Gauley season 2010

Wow! Thats all i can really say after this years trip to the Gauley. What a beautful place, surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains,lakes, and streams. We got to West Virginia a couple of weeks after Gauley fest had ended. It was my first trip to W.V "and i know its not going to be my last". i can see why thousands of people flock here every season to go boating. Big rivers, good people, and lots of fun. did i say ''lots of fun''. Well We started the trip with Heath Day leaving from Texarkana, Ar at 12 noon on September 29th, which i believe fell on a wednesday. Heath picked me up in Hot Springs and our last stop was picking up Lance Jones in Little Rock. It took us every bit of 15 hours to get to Cambridge, Oh. Why Cambridge you ask? Well this was not your average run of the mill boating trip. Heath had it worked out to where all we had to do was make a quick stop in Cambridge to setup for the annual Paul Bunyan trade show. and then come back when we were all done boating and take it down. This would allow for all of our gas on the trip to be payed for by Heath's company. Thanks Heath! So after arriving in Cambridge At five in the morning and stopping by the local denny's for some grub, we offloaded Heaths truck at the fairgrounds and we were off to West Virginia! Our first stop in West Virginia was Tygart Valley Falls State Park. Great park and huck oppurtunity. The Features there are two river-wide 10-15 ft falls with numerous lines on each fall. Fun lines for everyone. After leaving the falls we decided to drive to the put-in for the Upper Gauley and get a good nights rest. We woke up friday morning and drove to the lower section takeout to meet up with Marc Becker, Randy Jackson, Bill "fish" Herring, and Jason Gray. We ran shuttle and had a great day on the Lower Gauley.

Lower Gauley Put-in

Upper Gauley put-in Marc making coffee

Saturday morning rolled around and new plans were being mentioned. Black water canyon had been running at high flows and a couple of us were interested but none of us wanted to make the six hour round trip to go run it. There was a release scheduled for the Upper Yough on saturday so thats what the whole crew decided on. We made the drive, got there, put on. And it was one of the best rivers I've ever been on. Continuous 3+4 rapids with only about a mile or so of flatwater paddle in and out. Fun technical boulder gardens. Would definetly be fun in the long boat. Everyone was airing out all the moves. I ran the right line at National Falls, didnt have much time to look at it. And right before i eddied out to run it here comes an older man, I would say mid 50's , he pops his skirt and swims 10 ft above the falls. Me and an open-boater got him to shore and i told him i would go after his boat and leave it on the river left bank below the falls. he nodded at me not saying a word. His eyes were big. So i made the boof , soft landing, grabbed the boat and headed to the bank. When i got to the bank  realized i was sitting right next to a real whitewater pioneer Nolan Whitesell. I introduced myself to him and his wife, we talked for a moment and then headed on down river. About 30 minutes later i hopped out of my boat to take some pictures on a rock in the middle of the river. There was a man up on the rock just watching everyone blow by, I climbed up on the rock and realized it was Jeff Snyder

whitewater pioneer #2. I couldnt believe my luck, having face to face conversations with 2 whitewater pioneers in the same day. I mean anyone who has run Niagra gorge in an open-boat has my full respect. And anyone who strides big splat on the Big Sandy is a bad ass. just my thoughts. So i finished up the run but not before being boofed on by a raft and i do mean boofed on! "Thats another story"and everyone had a great day on the Yough still...

Put-in for Upper Yough

Bill "fish" Herring

Jason Gray

Marc Becker

So sunday morning rolls around and no one wants to put on cold wet gear to run the Upper Gauley. so we wait around and let things warm up a little before putting on.Word at the put-in that morning was that some one drowned on Blackwater canyon  the day before, so i guess we made a good choice on heading for the Yough. No swims on the Gauley, good lines had by most and everyone made it to the bottom in one piece. Big water is my new calling. cant wait to get on something that big or bigger again. Got off later in the afternoon, and started on the long drive back to Arkansas.