Trinity Presbyterian Church Youth raft the Nolichucky River, Tennessee on an early fall trip. On a recent September weekend, in a chilly mist, Pastor Robert Mc- Mullen, six adult leaders, and 20 Columbia young people, members and friends of Trinity Presbyterian Youth Club, bowed their heads beside the Nolichucky River in the Cherokee National Forest. Six river rafts awaited them.

The Nolichucky, on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, recently fed to the brim by torrential rains, was raging with white water. There was no question about it. Prayer was in order.

The 20 youth, students from Lower Richland, A.C. Flora, Dreher, Hand, Crayton, and Olympia Star School, ranged in age from 12 to 18 years. Most were novices and had never taken white water in a raft before. Even with heads bowed and eyes closed, the rush of the Nolichucky's III and IV class rapids sounded particularly aggressive.

Jul ianna Wood, Morgan Wood, Candace Etheredge, and Kelly Grady, Trinity Presbyter ian Church Youth Club at the Crockett Cabin on the Nolichucky River. Early the previous morning the group departed Columbia in a caravan for the four hour drive to Erwin Tennessee and headquarters of Mountain Adventure Guides of the USA Raft Group. That left them plenty of afternoon for volleyball, hiking, swimming and river– rock–hopping and plenty of evening for a campfire and baked beans, guitar music, and meditation.

The six room Crockett Cabin, partially constructed of logs from the childhood home of American hero Davy Crockett, called for a little “roughing it” even before the unplanned power outage. The bunk beds were no softer than your sleeping bag, and the “facilities” were way outside, close to the woods and the rumors of bears.

Then came the river, the Nolichucky, with its 20 named rapids. There was Jaws, On the Rocks, Rooster Tail, Big Eddy, Roly Poly, and Roller Coaster. Three hours of non–stop white water, wind gusts, and chilly rain.

Debbie Wood and Rev. Robert McMullen, TPC Youth Leaders The group from Trinity Presbyterian braved it all. There were a few minor injuries, granted: a bump, a bruise, a cut toe, but the group came away a tighter circle, more caring and compassionate, and spiritually fulfilled.

The Trinity Presbyterian Youth members are noted for their community service and missions outreach. They do volunteer work with The Salvation Army and the Harvest Hope Food Bank. They visit the elderly and the homebound. They visit the veterans at the VA Hospital. They assist families stricken by need or disaster in South Carolina and beyond.

Trinity Presbyterian Church is located at 1000 Greenlawn Drive on the eastern edge of Columbia.