Where did you go in 2007?

[gromit]

Here's my list! A total of 48
Lower James 26
Upper James 3
Apomattox 2
Balcony Falls 3
New river Gorge 4
Lower Yough 2
French broad 1

PFD's
Elk river in town 1 below town 1
Pigeon gorge 2
Middle Ocoee 2
Goshen 1

Not a bad year for me. A swim on the lower james in hollywood, and a short swim on the Ocoee in an eddy! Thankfully a lot of rolls
Thanks to everyone who guided me down new and old rivers - I had a blast . Looking forward to adding to my PFD with the Cheat and Lower Gauley in '08 (there, I said it!)

[Raymond]

With the dry year, I only had 3 PFD, but one of those was quite possibly the first descent by any boaters, the Upper Blackwater (in Franklin County, not WVA). The other two were Maggoddee Creek below Boones Mill (also Franklin County) and the Cheat Canyon.

I had 41 days on a river including: Upper Gauley, New River Gorge & Surprise section; Lower Yough, Ocoee, Pigeon, Nantahala, Smith, Dan (Kibler Valley), Maury (Goshen Pass), Balcony Falls on the James, NB Potomac, Roanoke, Blackwater (Franklin County) and the Pigg River.

I did start 2007 on a river and almost ended it on one (Dec. 29th on the Maury). But I went over 3 months with no paddling from Sept. 23 - Dec. 28. I hope there aren't any dry stretches that long next year.

Raymond

[Melanie]

Looking forward to adding to my PFD with the Cheat and Lower Gauley in '08

Me too!

[Wallace]

Here's my list! A total of 48
Lower James 26
Upper James 3
Apomattox 2
Balcony Falls 3
New river Gorge 4
Lower Yough 2
French broad 1

PFD's
Elk river in town 1 below town 1
Pigeon gorge 2
Middle Ocoee 2
Goshen 1

Mine will read pretty much the same except for the odd trip on the James when one or the other of us was working. The highlight of my entire paddling career (all 3 years of it) came when I paddled Goshen Pass cleanly on Dec. 28th. That was the first time I ever paddled a new river without swimming. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true.

I'd like to join the rest in congratulating and encouraging the newer folks to keep up the effort to get out and get better. As long as you do, it just keeps getting funner and funner.

[PSUpac]

Ok, well, since this thread seems to be taking all comers...
I don't know how many days of paddling I had whitewater. But I really just started this branch of boating in July. So I'm a newbie too.
Anyway here goes:

• Nantahala X 5
  French Broad (put in ?) to Stackhouse X 1
  New River upper section X 2
  James Upper X maybe 10-20?
  James Lower X maybe 50-60?
  (Overnight kayak camping trips, not really white water)
  Pine Creek in PA X 1
  Rappahannock X 1
  Potomac South Branch X 1

For as often as I've been kayaking this year, that looks pretty sad. I gotta get out of town! Coastals take me awaaaaayyyyy!

[mattd]

With the aid of some quality trip leaders (Ken comes to mind) I was able to go on some memorable PFDs this year:
Maury, New River Gorge (3) and Upper Ocoee.

Also had an international PFD on the Madawaska in Canada at the Madawaska Kanu Center, which is a really cool place if anyone is considering it. Canadian paddling might be the way to go come summer time.

Hope to hit the Lower James more in '08 actually and have an eye on the Nolichucky and Ottawa in particular.....

[Wallace]

Also had an international PFD on the Madawaska in Canada...

Dude, I think Madawaska is in the Indian Ocean. Are you sure that's where you went?

[MichaelME]

Dude, I think Madawaska is in the Indian Ocean. Are you sure that's where you went?

Um....no, but it is a town in ME

[etharris]

07 treated me really well. This year was the firt time in my boat after a 3-year hiatus following wrist surgury. I was really happy about how much I was able to get out this year.

63 Days on the River (Alot of these on Goshen and NRG)

PFD's
Cache La Poudre (Colorado)
Arkansas (Colorado) - Numbers, Royal Gorge, Granite
Bullpasture Gorge
Mill Creek (Maury Trib)
Upper Meadow
Main Elk Through Webster Springs
Upper Occoee
Boulder Creek (Colorado) - Lower Canyon
South Boulder Creek (Colorado) - AltoAlto
Lake Fork Gunnison Gorge (Colorado)
Clear Creek (Colorado) - Dumont
Chatooga Sction 4
Lower Big Sandy
Lower Blackwater

Repeat highlights included Upper Yough and Upper Gauley

Next year I want to try the Cheoah and Russell Fork. I really want to get back on the Talluhla and Watauga.

Later
Ethan

[mattd]

Oh, Madawaska's in ME?.....and to think I rounded up a passport for that trip.....did seem kinda strange that I never exchanged currencies.....that and I'm suddenly really curious as to the intent of the body cavity search at "The Border"...

Dude, I think Madawaska is in the Indian Ocean. Are you sure that's where you went?

Um....no, but it is a town in ME

[Alicia]

Pretty much what Ken said. And frankly, that is a highlight for me - getting to paddle so often w/ such a swell guy (plus he doesn't mind carrying my barge)! I've also had lots of fun w/ many other Coastals, as well.

Other highlights for me:
*Cheoah @ 1100 cfs (one of 4 canoes out of 100s of kayaks)
*Doe & Wilson (always challenging treats)
*Back Fk of Elk (hadn't done it for 15+ yrs)
*15 OC2 trips, incl. Upper Meadow & Cheat Canyon (he really IS learning to read my mind pretty well)
*combat OC2 roll in Corner Rapid (Maury) - then bragging to a friend, who promptly asked, "whose brace failed?"
*3 separate week-long paddling trips (2 w/ no camping)
*4x on Upper Yough (my favorite)
*15x on Goshen Pass (my other favorite - gotta love the location!)
*32 different rivers/sections for my 70 river days (lots of variety)
*4 PFDs after 21 yrs of boating (Toe R., Lower Cranberry, Main Elk R., James - 7 Islands)

[Dino358]

2 Lower james

Pathetic!

[Boat Medic]

I wented on da rivah...
didn't really keep track last year cause it was a sucky year for water.
-Upper Gauley maybe 4 or 5 times (once at half release)
-Lower G once I think
-New river Gorge once at ridiculously low flow....LAME!!
-Back fork of the Elk maybe?(was that last year??)
-Lower Yough twice
-Goshen ??did it run? was I there??
-Cheat Canyon
-Narrows of the Cheat
-North Branch Potomac
-Upper Meadow
-Upper Tye
-and of course the James through Richmond more times than I care to remember.....

[open boater]

My goal every year is 100 "runs". This past year I reached 89.

lower James 75x- up to 8'
upper James 4x-up to 12.64'
Tohickon Creek 3x
lower Yough 3x
Lehigh 1
Mill Creek 1 PFD
Appomattox 1
Staircase 1

Highlights, lower James @8', my first real creeking experience on Mill Creek, Mangles wedding, Tohickon.
Lowlights, the tragedy 2 Saturdays ago and the overall lack of water.
I look forward to paddling with everyone in 2008

[DJeffSmith]

Newbie Year for me on the WW front. I didn't really keep track - but here is what I am estimating based on posts and emails. All together +/- 65 different paddles.

Whitewater - started middle of June
Upper James - 10+ Runs
Lower James - 35 Runs including PFD (10 in December alone)
Balcony Falls - 2 Runs including PFD and a playboat clinic
Tohickon Creek - 3 Runs including PFD
Scudders Falls on the Delaware - Twice including PFD
Goshen Pass - 1 Run PFD
Surf Kayaking OBX - Twice
Surf Kayaking VA Beach - Once
Legends - 25+ runs

Sea Kayaking & Flatwater
Mathews County w/ Light House - Once
James River (Scottsville & Tidal areas) - 3 Trips
Back Bay Wildlife Refuge - Twice
Assateague & Chicoteague - 4 Trips

Lots of highlights for me.
My first trip down the Lower
My 11yo daughters first trip down the lower
Getting my roll down
Having my girls involved in paddling and loving it
Getting pounded at Scudders Falls
The Freakin Tohickon Trip
Goshen Pass


Thanks everyone for all the help, coaching and encoragement you have given me and my girls. I've never met a better group of people.