April 2006 vacation to the West Virginia Mtns.
Friday, Rafting with the best "Class VI". Lower New River Gorge full day. 6-paddler raft and guide.
Sam was our Guide today and Eric commanded the equipment raft. Our crew besides Sharon and I, included new friends from Pa. Rob and Randy(Old hands on these rivers) and from Illinois-John and his son(1st time rafters ever). Great day paddling the class 4+/5 rapids in a good high spring run. Great lunch and a great time that night at Chetty's Pub at the Class VI Resort.
Saturday: We talked Sharon into going on a special trip on the "Upper Gauley" (No horseback riding this trip) River was running a good spring high of 2300cfs. Only difference today would be that we were going to be in smaller more manuverable "Extreme" boats(2-paddlers and a Guide. Sam again Guided for Sharon and I and Pat Steered for Randy and Rob. The five technical Class 5 rapids were awesome. Except for maybe "Sweet's Falls" where we took an unexpected swim at the bottom of the 14ft falls after the raft swamped and almost tipped. Sharon was not amused at the sudden swim call, since it was her first underwater swimming adventure in all of her river trips. But alls well that ends well and we ended up enjoying a another great lunch stream side and even had some entertainment by "Songer Whitewater" as they brought thier Purple boats into "Sweet's Falls", all five of thier boats failed by flipping at one opoint or another in the run. Once again another great evening partying with Randy, Rob, Sam, Pat and Eric and a host of other new Class VI friends. What a great resort. The best rafting outfitters we've been with anywhere in the U.S.