O.C.T. New River Rendezvous Labor Day Weekend

[bambam]

As in years past this is a loosely organized multi-club trip to the New River in West Virginia. Opinions vary but this is around the 21st year this trip has happened.

Again, in keeping with the loosely organized theme I am late in posting this (plus I'm a slacker). Feel free to just show up.

Labor Day is early this year. We'll meet at Ray's Campground on Saturday August 30th at ten. If you are driving up on Saturday morning try to get there a little early to set up camp as trips generally spin off right after the meeting. We'll meet at the picnic tables behind the office. We'll meet at nine on Sunday and Monday.

This trip is open to all levels of paddlers. The upper sections of the New are pretty newbie friendly while the gorge offers more difficult rapids. With rain other options open up.

Where? Ray's is in Hico (pronounced HIGHcoh) near the intersection of routes 60 and 19 which is about five miles north of where the New goes under route 19. Head west very briefly on 60 and turn right on Sunday Road. Sunday Road is only paved in the middle so take it easy. Ray's is about a mile on the left. 304-658-4386. Reservations are not required for tent sites. $9 per person per night. Electric sites are $5 extra. Dogs must be leashed. Please respect quiet hours.

Join us!

Ken Dubel

[John and Linda VanLuik]

Plan to be there

[Terri]

Looking forward to another great year at the New River Rendezvous! Terri

[Barb]

[SmileAtSusan]

Would enjoy taking the new boats down the New River. Hank, at Ace Whitewater suggested a nice run for beginners with mostly class II and one III for beginners called the
"Glades" I believe. This past Saturday, I purchased a map of the entire area that identifies different paddles, take-outs, etc, if anyone is interested. I'll dig it out as soon as I finish unpacking!

[bambam]

Susan, it sounds like Ace was referring to the Glade Creek section. We usually have groups there on Monday as it's a shorter section, shuttle is riverside, and it's sorta on the way home for a lot of folks.

All, it's early to say but it looks like the New will have some decent water this year. The gorge is currently around 2.4 feet at Fayette Station. Most of this water seems to have been imported from southwest Virginia as the surrounding streams are pretty dry.

Cheers,

Ken Dubel

[Barb]

Wanted to share this great compilation of info received from Ed Evangelidi - thanks, Ed! (can't seem to add - maybe Ginny will add later)....

I'm sure Ken has all of this in his head and/or his extensive notes, but wanted to share with this with those who want to know more about the area....

Also, Ed wanted everyone to know that he will be hiking and/or paddling before and after the weekend. His contact info is in the directory.

[martha james]

Ed, Your information is excellent. Thanks a bunch.

[Amphibious]

New River Rendezvous folks -

I am exploring options for coming up from RVA with the family to join in the fun. First, based on Ed's cheat sheet that Barb shared and Ken's comments - a "glades" run on Monday would be a good fit for us.

How about Saturday or Sunday? Is anyone thinking of running some of the other easier runs on those days? The "Prince to Thurmond", "Thurmond to Cunard", "Fayette to Hawks Nest", or "Hinton to Sandstone" runs all look about our speed with kids in the raft.

Also - does anyone know of an outfitter in the New River area (or RVA, I suppose) that will higher out rafts for self guided trips? We did this as a family on the the Middle Yough last summer and it worked well. Wondering if they do it in New River area for easier runs? Any advice?

Thanks

[bambam]

New River Rendezvous folks -

I am exploring options for coming up from RVA with the family to join in the fun. First, based on Ed's cheat sheet that Barb shared and Ken's comments - a "glades" run on Monday would be a good fit for us.

How about Saturday or Sunday? Is anyone thinking of running some of the other easier runs on those days? The "Prince to Thurmond", "Thurmond to Cunard", "Fayette to Hawks Nest", or "Hinton to Sandstone" runs all look about our speed with kids in the raft.

Also - does anyone know of an outfitter in the New River area (or RVA, I suppose) that will higher out rafts for self guided trips? We did this as a family on the the Middle Yough last summer and it worked well. Wondering if they do it in New River area for easier runs? Any advice?

Thanks

For this weekend I commit to heading up a trip on an easier section upstream of the gorge if need be just in case but so far there's always been enough grizzled veterans plus enough general interest that these trips just happen on Saturday. ... Sunday too.

As to renting rafts for self-guided trips, if you find an outfitter then I'd love to hear about it. I don't think it's like how it is on the Yough.

Ken

[Amphibious]

Hi Ken -

Thanks for the reply - just to follow up I spoke with New & Gauley River Adventures, Rivermen, and ACE and none of them will rent you a raft for self guided trips. They said they didn't know anyone who did. So you are right, seems its not quite the same as up at the Yough.

[bambam]

As of Tuesday night the New at Fayette Station (virtual gauge based on Thurmond) is at 1.4 feet, leveling off and dropping slowly. Fellow weather geeks and gauge geeks please check me on this but it's looking promising for some ideal river levels for the weekend both on the gorge and the upper sections.

Aaaaah, padded rocks, not particularly pushy, not washed out, hurricane staying off the coast so far, a little hot on Saturday, ..... , then again it's WV, if you don't like the weather then just wait a bit, it will change, t-storms maybe moving in on Sunday and Monday, gotta love it.

Cheers,

Ken

[AndreaJ]

I'm going to try to get there on Monday. Since I'll be driving in on Monday AM, I'll see you at 9 am, I guess. I'm not yet sure if I will be R1 or R2 this weekend. I'm hoping to bring a friend.

Of course, I may just bring the Do-It-Now and join the Glade Creek group too.

Oh, Claytor Dam is releasing about 1400 cfs (and there is less than that coming in). Greenbrier is putting in less than 200 cfs, so unless we get some widespread showers/storms, I wouldn't expect the NRG to be over zero (2400 cfs) by the weekend.

AJ

[bambam]

..... Oh, Claytor Dam is releasing about 1400 cfs (and there is less than that coming in). Greenbrier is putting in less than 200 cfs, so unless we get some widespread showers/storms, I wouldn't expect the NRG to be over zero (2400 cfs) by the weekend.

AJ

Hope to see you there, Andrea.

For any who might be unfamiliar, "zero" at the Fayette Station virtual (online) and stick (in real life on the side of the river) gauge does not represent a barely paddle-able level. At this time of year especially, zero is a desirable level!

Ken

[Creekdeacon]

Be glad to see you up there.