Trip Report - "New River" trip 06 - July 1 to July 3

By Carlos Ifarraguerri

Participants: Carlos Ifarraguerri, Jeannine Hagan, Carrie Chernov, Eric Colbert, Jeff Bede, Matt Curran, Kristin Alligood, Ajay Sapre, Peter Lutter, Peter Redman, Andrew Blair, Zach Britton, Clay Deming, Kristin Wood, Nathan Nahikian, and Tom McEwan.

I have a story to tell. I also had a wonderful paddling weekend which
challenged my abilities. I joined the traditional 4th of July trip to the New River Gorge led by LAKS. I left Saturday at 5 AM to make it to the campground near the Gauley by 11 AM, and fortunately avoided all the traffic. We were a large group of 15 including about 6 of Tom's kids. The rest of the group included Eric Colbert, Carrie, Jeannine, Matt Curran, Kristen Alligood, and Pasha (Russian guy). Kristen and Pasha are in their 20's while the rest of us are oldies. When we finally assembled at the Campground (called RifRafters) Tom let us know that we were going to run the Middle Meadow since the New was running at over 8 feet and becomes more of a class IV. We were all exited because this was a new river for all of us. When we completed setting shuttle we got to the put in and split into 4 groups. I ended in Nathan's group both days. The kids group was led by Zach (over 18). We got the lecture of paddling in control, catching eddies whenever possible to see what was below, not crowding into eddies, running
probe for the person behind you, etc. Then we took off. The Middle Meadow is a Class III/IV small river, almost a creek and it was running at a good middle level of about 900 cfs. Pretty continuous 5 miles of rapids, with a lot of undercuts. We landed at a pool with 2 huge mushroom shaped boulders about three stories high. Someone found a climbing rope and a high jumping session ensued. The brave jumpers started with Tom, and were followed but Peter Lutter, Pasha, Zach and Matt. I did not want to be a bad example for the young and stayed safely in my boat feeling uncomfortable. Some of the jumpers felt rocks and boulders with their feet but no injuries. After that we kept going, no swimmers or incidents to report. A lot of play spots throughout. I flipped once in a nice deep flume and rolled right back up. Some others got their knuckles pretty scraped when they flipped. I guess now I understand why some wear this knuckle protector gloves.

We headed back to the campground to clean up. Here the group split up with Tom going with the kids to the New River Dries. The rest of us went to eat dinner at a nice restaurant in Fayetteville. Apparently, the Dries were still running that night but at a lower level with some play but not great. We all woke up early the next morning. We had coffee prepared by me and some camp breakfast while we were waiting for Kristen Wood, Clay Deming and this other guy called Jeff. Tom called to get gauge readings and let us know that the Lower Gauley was running at a good level lower than regular Fall release levels but good introductory level. I told Tom that running the LG was one of my objectives this year. Kristen, Clay and Jeff showed up by 9:30 AM and we proceeded to set up shuttle. This took until about 11 AM before we put in. I was again in Nathan's group but now we had Jeff and Kristen W. One person let me know he had never run any river's other than the Potomac, and was clearly scared after swimming the first rapid above Koontz's Flume. We proceeded to scout Koontz's and watch how Tom and hisgroup ran the rapid. We saw how a couple of folks flipped right below the flume and rolled right back up by the undercut. Most of us decided to run the sneak to the left of the flume. Everything went well and we played at 5 boat hole for a while.

I must say that I had a blast on the LG. I was paddling my Perception Whiplash (7.5 Feet long old school play boat) while most people were paddling creekers like Diesels, Little Joe's, Java's, etc. I actually got to enjoy a lot of the features in my boat.Great big waves for surfing and spinning, as well as endering. Did a lot of boofing practice and catching eddies in the middle of rapids to slow down and figure out moves. Everyone else did great on the Gauley. I had a high moment when in some Class IV I avoided two holes just to land right in the middle of a big one. I boofed but still landed in the back of thehole, then spinned, and surfed for a minute or so. As I was being worked I started to back paddle hard and planted my paddle as faras I could behind the hole and did a big draw and escaped it. I felt pretty good for that one and Nathan fed my ego. I am still learning the names of many of the rapids that we ran. I remember one called Canyon Doors with a sheer cliff wall, and of course Pure Screaming Hell. PSH was very intimidating since when we got there, Tom and some of his group were standing on the huge boulders as if to witness our potential carnage. We proceeded to catch all the right eddies and stay well to the left of Hell Hole to their disappointment. We got off the River at 7 PM and did not get back to the camp until 9 PM. I had promised to cook dinner and had tortellini and pasta sauce. Others in the group pitched in and helped for a great fun meal. Nathan had veggies and Pasha helped cook them. I had probably one beer too many and was in pain the next morning. The pain was partly soreness but a little of indigestion (maybe caused by beer and wine??).

Anyway, I decided to head back home with Eric on Monday after a nice breakfast at the Cathedral Cafe, while the rest of the group went to run theArden section of the Tygart. I am sorry I missed that section but glad I got home when I did. It was another memorable 4th of July weekend for me.

Carlos

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