Trifter

                  Since the early twenties, summercamps in North Carolina have been a popular destination for young ourdoor enthusiasts. The availability of rock climbing, paddling, and hiking area for trips is a huge part of this, and lots of people return to this special place each year. What many people don’t know is that these camps are all very related in one way or the other. Some of the premier camps such as High Rocks, Green Cove, Mondamin, and a few  others, are all tied together in many different ways. Lets start somewhere back in the forties and fifties….

              Camp Mondamin has been taking river trips in wooden and metal canoes since the early twenties, and a major person in this camp has been Frank Bells. Frank Bells was the head of Mondamin Paddling for many years, and he was one of the first to run many of the more difficult whitewater runs in the area. Indeed, the most difficult rapid on the French Broad Section 9, is named after him. Frank Bells daughter married, and had a son, named Chris Leverette. During the North Carolina Summers, Chris worked at High Rocks, Mondamin, Green Cove, as a camper, counselor, and eventually a head of paddling. Or take Green Cove for example. Fritz Orr Senior and his wife ran this  camp for many years. Today his son, Fritz Orr Jr. is the legendary head of paddling at High Rocks. He gained many first ascents in North Carolina’s whitewater, and went on to compete at a worldwide level.

                 The number of related families and such embedded in these camps are countless, and I could go on forever. But this really is camp country, and it is a very special place for anyone who wishes to expierience it. These camps were some of the first people to run some of the most difficult whitewater runs in the southeast, and they did all of this before whitewater paddling became popular, before the plastic and fiberglass kayaks and canoes were introduced to the paddling community. So next time you visit your favorite rapid, remember, there is a story that goes behind every wave and hole. And most likely, it has to do with one of the legendary camp paddlers that popularized the sport, and gave everyone a chance to expierience it.