This past weekend we got to experience both the Biltmore and Pisgah National Forest from Vanderbilt's perspective, but with a twist.
We went to Asheville and brought not only the customary mountain bikes, but also two stand up paddle boards. The idea was to ride singletrack in Pisgah one day and paddle a class I stretch of the French Broad river the next.
We can climb up to the top of the mountain before plunging downhill on our mountain bikes. We could not, however, paddle 7 miles up river in order to flow down river. After a little bit of research we found just what we needed.
Asheville Outdoor Center is a great outfitter that provides shuttles up river on the French Broad. The staff is super nice and very knowledgeable at the same time. They provided us with valuable instruction (very needed despite our experience surfing stand up paddle boards in the ocean) and very, very important safety tips,as rivers are a lot more dangerous than the ocean - the first ever stand paddle boarding fatality was on a river.
Running the French Broad on paddle boards was an amazing experience. We were able to sprint, cruise leisurely, go down rapids, SUP yoga, surf standing waves and even have a picnic:)
Big thanks to CB Surfshop for the amazing C4 ten-thirty paddleboard and Asheville Outdoor center
We highly recommend this trip...and so does Jennifer Lawrence from "Hunger Games"!
(Photo below taken by Asheville Outdoor Center when Jennifer Lawrence and film crew went paddling with them)
Getting ready to begin
Shuttle vehicle
Surfing small river wave
Another wave, small but very fun
100 year old barn in the background. Part of Biltmore
Biltmore house in the background
