Whitewater Kayaking Race to Return with a Course Transformed by Hurricane Helene

Spectators gather at the Green River Narrows for the Green Race in 2023. Photo courtesy of Luke Womble

Paddlers will soon return to the whitewater river of Western North Carolina for the world’s largest extreme kayaking event. After the destruction of Hurricane Helene sent the renowned Green Race on a yearlong hiatus, the paddling community is gearing up for the race’s 30th year on Nov. 1, which will look much different with the Green River’s course reshaped by the storm.

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‘We Certainly Have a Long Way to Go’

Theo Crouse-Mann feels fortunate to be able to return to his home, even if it has taken a year and he’s encountered a lot of red tape to fund the restoration work. “It's hard to grasp the whole thing,” he shares, emphasizing that only now has the “deeper stuff” and “trauma” of what his family went through begun to settle in. Photo by Abby Hassler

On the one-year milestone of Hurricane Helene, communities reflect on the challenges they still face on the long road to recovery. The storm caused significant destruction, but it also exacerbated existing issues. New instances of housing insecurity and mental health concerns bubble to the surface every day — and will for months and years to come. For those doing the arduous work of long-term recovery, it feels never-ending.

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The Long Trail Back: Public Lands Recovery After Hurricane Helene

Wild South’s chainsaw team (left to right: Ben Shaw, Nick Massey and Taylor Hilgeman) lend a hand rerouting a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near Table Rock in response to Hurricane Helene. This section was next to, but outside of, the Linville Gorge Wilderness, so chainsaw use was permitted. Photo by Jonathan Massey, Wild South

Hurricane Helene devastated many of Appalachia’s most beloved natural areas. Thanks to federal, state and local partners and volunteers, many of these outdoor spaces have reopened. But full recovery is far from over. Current and looming federal budget cuts and policy changes have made already challenging land restoration work even more arduous.

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Repairing Our Region After Helene 

Debris piles littered Marshall, N.C., prior to a massive debris removal effort. Photo by Jimmy Davidson

In our Summer 2025 issue, we explore a few of the many dimensions of disaster recovery in our region, with a focus on the aftermath of Helene. Communities and individuals are putting one foot forward at a time — and taking action to protect one another and our region if the unimaginable happens again. 

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