2013 Green River Games in Saluda, N.C.

Kayakers come down the Green River in the Silverback race

Demanding switchbacks on the bike trail course

Extreme Sports has found a new venue in an old wilderness! The Green River Gamelands of North Carolina are situated near Saluda, N.C. and have been offering hunting, trout fishing and hiking to outdoorsmen for years. Now that a new form of grueling extreme games has been introduced to the area, it is sure to draw the attention of the region's toughest competitors. Organizer John Grace of Asheville has imagined a race in a place where others did not, and the inaugural Green River Games on September 6,7 and 8 have now set the bar for others to chase. For instance, on Friday afternoon a 6K road race took place, but this race was uphill on a road that features 17 switchbacks and an unnerving 1000-foot elevation change. Congrats to winner Joshua Marcus who tamed those hills in 30-minutes and 45-seconds! Saturday began with an 8-mile mountain bike trail ride through utterly gnarly woods trail, on ground that was rutted and rough after summer rains. A very nice 70-degrees greeted the 30 bikers when the race started at 8 a.m., with the first biker to cross the finish line almost 3.5-hours later. What a race! Next up is the Green River Games' version of iron man - called the Silverback. All this race requires is for a kayaker to navigate the famed Green River narrows (a Class Five rapid) before jumping onto a mountain bike to tame a goat track of a course, before dismounting and running uphill along a hiking trail. The Silverback takes Extreme to a new level, and every entrant in this race displays the guts that define any extreme athlete. And what's more - they were the FIRST to do this, but I predict that others will be drawn to test themselves in this area of the Smoky mountains in Polk County. There was even a SUP race down a portion of the Green River! A reggae band and beerfest for all the athletes is in Saluda on Saturday, before more biking and running races will close out the games on Sunday. To see a map of the venue for all the races visit the Internet at Green River Games. Nearby lodging at the Orchard Inn of Saluda is very convenient, and out of town competitors enjoyed comparing notes before and after the games in the relaxed atmosphere at this bed and breakfast with a mountain view.

To view past blog entries about Blue Ridge diversions click here.

Congrats to the first ever competitors in the Green River Games!

Stand Up Paddleboarding down the Green River