Whitewater Rafting
River Levels
The
New River
Prepared
by,
West
Virginia Professional River Outfitters Association
 What's
New about the New River? Certainly not its age. It is one
of world's oldest river systems, second only to the Nile.
But every year thousands of first-time rafters have a "New"
experience that leaves them forever hooked on white water.
Folks return year after year. Many who rafted
here in the '70s come back - as do their children and grandchildren
- generation after generation having its first taste of
whitewater on one of the most popular rafting rivers in
the Eastern United States. New River fans are a diverse
group. From family float and duckie trips for novice rafters
(Class II - III) on the Upper sections to exciting whitewater
adventure on the Lower section (Class IV - V), the New River
can be enjoyed by almost anyone.
The
New is a special river flowing through a spectacular wilderness.
Early rafters worked hard to ensure it would remain so forever.
In I978, the New was designated a National River adding
it to the National Park system which spared it from the
threat of hydroelectric dams. In 1998, it was named one
of 14 American Heritage Rivers, recognizing the New River
Gorge's wealth of history and folklore. When the 20th century
was young, the gorge rang with the sounds of timbering and
coal mining and the rumble of trains carrying these riches
to faraway cities. The effect on the canyon was devastating,
but time has restored the wilderness to its primordial beauty
and few traces remain of man's tenure here.
Whether
you're casting a lure into a riffle near the river bank
or plying a paddle as your raft lurches through a cauldron
of whitewater, The New River gives you intermittent quiet
pools, inviting you to drift a bit and admire her handiwork.
The New River also provides outstanding opportunities to
enjoy a classic overnight river trip.
Rising
from springs in the mountains of North Carolina, the river
flows north, drawing strength from tributaries until it
enters the New River Gorge. Over time - perhaps as much
as 300 million years - the river carved its way through
layers of sedimentary rock. Today the river bed lies 700
to 1,300 feet below the rim.
The
"Grand Canyon of the East" is nothing like its
barren namesake, for it is clothed in a lush deciduous forest
which shelters a variety of wildlife. The river is raftable
from spring to late fall, so visitors are treated to ever-changing
water levels and foliage in the gorge.
A
high-volume river coursing through a narrow canyon, the
New drops 240 feet in one 14-mile stretch. This creates
friction against the rocky bottom and sides, and generates
the big, oscillating waves rafters crave. The gorge is strewn
with boulders that have withstood the torrent's assault,
so the water is channeled in many ways at once - dipping,
dodging and diving through rapids with names such as Surprise,
the Keeney's, Double Z, Bloody Nose and Thread the Needle.
If you don't get wet enough in this moving water battle,
there are opportunities to take the plunge from Jump Rock,
or float through Swimmers Rapid. Over time you'll come to
know the rapids by heart, and look forward to your next
adventure on the New River.
The
Gauley River
Prepared
by,
West
Virginia Professional River Outfitters Association
 Good
Gauley, Miss Molly! Rafting just doesn't get any better.
It's not about mastery (no one really masters this river)
as much as communion with an incredible force. It is a combination
of adventure, camaraderie and scenery that leaves rafters
in a state of sheer euphoria at the end of the day - and
planning their next ride on the "Beast of the East."
The
Mountain State's pride and joy ranks seventh among the world's
raft able rivers and second only in the United States to
the Colorado River. Unlike the rivers in distant lands,
the Gauley is close at hand, with the best of equipment
and après raft amenities. In 1988, the Gauley River
National Recreation Area was established to protect this
precious resource.
Today
the National Park Service oversees 25 miles of the river
and 11,000 acres of surrounding wilderness. It is a remote,
wild region accessible only by raft or kayak - and an area
of incomparable beauty. Outfitters advise rafters to polish
their paddling skills on the New, and then graduate to the
lower section in preparation for the Upper Gauley. To really
enjoy this big whitewater ride, you need to have some mileage
on your paddling skills. With more Class IV and Class V
rapids than any other Eastern river, it is one of the most
intense experiences in commercial rafting and sheer nirvana
for experienced paddlers.
 There's
quite a contrast between West Virginia's two prized rivers.
The Gauley is twice as long and twice as steep as the New.
Dropping 668 feet in 28 miles, the river churns through
100 rapids. Fifty of them are major challenges ranging from
Class III to Class V-plus, pushing the boundaries of raft
ability.
Often the rapids come in quick succession - each presenting
a different technical challenge. The river can be rafted
from spring to late fall depending on natural flows, but
the legendary "Gauley Season" begins when water
is released from Summersville Lake for six weeks after Labor
Day. The season is short but so sweet that rafters come
from all over the world to make the run.
When
the Corps of Engineers opens the gates on Summersville Dam,
wild, roiling water gushes out as fast as 2,800 cubic feet
per second. Rafts launch into this maelstrom and are quickly
caught up in the raging waters.
One
of the first major rapids is misnamed Insignificant, which
is amusing once you've negotiated it - dodging rocks, slipping
over a rock shelf, scuttling across the flow and dropping
into a watery chasm. It's a significant wake-up call for
the Class V+ Pillow Rock, an 80-yard stretch of the most
difficult whitewater on the Gauley. Water pillows against
the face of a massive boulder and delivers a powerful blow
to daring rafts that climb too high. Negotiating this rapid
can mean the difference between a smooth ride and learning
how to high side. Then there's Lost Paddle, a half-mile
chute with five big drops including a perilous passage through
10- to 12-foot waves. Sweet's Falls, a 14-foot drop on the
upper Gauley, was considered impossible to navigate until
John Sweet ran it in 1968, hence the name.
The
Lower Gauley lacks the sustained frenzy of the Upper, but
it's not to be taken lightly. It has up to Class V rapids
with evocative names such as Upper and Lower Mash, Koontz's
Flume, Gates of Heaven and Pure Screamin' Hell.
For a list of outfitters in our region, please visit
http://www.visitwv.com/whitewaterlinks.cfm
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