Kayakers prep for 107-miles river expedition

Twelve kayaking volunteers of Apalachicola Riverkeeper are in the final stages of preparing for a 107-mile journey down the entire Apalachicola River, from Chattahoochee to Apalachicola,

The annual Rivertrek launches in Chattahoochee on Wednesday, Oct. 23, and after camping along the way, they’ll arrive in Apalachicola five days later on Sunday, Oct. 27. Family, friends and well-wishers will begin gathering earlier that day at the Apalachicola Yacht Club, where musician Chris Matechik will be performing. This venue is across from Riverfront Park, where the kayaks will be easily spotted coming into the home stretch. Mary Balthrop, of St. Teresa, chairs the “Noise Committee,” which will welcome the Rivertrek team loudly into Apalachicola. Balthrop and others brought a variety of musical instruments last year, such as tambourines, cowbells, whistles, and even pots and big metal spoons. 

“The cheering and ruckus can really motivate the paddlers in the final stretch to the bridge, especially if they’re dealing with headwinds coming off the Bay,” said Riverkeeper Cameron Baxley. “The outgoing tide that day should help some, too.”

By providing the opportunity to experience Rivertrek, Apalachicola Riverkeeper aims to expand the awareness and appreciation for the Apalachicola River, its animal and plant life, and its people, said Susan Anderson, executive director of the Apalachicola Riverkeeper. 

In the weeks leading up to the kayaking expedition, the Rivertrek team volunteers, along with staff and board members, raise funds for Apalachicola Riverkeeper as part of the annual campaign. “During the journey, the Rivertrek members will learn more about the beauty and the significance of the Apalachicola River, along with the challenges it faces, such as the oil drilling permit Apalachicola Riverkeeper is actively fighting,” said Anderson. “They’ll experience first-hand the river’s magic.” 

Guest speakers meet with the kayaking volunteers along the way. Biologist Pierson Hill, who specializes in reptiles and amphibians, will meet with the group in Estiffanulga. He has volunteered his time for many years with RiverTrek, typically bringing turtles, snakes, newts, and other animals to share during an interactive discussion with the paddlers. The Estiffanulga community neighbors will provide a dinner, coordinated by Apalachicola Riverkeeper supporter Fran Davis. 

In Wewahitchka, the kayak team will also learn more about slough (pronounced “slew”) restoration efforts, along with fish species of the river. The many creeks and sloughs of the Apalachicola River provide important habitat to fish, mussels, and other species and they nourish the floodplain with lifegiving water from the river, which in turn feeds Apalachicola Bay with vital nutrients. 

Every person who participates in RiverTrek comes away with a different perspective. Tom Herzog of Carrabelle has participated in five RiverTreks and has paddled the entire river on his own three other times. “I enjoy the Apalachicola River as an avenue into wilderness with the accompanying solitude,” said Herzog, who at 74, is the senior member of the group.

The youngest member is Nithya Guthikonda, an undergraduate at Yale pursuing a bachelor of science in ecology and evolutionary biology, along with art history. 

From humble beginnings in 2009, Rivertrek is now the organization’s major annual fundraiser, with a goal this year of $65,000. All funds go directly to support the advocacy, outreach, education and collaborative research of Apalachicola Riverkeeper. 

Founded in 1998, Apalachicola Riverkeeper, a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, remains an independent non-profit organization committed to the protection and preservation of the Apalachicola River and Bay. To learn more about the Rivertrek expedition, including details on the arrival day celebration in Apalachicola visit apalachicolariverkeeper.org/rivertrek/.