My wife , daughter and son went rafting on the Nantahala River Fri. and Sat. They went in the drink on the last rapid on Fri. Here is a link to pictures of their swim (picture frames 310-315). They were rescued by fellow kayakers, then went back the next day and went again.
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/Orderpage.aspx?pi=035C00VX000301&po=301&pc=524
That last rapid is a tough to get over with being sucked in the hydralic . no worriers about being hot on that river , they let the water out through the bottom of the dam , its about 45deg.
Also did you notice that the road beside the river was part of the trail of tears the Charokee Indians were forced to walk by the US Gov in 1830. Nice area to visit lots to see.
I did not go with this trip, but have been down the river previously, and yes the water is cold! I had not noticed the historical connection before. My wife has Cherokee blood in her ancestry.
