Gauley River Season begins tommorrow!!!
 

Gauley Season is upon us!!

Not sure that this post fits here, put I will tell you one thing, fall out of one of those rafts at Lost Paddle and you will quickly learn what survival is all about. That is one scary ass rapid that I am in no hurry to met up close and personal.

Anyhow, I have my trip planned to tackle the "BEAST of the EAST" on October 5. Just curious if there are any GIMers that get off on big whitewater like the Gauley and if so got any hair raising stories to share. ME? Took 2 nasty swims at Pillow Rock and all but broke my leg at Sweets Fall. Fun times!!!!

For the uninitiated, the Gauley is a controlled damn release whitewater haven located at the base of Summersville Damn in West Virginia. It is a 16+ mile journey of Class III-V+ rapids. This is a world class river that draws thrill seekers from around the world. The Gauley is truley the Best 1 day experince I have ever had. If you have run the Gauley and stayed dry and thought it was not all it was cracked up to be, I say your guide screwed you. Swim one of the monsters and you will for ever be changed.

"Paddle or Die!!!" (quote from my last guide when we started hearing a banjo twang!!!)(seriously)

Re: Gauley River Season begins tommorrow!!!
 

I haven't done the Gauley. I did the New River gorge at Fayetteville twice. The first time in 1980 and the second time in 1982. I almost got knocked out of the raft on the "Surprise" rapid when someone in front of me let go and fell back into me, then fell out for a swim.

That was in May after some spring rains gave enough water to turn the 3s and 4s into 4s and 5s.

Every GIMer should try this at least once :D

Re: Gauley River Season begins tommorrow!!!
 

I have done the New a half a dozen times. Tame compared to the Beast, but whitwater is whitewater and I love it just the same. I have had several guides tell me the classification on the New is overexagerated to make this family friendly run more adventurous. The new is has a handful of threes that guides will tell people are a 4 or 5 just to pump them up and make them feel good about what they did. The Gauley is truley 3-4 all the way through with 5 ClassV+ rapids. A "5" on the New might, and I stress might, be a 3+ on the Gauley. Try Lost Paddle one time and you'll see the difference. It is a mile long rapid that has tons of undercuts and sives just feet from your boat. It is awsome in the boat, but there is no way I want to see it from water side. My guess is a 50/50 prop of making it out alive in Lost Paddle, it is just that freaking mean. But it is just a guess.

The 5th can't get here soon enough!!!

Re: Gauley River Season begins tommorrow!!!
 

That might be so, but I recommend that a newbie do the New River gorge before trying the Gauley.

You need to learn how to dig your paddle into the river for leverage, because that's what keeps you in the boat. :shocked_ma:

Re: Gauley River Season begins tommorrow!!!
 

No doubt about it. The Gauley aint no place to learn (especially in my raft). The New (actually the Oldest River in the eastern US) is perfect for beginners: nice waves, good hydraulics and a sweet place to learn skills without the fear of death. The New is a forgiving river with its smooth round rocks and minimal undercuts. Low on scariness but still high on fun.