Memories of the Obed May Program

Date: April 24, 2014
Contact: Matt Hudson, 423-346-6294

WARTBURG, Tennessee: The Obed Wild and Scenic River will be hosting another "Memories of the Obed" program on Saturday, May 10, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT). This free program will be held inside the Obed Visitor Center, located at 208 North Maiden Street in downtown Wartburg, and is part of a series of regular programs that explores the unique river-related memories of local individuals. Each month, a different speaker shares their memories of life in vicinity of the river.

This month’s program will feature Robert Humphries and Reid Gryder. Mr. Humphries and Mr. Gryder will be sharing their knowledge of the first known whitewater boating trips down the Obed River, and the naming of rapids in the Obed, the making at their homes of their early paddling equipment including kayaks, the earliest days of the East Tennessee Whitewater Club, the fight to preserve the Obed and the Big South Fork, and the use of "supertubes" to explore particularly daunting, unknown stretches of streams. The use of "supertubes" was a practice that involved the lashing together of numerous giant, earth-mover tires into an enormous raft which six or so paddlers then guided down together.

No reservations are required to attend this program. Please contact the park at [phone] for further details and information.