Anybody plan on paddling New River Gorge April or May 2010

[lax71vcu]

Thinking this coming April or May I would like to run the New River Gorge. Never have run the gorge before and would be interested in getting a group together. I paddle the Lower James Pretty Regularly in an Aire Puma. I have run in levels up to 8.6 and think with a good group would be able to run the gorge fine. Any takers? Anybody know of any big events that are held around April or May? Let me know. Respond here and we can exchange emails if interested. Thanks

[sganarelle]

I honestly would join Coastals. The Official Club Trips, OCT's, although announced here as a reminder are published a few weeks in advance. That might be your best bet for seeing preplanned trips. Plus, you support the infrastructure here.

[bambam]

If April or May doesn't work out then please feel invited to the New River Rendezvous over Labor Day weekend. It's a loosely organized multi-club trip which has been going on for a century or two I think. (Well, maybe more like twenty years or so, we don't really know.)

Ken Dubel

[lax71vcu]

Thanks for the invite Ken will definitely consider it if plans fall through.
Nick

[Mako]

I'll probably be going sometime in May. I haven't ran it in awhile but it's good fun. I'll join ya.

[lax71vcu]

Whodat that would be great. I have never run it so any boaters with past experience would be highly valued and possibly repaid with a little Crown at the campsite. What do you paddle? Feel free to bring others if you want.

Nick

[Mako]

Yeah man! I usually have a pretty good group for that run, you're more than welcome. What's the most difficult river you've paddled?

[lax71vcu]

I have been on the Lower James at 8.8 feet, I have rowed Hopeville Canyon, Paddled the Dry Fork of the Cheat, and paddled a damn release of the North Fork of the Potomac OC-2. Difficulty wise it would probably be the James. However the Potomac in the canoe was very interesting. Low difficulty but made difficult by what we were paddling.

[Greg V.]

Since you mentioned you paddled an Aire Puma, would you be taking a raft full of folks on this trip?

[lax71vcu]

My Cousin and I are R-2ing the boat. Want to keep the Raft light and nimble. Do you have a Raft and are interested in Joining us? Feel Free if thats that case.

[goboatin]

I'm guide on the New and will be moving up there for the Summer towards the end of May and don't mind showing you the lines.

Something to keep in mind is that AW does not mention features above 5ft and in April and May the New generally has a lot of water. There are several HUGE retentive holes at higher water that love to eat boats and while its not ridiculously challenging to raft at big flows I would not go down for your first time above 5ft unless you have someone pretty familiar with it at higher water to show the lines.

Have fun the New is a blast!

Shannon

[lax71vcu]

Would be really cool to have somebody who is familiar on the water with us. If the water is that high in april or may we may push back to June and let the levels drop a bit. I am looking to have fun....Not die. Thanks for the heads up and hope to see you out there.

Nick