NRG

Let us know how it went! Swim confessions and carnage reports are welcome, but it's not fair to tell on your buddies!

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Machias
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NRG

Post by Machias »

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped make my wife and I's first trip down the New River Gorge on Friday an absolute blast!!! THANK YOU! I believe the gauge was just over 1 foot, all I got to say is that is one fun river!! Thanks for the shuttle service. Too bad we got so much water it really made running the Gauley out of reach, at least for me on this trip. Might have to run back down before the end of the season and see if I can get a trip down the Lower Gauley in.
Last edited by Machias on Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:54 am, edited 1 time in total.
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bambam
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Post by bambam »

Fred, is that you?

Ken
Machias
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Post by Machias »

:) Yep
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Paddle Daddy
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Saturday at NRG

Post by Paddle Daddy »

Attached is a picture of the first group down at the gauge. Had a great time, thanks to everyone and Dave Kessmann in particular.
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Paddle Daddy, aka The Glowworm
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Post by Amphibious »

Thanks to Dave & all who organized, to those that led the way down, & Carrie for driving! pfds of both New and Laurel Creek trib of Cherry - both totally awesome and pretty different kinds of paddling! Follow link below to some photos from NRG paddles on Friday (=sunny) and Saturday (=rainy).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vonesh-bal ... 815658166/

No pix from Laurel Creek, I am afraid - no time!

James
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Steve Wood
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Post by Steve Wood »

Thanks for letting me join ya'll for two days of great paddling and company on the NRG! I hope I can paddle with ya'll again soon! :-)
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Post by Dave K »

I would like to thank everyone who came out and made this trip a success. In addition to the usual suspects from the Coastals, we had folks from DC, OH, NC, and several students from Sweet Briar College.

On Friday, there were 3 on the Upper Gauley, 8-10 on the Lower Gauley, and 18-20 on the New River Gorge.

Saturday saw about 5-10 on the Lower Gauley, what felt to be about 30 on the New River Gorge, and about 10 on the Upper New.

Sunday there were trips to the New River Gorge, Laurel Fork of the Cherry, and Cranberry. All of which were well attended.

Again, I’m really pleased that the Club was able to offer up an event like this that had so much paddling variety and gave a chance for boaters from all walks to get to know each other better. Hopefully Webster Springs (04/12/14 - 04/13/14) will be just as big a smorgasbord.

Thanks.
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Post by Machias »

Lower Gauley 21 Sep 13, random paddlers.

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NRG 20 Sep 13

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Burnwood

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SteveEW
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NRG trip was Amazing!

Post by SteveEW »

My group (3 teens and myself) came up from Roanoke just for the day. All 3 were very excited as it was their first time, and over the course of the last year or two, kayaking has become their passionate sport. Immediately upon entering the campground they began chattering excitedly just because I dont think they had never seen so many whitewater boats gathered in one place. The rainy weather might have put off a typical smartphone-sit-on-the-couch-kid, but not these kids. They were ready to go.
We made some introductions as we got river ready and everyone was so welcoming and great. Special thanks to Sejal who knew OF my daughter, but had not met. Anyway, Sejal was especially warm and inclusive which helped really put my daughter Jessica (probably the most nervous of the bunch) at ease.
After all the shuttle organization, driving, etc., our group put on last. I had asked Ken and Alicia if we could boat in their group because I have already had the good fortune of listening to Ken's vivid, accurate, and safety conscious descriptions, as well as having the visual example of Alicia's impeccable lines. The two of them really make an amazing team to follow for personal first descents. Bill Hamill was with us too, which was nice as we had all paddled with him before, silent? Bob, Sarah, and Pat. A great mix of open boats, kayaks, a C1, experienced and new-to-the NRG.
We had big water fun in the morning, and Jessica hit a of combat roll, which was a big relief to me. The two boys were fine, raring to go, and wanting to play more. I think they gained some new perspective too though, when they occasionally were unexpectedly backendered.
Jessica swam at the end of middle Keeney, but kept her confidence. Thanks again to Ken and Bill who towed her Mamba full of water to shore - an exhausting feat.
We scouted lower Keeney, and I was thrilled to see Jessica ahead of me only slightly farther left of the line I would have chosen for her. I didn't have long to ponder this though, as I was also slightly farther left than I wanted to be. I missed a paddle stroke or two, (how did Alicia make this look so easy?) but came out fine, and met a beaming Jessica in the eddy below. Jessica's new hero, Sejal, had watched her come through and had greeted her with an "attagirl" and a fist bump. I think that, as much as anything, made her day.
Not too long after that, one of the boys, Hunter, banged his hand on a rock while rolling in a rapid. Although he had some mobility problems at the time, we wrapped it and he paddled out. He tells me that even though it was bruised, it is fine now.
The rest of the trip was kind of a blur of big waves and bigger smiles, Jessica hit another couple? of combat rolls, plus one final swim at the end of Fayette station. Oh well, she still came up smiling.
Thanks to Dave for organizing an amazing trip and arranging the magic shuttle. Thanks to everyone there for providing new perspectives, good examples, and points of view for the kids who need more diverse input than they can get from just me.
Thanks to Bob, Sarah, Pat and Bill for the great company. I wish I had been more able to get photos of you to share. It was fun to watch you paddle!
And one final thank you to Alicia and Ken for taking us under your wing. I hope to see you all on the river soon!
Steve Wiegandt
Machias
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Post by Machias »

GREAT report Steve!
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Post by billh1970 »

Steve,

Glad that you all had a great time. Ken had the hairy job of getting Jessica's kayak into the eddy above Meatgrinder, and I was a bystander.

Hunter Bell's video documents the trip well, just need to know that the order of the rapids is off:
http://vimeo.com/75183383
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Post by Machias »

Awesome video!!!!
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Steve Wood
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Post by Steve Wood »

Some of the pictures I have from the NRG last weekend are in albums on my facebook page " Stephen K. Wood " and the facebook groups of the " Roanoke Area Paddlers " and " The Creek Freaks of Franklin County ". Tag away people! :-)
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bambam
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Re: NRG trip was Amazing!

Post by bambam »

SteveEW wrote:My group (3 teens and myself) came up from Roanoke just for the day. All 3 were very excited as it was their first time, and over the course of the last year or two, kayaking has become their passionate sport. .....
Steve, and crew, bigtime fun for me to see you loving the NRG. 'twas a great day for me. Let's do it again.

Cheers,

Ken
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