“A Special Love for the French Broad River” by Marc Hunt

Marc (center) pictured with his wife Cat Pots (left) and son Colin Hunt (right).

In Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, it takes time and some self-reflection for Mr. Darcy to fully find love for protagonist Elizabet Bennet. 53 years into my whitewater career, I am now seeing how my relationship with the French Broad River has been like that – what started as a fleeting encounter has grown into a deep love.

I came into paddling with an appetite for adventure. At age 18, I’d joined three paddling clubs in the South to discover new rivers. I entered every slalom and wildwater race I could; that’s where the best paddlers gathered in those days. My passion for rivers then was intense and immediate—less about connection and more about action.

On Labor Day weekend in 1976, a couple of paddling buddies and I set out to explore the French Broad. Section 9 below Marshall turned out to be a bit tame—late-summer flows left it “scrapy,” and the wide shallow ledges didn’t offer much excitement. Underwhelmed by the challenge, I overlooked her distinctive scenic beauty and ancient geology. It felt like a “been there, done that” kind of trip—for the moment at least.

Over time paddling took me to new places that would in-turn steal my heart — the Tennessee’s Ocoee where I started a successful outfitting business and paddled aplenty; West Virginia’s Gauley to which I would make annual pilgrimages for thrill and adventure; the Grand Canyon of the Colorado nine different times; and Idaho’s Salmon where I reconnect most years these days with my best childhood friend. All those river experiences are spectacular and hold special places in my heart.

When I moved to Asheville in 1995 to raise kids and start a new career, it didn’t take long to realize that Section 9 of the French Broad would become my “home river.” It was the perfect stretch for family outings, where my kids could build their paddling skills. I also began exploring the river’s quieter sections—parts of its remarkable 140-mile, mostly free-flowing course from the headwaters to Douglas Reservoir. With other rivers at a distance, the French Broad was starting to feel like the “girl next door.”

Now at the age of 69, I wake up most days with the French Broad River on my mind.

This afternoon, my wife, Cat, and I will join our weekly paddling group outing on Section 9 stretch. Less interested in thrills now, we paddle for fitness, friendship, and flow. We find joy in a crisp eddy line, a dynamic ferry, or a simple surf.

I’ll also head out to check construction progress at Taylor’s Wave, the in-stream whitewater park project in Woodfin I’ve help shepherd that is named in honor of the son we lost to a paddling accident in Ecuador. It promises to become a world-class surfing destination.

I’ll think with deep gratitude about the local and national nonprofits we who work every day on behalf of the French Broad to improve water quality, restore its corridor, remove the three small dams that impede its flow, and hasten its recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

And I’ll think about how lucky I am to live in the Asheville community. My friendships, civic life, and sense of place are all tied to this river.

Over time, the sparks of youthful passion have mellowed into something richer — a slow-burn enduring love. I am grateful beyond words that rivers and paddling remain central to my life. And I am hopeful for what they can mean for others.

Thank you to Marc Hunt for sharing such a heartfelt reflection to the ACA Story Project. Through his story, we’re reminded that love—for rivers, for community, for the rhythm of paddling—often grows deeper with time, perspective, and presence.