An expert paddle to start the Alapaha Quest, down the wild and exotic Alapaha River in the balmy south Georgia winter. This trip is not recommended for beginners
When: 9:30 AM Sunday, March 4, 2018
Put In: Sheboggy Landing at US 82, 11004 US Highway 82, Alapaha, GA 31622, east of the town of Alapaha in Berrien County.
Take Out: Rowetown Church Cemetery, 1291 Rowetown Church Road, Alapaha, GA 31622, in Berrien County. Yes, we called ahead and got permission.
Bring: the usual personal flotation device, boat paddles, food, drinking water, warm clothes, and first aid kit. Also trash pickers and trash bags: every WWALS outing is also a cleanup. It will still be hunting season, so also wear hunting orange if you’ve got it.
Price: This outing is free to WWALS members. It costs $10.00 to nonmembers. We recommend you support the work of WWALS by becoming a WWALS member today!
Shuttle Distance: 8 miles one way
Shuttle duration: 30 minutes
Paddle Distance: 6.5 miles
Paddle Duration: 3.5 hours (possibly shorter depending on river flow)
Gauge: US 82 near Alapaha, Georgia: low 9′ (216.6′ NAVD), high 10.6′ (218.2′ NAVD).
We’ve only paddled downstream from Sheboggy once before, January 17, 2015, when the water level was 9.3 feet (216.9′ NAVD88), a foot and a half lower than today’s (2018-02-21) 10.78′ (218.38′ NAVD88), so the water should be fine. Flow was about 900 cubic feet per second (cfps), about 2/3 today’s 1410 cfps.
Two years ago it took 2 hours and 40 minutes to get to Rowetown Church, which for 9.4 miles comes to almost 4 miles per hour, and we floated over any deadfalls, so quickly we didn’t even notice them.
The water is high,
so we’ll probably fly,
from Sheboggy to Rowetown,
which is quite nigh.
Do try to keep together, thought, because the river will be spread into the flood plain, and it’s easy to get lost.
Photo: John S. Quarterman, in
Pictures and Videos: Alapaha River Deadfalls, Outing from US82 south @ WWALS 2015-01-17
Host: Phil Hubbard
Contact: Phil Hubbard
Backup: in case of high or low water is the next doable segment downstream.
More: For more outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS calendar.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!
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