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Student Group Weighs In on
Beaver Lodge & Beaver Tail |
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The following is a report on the adventures of a
group of graduate students from Duke University's Nicholas School of the
Environment and Earth Sciences. |
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On the weekend of October 8, 2004, we traveled
down to the Roanoke River to work with Roanoke River Partners and The Nature
Conservancy on a service project. Our group of twelve students started on
Saturday at Roberson's Marina and canoed down Gardner Creek to the Beaver
Lodge group platforms. |
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One portion of the group
then traveled by motor boat to Cut Cypress Creek to work with chainsaws and
hand tools to clear trees out of the channel and open the way for canoes. It
was difficult, deliberate work, but the passage is one step closer to being
clear. The other portion of our group journeyed into Devil's Gut from behind
the Beaver Lodge Platform to look for a canoe passage straight through the
heart of the swamp. Hopefully, our start will one day allow paddlers to
travel through Devil's Gut during high water.
Our group thoroughly
enjoyed working on these projects to help the Roanoke River Partners. In
return, we had a wonderful weekend on the river. The weather was beautiful -
we had mild, clear days and cool nights. The leaves were just starting to
change colors, particularly the big, golden sycamores and red maples. The
tupelo and black gum were covered in fruit that would fall with a little
breeze, making plunking noises in the river.
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We marveled at the size
of the old cypress trees and were treated to multiple choruses of barred
owls, both during the day and at night. The Beaver Lodge group platform
easily accommodated our group of twelve. We had plenty of space for
sleeping, cooking, and sitting around at night bythe glow of headlamps.
Sunday was another beautiful day and we leisurely paddled back up
Gardner Creek.
We were very pleased
with the ease of planning and carrying out our trip, thanks to the web
site and the helpful staff at Roberson's Marina. All of our rental
canoes and equipment were appropriate and in excellent condition, with
the exception of one flat-bottomed boat that may be better suited for
fishing or short trips around the marina. Also, we did not receive any
formal instructions for the portable toilet - this led to some
confusion in our group.
We had a wonderfully relaxing and productive trip. We are especially
grateful for Jeff Horton and Harry Thompson for their generosity as
local hosts to our group.
We'll be back!
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help us build a better trail and make changes where they're needed. |
