Aqua blaze - Appalachian Trail

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#1

I’m looking for info/suggestions on the aqua blaze around the Shenandoah… Is it worthwhile? How much to rent a canoe and from where. What about shuttling. Any advice would be appreciated.

Matt & U-dog

#2

I think Coolhand and Tecumseh should answer this question. I just email Coolhand your question. When I hiked last year, I almost joined them, but thankfully I didn’t. Hopefully he’ll respond and tell you why.

As much fun as he sounds like it would be, I’m glad I hiked that distance even though the Rollercoaster sucked.

Grinds

#3

I aqua blazed last year from front royal, Va and drove down south about 30 miles and canoed back up to front royal, so that i didn’t skip any of the trail. It is possible to go from front royal to harpers ferry. It takes a couple of days, but you end up skipping 30 miles or the trail or so, and it is not too expensive. Just look up canoe company’s in the phone book and tell them what you want to do. They will even come pick you up from the trail head most of the time. Good luck.

Cool Hand

#4

I did the aqua blaze in 2003, and had a wonderful time. I skipped it in 2004, and the group (I knew) that went had a terrible experience. There are a lot of things that can make it go right or wrong - the weather, river levels and conditions, canoe company you use, people you go with … you just have to consider it all. I think we may have used the Down River Canoe Co. on our trip, but I can’t be 100% - you’ll have to check with the rates, because they can really vary (from year to year, and company you go with). Most of these companies know that thru-hikers come through and do this every year, so most of them should have shuttle accommodations. Here are a few pointers to think about:

Are you hiking the AT for a patch, or for your own personal benefit? No need to get into that discussion here, in my opinion, because it’s a personal choice. You will need to decide, though, what your path is, and be comfortable with it…and there is always a chance to just hitchhike back and hike the Shenandoah’s (which, to me, you’ll find more beautiful parts off the trail than on), or southbound it and hitchhike up…whatever you feel like doing.

If you’re dedicated to the aqua blaze, then here are those tips:

Call more than just 1 canoe company, so that you make sure you’re getting fair rates. Some canoe companies don’t like to bother with hikers, and will fluctuate their rates to show this.

Make sure you write down every charge they say, have them fully explain every charge, and make sure they leave nothing out. Get their name, and keep that with you. With our experience, we got to the canoe outfitter, and the prices had suddenly risen, due to a bad experience with a group prior to our own. The owner couldn’t “recall” what he quoted us, but we had written everything down and went through it with him until he “remembered.” Not all companies are like that, but just keep in mind that some are.

Go with people you know…people you’ve been hiking with for a while, and / or generally trust, and can deal with for 5 solid days. This is CRUCIAL, for a couple of reasons. #1 - it isn’t hiking; you don’t really have the option to just hike on and meet up later if everyone else wants to stop and take a break. You’re going to be sitting right in front of or behind these people constantly, will have to plan your stops accordingly, and will have to share all tasks. If the water is low or current is weak, you’ll need to rely on your friends a lot more than you would hiking. Just keep that in mind.

A side pocket off this - if someone close to the trail that you meet in town, an outfitter worker, town “trail angel,” or anyone else talks to you about the aqua blaze, proceed with caution. If someone wants to go with you and has some canoes and equipment, just play it smart. In most cases, they just want to do the trip too and enjoy the company of hikers, and that’s fine. However, you don’t know what their equipment condition is (it could be top notch, it could sink in the middle of the river), what kind of person they really are, etc. I’m not trying to make you distrust people in town, but really - unless you’ve spent a good amount of time with them and get to know them - you don’t know them. Just exercise your instincts on this one. If it really sounds legit, then it probably is. If it sounds a little shifty in any way, then it probably is too.

Watch the weather, and the river conditions. If you get close and it looks like it’s going to be rainy and stormy through the next few days, skip it. Nobody really likes to hike in the rain for days on end, and I’ll guarantee you that nobody wants to sit out in the open, on the water in a canoe in the same conditions. For my trip, I was blessed with 5 sunny, gorgeous days, with an above-average water level and a constant, not-too-fast current. The perfect conditions. If the river level is really low, consider skipping. A canoe trip is no fun when you have to carry the canoe half the time.

Think about how you want to make your trip with your friends, and how it may impact future hikers that want to take this trip, as well. We’re a community, and any negative impact affects us all. If you want to get out to get drunk and go crazy, maybe you should just plan a trip outside of association with hiking and the AT. Most people on the trail behave themselves, but it’s the small minority that affects the rep. of the trail. I’m not in any way being accusatory, but I also ask that you just keep that in mind when you take side trips off the trial in general. Specifically, this trip, because a lot of other hikers partake. Like I said previously, we were going to be charged a higher rate because of other hikers’ actions, and that canoe company was considering cutting out the option for other hikers in the future. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few beers out there, but just make sure your own actions don’t adversely impact other people.

All that being said, the aqua blaze has a potential to be one of the greater experiences on the trail. I had, honestly, a better time on the aqua blaze than I did hiking in the Shenandoah’s, except that the aqua blaze doesn’t have blackberry shakes.

Hope this helps - have fun, whatever you do!

bearbait

#5

A group of us had a wonderful experience with Downriver Canoe Company. They picked us up in Waynesboro in a school bush rented us two inflatable rafts and all the fixins including coolers for rootbeers, brought us to the Food Lion droped us off. Provided us with a map with marked campsites. Let us camp one night on their lawn near the river half way where we had access to the rest of our gear. (locked safely on their property) brought us to a store for dinner and more resupply then picked us up and brought us to Bears Den hostel after we got burgers in town. All for about 75 bucks per person. Best side trip on my hike. Ropeswings sandy beaches to camp and oh yes a trampoline mounted on two canoes anchored in the middle of the river. Highly reccomended :cheers

Feral

#6

I aqua blazed on my thru hike last year where you are and in Mass., Conn. If you want info on those, let me know. It is the way to go! I am also a river guide and can offer you this hint…don’t pay for anything. Slip a guide a few bucks and see what he/she can do for you. Worker for me.

Caboose