How best to stay safe while shooting the Hooch

(COBB COUNTY, Ga.) — If you’re planning on visiting the Chattahoochee River this summer, officials with the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area want you to enjoy yourself, but not at the risk of injury. Safety remains the highest priority for the staffers coordinating recreation.

Last year, 3.5 million people visited the park, and many of them chose to take a dip in the river or even follow it downstream, a practice known locally as shooting the Hooch.

Park superintendent Ann Honious told WSB’s Jonathan O’Brien that “there’s an inherent risk in coming to the national park to recreate.” That’s why they partner with businesses that prioritize safety, with measures ranging from monitoring the river’s water level to making sure visitors know swim safety and wear life vests while in the water.

The river can be unpredictable underneath the surface, with calm patches hiding turbulent rapids below. Low temperatures can shock the body, even with experienced swimmers, so having a buddy system can be one of the best decisions swimmers can make. The river is a place for summer fun and making memories, but nobody wants a trip to the ER as part of their photo album!!