O.C.T. Upper New River Gorge, September 22-23 GauleyFest

[AndyLee]

Hi y'all,

I'll be leading two trips on the Upper New River Gorge during the GauleyFest weekend.

Saturday, September 22 Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the Burnwood Campground across Route 19 from the Canyon Rim Visitor's Center. We'll run from McCreery to Thurmond. There are 5 (low) Class III and half a dozen Class II in this section. River ratings are posted by National Park Service and may not agree with other sources, but the rapids are all fun and all scoutable/sneakable. Silo is usually the biggest rapid on this run, but at this water level it's just a Class II. Other rapids are more difficult because of ledges and rocks to avoid.

Sunday, September 23 Meet at 10:00 at the Burnwood Campground across Route 19 from the Canyon Rim Visitor's Center. We'll run from Thurmond to Cunard. There are several rapids on this stretch, the biggest is Surprise, which is scoutable/sneakable and a heckuva lot of fun to run. Surfing the hole at Surprise is easier at this level. Million Dollar Wave is still there at this level, just holds fewer boats at a time.

We will be using Frank's Shuttle Service again for these two trips. It costs $35 per car so with 5 people per car it comes to $7 each which is a tremendous bargain since it saves us 2-3 hours of driving on rough, dusty, crooked, mountain roads.

First timer's are welcome to join us, just check in with me at the meeting at 10:00 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at Burnwood Campground.

My email is (andy lee at tiny homes dot com) and my cell phone is 540 460 6 9 3 0

Andy Lee

[DJeffSmith]

If anyone is into car pooling let me know. I can get 3-4 people and boats in my truck.

Jeff 335-6560

[AndyLee]

We've been watching the gauges and West Virginia is getting to be as dry as Virignia. If we don't get rain we'll plan on doing the Thurmond to Cunard section on both Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks D for offering to carpool from Richmond. I'll be leaving from Lexington about 2 p.m. on Friday and I have room for 3-4 paddlers and boats/gear.

Andy

[Shannon]

Planning to join you, with some Sweet Briar paddlers as well.

[gromit]

Shannon are you going to do the gorge that weekend? Hope to paddle with you and Melanie "the surfer Queen"! We will be there but won't arrive till Sat am!
Liz

[Shannon]

I'll be there, but will be paddling the upper with Andy and the SBC Paddlers. Melanie is off getting edumacated and hanging out with those high brow folks at VT. She had mentioned coming up for a Saturday run on the Gorge, but I have not heard from her recently.

[Melanie]

I still plan on being up there on Saturday to run the Gorge. Which should be entertaining since I haven't been in my boat in over a month.

[gromit]

Cool! We'll see you both there!

[DJeffSmith]

Need to stay home this weekend now and won't be making this trip. Have fun for me.

Jeff