Wintertime White Water Rafting? Extreme Sports in the Mountains of Murphy, North Carolina

Vancouver may have the Winter Olympic games, but in the mountains near Murphy, North Carolina there's a sporting event you won't find on NBC. The annual Glacier Breaker Slalom Race was held last Saturday on the Nantahala River.

Summertime rafting on the Nantahala is all about families and youth groups riding the rapids, getting wet and having fun on hot, sunny afternoons. But there were no giggling children or adventurous grandparents on the course on Saturday. For most of us, this Alpine white water rafting would be considered an extreme sport - fun to watch, but way out of our comfort zone.

The river is high and wild this winter, thanks to heavier-than-usual snowfall in our mountains. And although Saturday was sunny and mild, the "white water" in this year's event included frozen waterfalls cascading down the rock walls of the gorge all along the course.

Along with braving the icy water, racers had to navigate through a series of slalom poles set along the course.

Twenty kayak and canoe paddlers took part in the competition, the kickoff event for the sport this season.

I never heard of this event till I picked up Sunday's Asheville newspaper and read the coverage on the front page of the Mountain section. I learned that the Nantahala Racing Club has held this annual winter river race for 30 years.

But these mountains that surround us in Murphy, North Carolina are among the oldest in the world, and 30 years is just the blink of an eye here.

Sometimes in the stillness of the night just before dawn, you can still feel the spirits of the Ancient Ones who called this place home. Later that day, I found myself driving through the Gorge along the frozen riverbank, staring at the swiftly flowing waters. I wonder if young Cherokee braves ever tried to overcome winter boredom by testing their skills on the same course...