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Posts Tagged ‘White Water Rafting’

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How To Gear Up For Rafting Season, Part 2

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

March is almost a memory and with April just around the corner, it’s time to think rafting. April is a time for the hardy paddlers to take advantage of normally high river levels and typically lower trip costs.

Before you come here to “get your raft on” there are a few things you need to think about that can help make your trip more enjoyable. We’ve compiled a short list for you:

Spring Rafting is a Wild Ride

Get the Right Gear

If you’re a wily rafting veteran, you’ve probably already learned a few things about what to bring on a trip. But if you’ve never been rafting in the spring or you’re a rookie to the sport, there are many little things you should consider for this time of year and this type of rafting:

  • Wear synthetic or wool clothing; stay away from cotton. If you wear fleece or other synthetic material clothing, you’ll stay warmer when you get wet (and yes, you’re going to get wet). Wool is also a good choice because it has the ability to keep you warm when wet. Sweaters, long underwear, socks, gloves and a beanie will all go a long way towards making your trip more comfortable.
  • Consider wearing waterproof clothing.  Even if you have great under layers or wear a wetsuit, you will still want to have something to keep the splash off .
  • Don’t forget your sun protection.  Spring is when you have the potential to get burned without realizing it. The air and water keep you cool all day, but the sun’s rays are blazing. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat will help diminish the sun’s effects and you won’t go home beet red.

 

Planning

A little bit of planning goes a long way.  This is especially true when it comes to rafting. There are a few things that you can do in preparation for a trip that will make a big difference.

  • Get to know area outfitters.  Rafting companies are all different, and some offer great deals this time of year. Many of them have specials that include lodging, dinner, and even free cold weather clothing rentals to entice rafters to take the plunge in the spring.
  • Know your limits.  If you’ve never been rafting before or you’re not the bravest when it comes to water, you may want to spend an extra bit of time finding a trip that matches your comfort level.
  • Get ready by getting moving.  Spring time rafting can be quite exerting, so try and get some exercise in prior to your trip. Walk, stretch, jog – any of these activities will prep you for a big day on the water.

Have you already made plans for your spring rafting trip?

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Whitewater Rafting in West Virginia: The Beginnings

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

When you’re standing high above the New River on Bridge Day, looking down from the Bridge, have you ever noticed those lucky folks who are rafting below?  Whitewater rafting has become a favorite adventure for West Virginia visitors, on Bridge Day and other days alike.

And with rafting season just around the corner for the most avid and hardy of paddlers, this seems like an opportune time to look back at the history of running the rapids of the New River.

This year marks 45 seasons that outfitters have been taking folks down the New River in rubber rafts. The first company to raft the New was Wildwater Unlimited.  When the Dragan brothers started taking friends down the New River in 1968, one has to wonder if they ever dreamed it would become the industry it is today.

First Year

With two pick-up trucks and two rubber rafts that were custom made by an Army surplus boat company, Jon, Tom, Chris and Melanie Dragan started rafting the New during summer breaks from college. In Wildwater’s first year, less than 80 people went down the river.  But it was from this simple beginning that an industry was born.

For these pioneers from Pennsylvania, the New River was uncharted territory. There were no laws governing rafting at the time and the New River Gorge was not a National Park. Little was known about the rapids on the New.  In fact, the names that these rapids possess now are due to these first trips. Most of the knowledge that paddlers of today have about the New River came from the early trips.

Wildwater Guests Today

In order to build a “seasoned” crew for the rapids of the Lower section, the protocol for all guests was a two day trip. Day one consisted of guests paddling the much flatter and safer upper stretch to acclimate themselves to the water and the rafts.

On day two, guests tackled the rougher water of the Lower New. The rafts were all double guided for safety, a practice that Wildwater Unlimited continued until the early 1990′s.

Influence

As there were no rules or regulations about whitewater rafting, the WV Division of Natural Resources was tasked to be the governing body of this new sport. The Dragans were influential in helping create many of the policies that are still in place today. Emphasis on safety was a huge concern.  A few years later policies for company licensing and quotas, designed to prevent overcrowding, soon followed.

By 1971 a few more companies had entered the scene and eventually the state capped the number of licenses at 25. Today there is rafting on the Gauley, Cheat and Shenandoah, Big Sandy, Tygart, Potomac and Bluestone rivers as well.

It’s hard to believe that an industry that had over 200,000 customers a year in the mid 1990′s was spawned from some college kids running the river with friends, but that’s exactly what happened.

Are you ready for a West Virginia whitewater adventure?

 

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Gearing Up for Rafting Season in West Virginia

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

March is a mere week away.  And even if Mother Nature has a few more days of snow and cold planned, something about March lifts folks spirits and lets them believe winter is over. It also means that rafting companies and guides will be preparing for another whitewater season.

All that gear? It will be checked thoroughly.

Before guests show up to be “whitewatered”, there is a great amount of work and planning that goes into getting ready for a rafting season. Both companies and guides have things that they do before the season starts to get ready for 8 months of fun.

Here’s a little bit of what goes on before the rafting season gets rolling.

Gear – Check and Recheck

Even though it was packed away nice and neatly in preparation for winter, rafting gear will all be inspectedagain before being put into use for a season. Rafts will all be inflated to make sure they hold air. Helmets and PFD’s will have their buckles all checked and inspected for any problems or defects. Wetsuits will be examined to make sure they still stink (a little raft guide humor there folks).  Guides will do this with their own personal equipment too.

Guide Gear, Ready to Go

There are also medical kits that will have to be checked and rechecked to make sure all contents are present, accounted for, and in-date. We’re not talking just about bandages and gauze here; splints, cervical collars and EPI pens are part of these kits. Whitewater trips try to anticipate what medical needs they might have while on the river.

Guide Training

Every spring, companies prepare for the upcoming season by providing training refreshers for their staff. This is the time when outfitters decide how many new guides they’ll need and start formal guide training programs. Every guide, no matter how many years they’ve worked, has to take classes on first aid, CPR and Swiftwater Rescue. Being able to use the things in those aforementioned kits is as important as carrying them.

Guide training can take a long time, so starting early in the season is crucial. Requiring trainees to go out when conditions are less than favorable is a way of weaning out people who may not have the dedication to be a professional guide. By the time they complete a training program, every guide will have boating skills, first aid skills, rescue skills and be ready to take guests on their whitewater adventure.

These are just some of the things that will be going on at river outfitters starting here in a few weeks. And soon we’ll have some tips to help you gear up for a rafting trip before you come to paddle.

 

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Rafting on Bridge Day; Or, How to Get Up Close and Personal With B.A.S.E. Jumpers

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

As you know, Bridge Day is a very unique festival. It brings together extreme crowds and extreme thrill seekers in an electric atmosphere.

But there’s another way to experience Bridge Day: on the river.

Why Raft?

Rafting the Lower New River on Bridge Day is a great way to enjoy the event. Most whitewater rafting companies offer packages that allow you to raft and spend time underneath bridge watching the base jumpers, up close and personal. Watching the jumpers from water level is a whole different experience than watching from the bridge.

Why?  Well, would you be more excited about a herd of bulls running at you or away from you?  Exactly.

From bridge level, the jumpers hurl themselves off the platform and as they fall away they get smaller and smaller, and if their parachute doesn’t open instantly, you get little sense of the gravity (no pun intended) of the situation.

This could be your view

Jumpers Up Close and Personal

But from the water, you have a better perspective of just how little time jumpers have left for their chute to open as they accelerate towards you.

You get to see just how hard it is to have a good landing, especially on a rocky riverbank. You can watch their faces as they realize they are destined for a splash landing and a rescue by the safety boats that are positioned to quickly pluck not-so-lucky jumpers from the water. Maybe they get caught up in the trees above your head. Or maybe Elvis lands in your pot of chili (true story).

Lower New Fall Colors

But you also get some adventure in your day as you navigate the rapids of the Lower New River. The fall colors are usually in full swing, making this one of the most wonderful times to experience the Gorge. And there’s a good chance you’ll be offered a discounted rafting trip on the Gauley River as part of a Bridge Day weekend package.

So lets review why rafting on Bridge Day is a good idea:

  • Different, and in some opinions, better perspective to watch base jumpers.
  • Scenic time to whitewater raft .
  • Possibility of discounted Gauley trip the next day.

 

So if you love Bridge Day but want to mix it up this year, a quick run down the Lower New River with some added action at the end may be just what you’re looking for. It is a wonderful way to spend a fall Saturday in WV.

Have you rafted on Bridge Day?

 

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5 Unique Facts About the New River

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

The New River Gorge Bridge is pretty amazing (and we know, we’re biased).  But did you know that the river that runs beneath it is pretty unique too?

Here are 5 facts that you should know about the New River.

  • The river begins in western North Carolina, in Ashe County.  From there it flows through Virginia into West Virginia, where eventually it becomes a tributary for the Kanawha River.  The river is around 320 miles long.
  • The New River is old.  As in somewhere between 10 and 360 million years old.  That makes it one of the oldest rivers in the world.  Many believe that it is certainly the oldest river in the United States.
  • Interestingly, the New River flows primarily from south to north.  Only a handful of rivers in the world have this unique feature, including the Nile.
  • The New was designated a national river in 1978 and is part of the United States National Park Service.  In 1998, it was designated an American Heritage River.
  • The first commercial rafting trip on the New took place in 1968.  The Dragan brothers started it all when they founded Wildwater Unlimited.  After that many of the outfitterswidl you know today started running the river.

What else should people know about the New River?

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How to Plan Your Bridge Day Stay

Friday, July 15th, 2011

It’s only July, but believe it or not, people are already planning their Bridge Day trips.  That’s because lodging and activities tend to book up quickly for that weekend.  Have you started to plan?  If not, here are some tips for planning the best Bridge Day vacation ever.

New River Gorge Lodging

We’ve got it all here in the New River Gorge.  You just have to decide what kind of accommodations you want.  From luxurious cabins to rustic camping, you can make the outdoors part of your stay.  If that’s not quite your style, there are some great hotels in the area.

Taste of Bridge Day

Looking for something more quaint? Choose one of our area Bed and Breakfasts.  The Historic Morris Harvey House in Fayetteville is a local favorite.

New River Gorge Dining

You might be surprised by the diverse dining choices available in the Gorge.  There is something for everyone.

Do some homework and scope out locals’ favorite haunts.  Fayetteville, Hico, and Oak Hill have an awesome variety of options – hand-crafted pizza, American cuisine, unique Mexican food, cajun-style fare.  If you stop by Swirl, be sure to try the Blueberry Pie ice cream.

Since it’s nearly impossible to try all of our local restaurants when you’re here, think about coming to the Taste of Bridge Day.  Sponsored by our local Fayetteville and Oak Hill Rotary clubs, it’s on Friday, October 14 at Adventures on the Gorge.  You’ll have the chance to sample a signature item from several local eateries.  And you can bet you’ll run into some local rafting and Bridge Day pioneers.

Plan An Adventure

Bridge Day coincides with the end of Gauley Season.  If you’re thinking of rafting the Gauley, make sure that you’re experienced enough to handle the class IV, class V, and class V+ rapids that you’ll be facing.  And if the Gauley’s not for you, rafting the New is a great option.  This is a really busy weekend for outfitters, so be sure to book your trip in advance.

If you don’t want to get on the water, try a canopy tour or zip line.  These trips have quickly become a favorite adventure for locals and visitors alike.  Autumn is a pretty spectacular time to soar through the trees.

And why not go for the ultimate adventure – tandem jump off of the New River Gorge Bridge! Only 10 spots are available for a brave and lucky few, so you should make the call quickly if you’re up for jumping.

So go ahead and start making your Bridge Day plans.  It’s never too soon.  Besides, who doesn’t like looking forward to a vacation?

See you there!

 

 

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A Family Guide to the New River Gorge

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

This time of year parking lots throughout the New River Gorge fill up with cars hailing from New York to Florida and all parts in-between.  They come for the fun, the adrenaline rush, and for getting back to nature with the ones they love.

Photo Courtesy of Hard Rock Climbing

Family Fun - Rock Climbing!

And if you’re traveling with children this year, here’s a quick guide to finding things everyone can (and will love) to do:

8 and under

  • Rock Climbing – There are plenty of climbing spots that kids can tackle, and guides who can show them how to do it.
  • Whitewater Rafting (special boats) – Talk with one of the area rafting companies about a trip that will work for your family.
  • Horseback Riding (certain trips) – Even if your kids have never been on a horse, there are some beginner trips that are lots of fun.
  • Tram and Jetboat Ride - At Hawks Nest State Park, you can take a tram to the bottom of the Gorge.  From there, catch a ride with New River Jetboats and get an up-close view of the New River Gorge Bridge.

 

10+

  • Canopy Tours and Ziplining – There are lots of options in the Gorge; just remember, many canopy tours and zip lines have weight and height guidelines.
  • Bridge Walk (new!) – Take your family under the Bridge and look 876 feet down into the Gorge!
  • Whitewater Rafting (special boats)
  • Horseback Riding (certain trips)
  • Paintball – Local outfitters will provide you with the gear and tips on how to have a safe, fun time.
  • Mountain Biking – There are plenty of Gorge trails that kids will enjoy.  You can bring your own gear or go out with one of the Gorge’s local guide companies.
  • Standup Paddleboarding (new!) - A cross between surfing and kayaking, standup paddleboarding is a fun water sport that everyone can learn together.

 

12+

  • UTVing – Some local outfitters allow children ages 12 and up to be passengers in UTVs.
  • Wild Caving - Take a cave tour to the next level by going off the usual path, with a guide of course.  Warning – you will get muddy!
  • Kayaking – Many area outfitters teach the basics of kayaking and then take groups on guided tours.

 

13+

*Please note some activities also have a weight requirement. Many activities also require an adult or parent to be present.

What other activities do you and your family enjoy doing together?

 


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White Water Rafting, Or White Water Swimming?

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Well, in the New River Gorge, one doesn’t necessarily include the other.

Thousands and thousands of people every year go white water rafting down the New River.  It’s one of the most popular raft trips in the world, especially on Bridge Day, and for good reason.  The rapids of the New are a perfect mix of big waves and technical manuveurs, adn depending on the water level, perfect for just about everyone.

The Bridge Day Rescue Team hard at work.

You don’t even have to know how to swim.  It’s unbelievable but true.  Most people would not believe the number of rafters that go down the river that do not know how to swim.  Hey, that’s what the life jacket is for.  Actually, we can’t say “life jacket”; the correct term is “personal floatation device“.  Go figure.

Anyway, that’s why they call it white water rafting and not white water swimming, right?  People fall out of the rafts, but then they get scooped right back up and continue on downstream.

Now, an entirely different kind of white water swimming takes place on Bridge Day.  BASE jumpers leave the bridge, free fall, then throw their chutes and maneuver a descent to the landing zone below.

In theory.

There’s a whole lot that can go on between the time that chute opens and the time a jumper comes in to land.  And that, my friends, in addition to a whole load of other wonderful stuff, is what makes Bridge Day awesome.

Basically, jumpers have to choose between landing in the landing zone, or landing in the river.  Wait.  Actually, they have to choose between landing in the landing zone and landing in the river and landing in the rocks and landing in the trees and landing in the railroad tracks.  Life is full of choices.

But for simplicity’s sake, let’s just say some poor BASE jumper is about to land in the water.  They actually have a lot going for them.

Any BASE jumper will tell you that the sure fire, absolute, 100% softest landing you can make on Bridge Day is in the water.  It’s actually encouraged for some people who are making their first few jumps.  The bridge is positioned directly between two rapids, Fayette Station, which is Class IV, and Flea Flicker, which is Class III.  If a jumper lands in the water, it’s not going to be in a rapid, but rather, between them.  Pretty much.

That doesn’t mean there’s not current.  There’s enough power in the water to get thing moving fast.  So the Bridge Day rescue team is on hand in the pool below the bridge.  If you’ve never had a chance to see these guys and girls in action, do yourself a favor and check it out.  They’re amazing.

What happens is this:  A jumper lands in the water.  The boats have already predetermined where the jumper will touch down (or, touch in, as the case may be), and are there within moments of the first signs of dampness.  Through hand signals, radios, and, um, mating calls, the boats drop off the rescued jumpers at the bank and then reposition themselves for the next water landing.

Pretty cool, huh?

So, to sum up, there’s whitewater rafting swimming, and there’s whitewater BASE jumping swimming.  You’re almost guaranteed to witness both at Bridge Day 2010.  It’s going to be fun.

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How To Raft Like A Pro (Even Though You’re A Beginner)

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Here’s secret: we do a lot of rafting around the New River Gorge Bridge.

Not shocked?  Okay, okay… it’s not a secret.  This is the whitewater rafting capitol of the universe.  Well, America.

Bridge Day in West Virginia

If you raft on the New River Gorge, you'll be as wet as this guy.

What I’m trying to establish is the fact that there’s a lot of know how here on the New River.  And this very post is all about how to act like you know what you’re doing on a white water rafting trip, even if you don’t.

Cool idea, huh?  Thing is, it’s not really the expense of a whitewater trip that’s important; it’s your time. Vacation time is more precious than just about anything, so it’s better to be prepared, right?  Just follow these simple steps:

1.  Know your reservationist.  Call her (almost always a “her”) several times.  Ask a ton of questions, everything from what should you wear to how long will you be gone.  Ask to talk to a guide.  Ask to talk to the owner.  If she gives you any grief about it, book your trip with another company.

2.  Request a guide.  Companies are a little hesitant to do this over the phone if you don’t know specifically the name of the guide you want.  But you can ask for a list of, say, the five guides with the most experience.  Experienced guides give better rides.  If you haven’t requested a guide before your trip, you should try to ride in the Trip Leader’s raft, usually the most experienced guide on the trip.

3.  Listen up.  Sit toward the front of the bus on your way to the river so you can hear the safety speech.  Pay attention.  Rafting is fun, but only if you’re prepared for anything to happen.  We can go ahead and be honest and say that, if you fall out in a rapid, you won’t remember much of the safety talk, but who knows?  The important parts might come racing back to you right when you need them.

4.  Choose the right section.  Here’s the golden rule to a rafting vacation:  Whoever has the most fun wins.  Not “whoever does the most dangerous thing in the world”.  Some sections are for kids, some aren’t.  Some water levels are good for the hard rapids, some aren’t.  Be honest about how adventurous you are when you make your reservation, and they’ll steer you right.

Bridge Day is one of the most popular days to go rafting in the universe.  Well, America.  You can check out all the action right from the water, which might be the best view of Bridge Day that anyone not wearing a harness or a parachute will ever get.

The big bridge is on the Gorge section, or as the rafters call it, the Lower New.  It’s pretty spectacular to see from a raft.  Book a raft trip (and use the techniques above) and see it for yourself.

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White Water Below The Bridge

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

One of the biggest draws on Bridge Day, besides the bridge, is the river below.  The New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world.  And it’s home to some famous white water.

They look kind of far away

They look kind of far away

Tons of people come to Bridge Day to see it from a raft.  It’s one of the more interesting aspects of the festival.  Yes, you can walk out on the big bridge, but how many huge festivals can you arrive at via whitewater raft?

Here are the rapids that you can see from the bridge:

Looking east, which is the direction the jumpers go off, the rapid almost immediately below the bridge is Fayette Station rapid.  That’s the busy one.

Fayette Station is a well known piece of whitewater.  It’s one of the only rapids in the gorge with road access.  When the water gets high, Fayette Station starts raging- it’s a full fledged class IV rapid with 10 and 12 foot waves.

Usually, Bridge Day sees lower water levels, which thankfully means that the rapid is not a factor for jumpers.  Just below the Fayette Station Rapid is the under-the-bridge area, with a nice big recovery pool for jumpers that don’t quite make it to the Landing Zone.

Farther upstream is another famous rapid called Thread The Needle.  During Bridge Day, Thread The Needle looks less like a rapid and more like a couple of giant boulders out in the middle of the river.  Thread the Needle is a class II-III rapid, depending on the water level.

The last rapid you can see upstream is Miller’s Folly.  It’s the longest rapid in the New River Gorge, and one of the best.  Miller’s was also called Undercut Rock for the enormous boulder set against the bank at the top of the rapid.  When the water is high, Miller’s Folly is a giant whitewater rollercoaster.

The rapid that’s immediately downstream of the bridge (as in, almost directly underneath it) is called Flea Flicker.  At high water, there are a couple of ways that fold up in the middle that can send rafters flying. At Bridge Day levels, it’s pretty tame, though there is one spot near the bank where you might see a raft get stuck for a long, long time.

Finally, the last rapid you can see from the bridge on the downstream side is called Ol’ Nasty.  This one gets it’s name from being so close to the takeout- if the water is high enough for the huge rock in the center to become a huge wave, there’s a chance rafters might miss their ride back to base camp.

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