paddle with a rest stop for lunch and social.

The Paddler:
If you like to paddle and want to test your endurance try these two trips. The first is a 31 mile paddle and the other is 27 miles. Both are good paddles taking about 9 hours and have been done by beginners.

Extreme:
Each August, he leads an extreme trip, appropriately named “Paddle Mania”. This trip is a 24+ hour continuous paddle from Buford Dam to Franklin, Georgia. This year the Paddle MANIA participants paddled the 102.4 miles in just over 26 hours. This is a group paddle and not a race where everyone is a winner as they paddle up to the boat within seconds of each other.

Another trip in Richard's Chattahoochee River Challenger Series is known as "One Tough River Trip". This trip in March is a 3-day, 3-night paddling/camping trip from Buford Dam to Franklin, GA. The group paddles 31 miles each day on the first two days and 53 miles on the last day. The participants spend their final night camping at their final destination: Riverside Park in Franklin, Georgia where they arrive well after dark.

 

2007 Chattahoochee River Challenger Series dates

Date Mileage Trip Description
February 17, 2007 17 miles Winter Paddle - Paddle from Buford Dam to Medlock Bridge; Cold water & Cold weather. Be sure to bring an extra change of clothes!
March 1-3 2007 115 miles/3-days camping One Tough River Trip is a 3-day trip along the Chattahoochee from Buford Dam to Franklin, GA.
May 26, 2007 17 miles Buford Dam to Medlock Bridge This trip is a 17 mile trip that begins at Buford Dam to the Chattahoochee
June 2, 2007 14 miles Medlock Bridge to Azalea Park a 14 mile trip from Melock Bridge National Recreation Area off of Hwy 141 to Azalea Park in Roswell
June 16, 2007 13.5 miles Azalea Park to Paces Mill this trip starts at Azalea Park in Roswell and ends at the Paces Mill National Recreation Area off of Northside Parkway. The trip includes a portage around Morgan Falls Dam and an exciting run through the "Devil's Race Course" south of I-285 and the river.
July 7, 2007 31 miles Buford Dam to Azalea Park start at Buford Dam in Buford, GA and paddle down to Roswell's Azalea Park.
July 14, 2007 12 miles Evening Paddle enjoy watching the sun set while paddling along the Chattahoochee. This trip begins at Morgan Falls dam in Sandy Springs and ends at the Paces Mill National Recreation area off of Northside Pkwy.
July 21, 2007 27 miles Medlock Bridge to Paces Mill this paddle begins at Medlock Bridge park in Duluth and ends at Paces Mill National Recreation area off of Northside Parkway. Bring a lunch - we will stop for a quick picnic lunch.
July 28, 2007 19 miles Abbotts Bridge to Azalea Park This trip begins at the brand spankin' new boat ramp just built at the National Recreation Area's Abbott's Bridge park. We will paddle 19 miles down river to Roswell's Azalea park. Bring a lunch and a change of clothes just in case you get wet! We'll stop somewhere along the river for a picnic lunch.
August 11, 2007 Approximately 90 miles Paddle Mania this trip is truly for those die-hard paddlers out there. Join Richard for a 24-hour, continuous paddle starting at Medlock Bridge National Recreation Area and ending at Riverside Park in Franklin, GA.