NEW FOR 2016: YOU MUST BE A PAID DUES COASTALS MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE ON THIS TRIP
CAMPING:
I have reserved the NPS Burnwood Group campground Friday, and Saturday nights (nights of 9/16/16 through 9/18/16 checking out Sunday afternoon 9/18/16). It is $5 / person / night. The campground is on the left as you're headed north on Rt. 19. It is just north of the bridge and across Rt. 19 from the New River Gorge visitor’s center. GPS coordinates are 38.073434, -81.078401. It has running water and flush toilets but no showers. Alcohol is allowed but no glass. PETS MUST BE ON A LEASH AT ALL TIMES and they cannot be left unattended. There is only one good sized fire pit for us. There is a large picnic shelter. We cannot make any new fire rings and we have to leave the place in as good a shape (if not better) than we found it or I get a beat down from the Man. Our camping area is the first one on the left as you enter the campground. Parking is only along the gravel road - no cars are to be out in the field.
BOATING:
LOWER GAULEY FRIDAY:
I’m running the Lower Gauley the Friday of Gauley Fest. First timers with qualified resumes are welcome. If interested, contact me at dkessmann at gmail (period) com.
This trip is quite large and has only been successful in the past because we have split up in to smaller groups. If you are interested in leading or safety boating for a few folks, your help would be greatly appreciated.
Let’s figure on meeting in the parking lot of the former Food Land in Gauley Bridge at 11:30 on Friday morning. The GPS coordinates are 38.159262, -81.188911. Food Land is on Rt. 60 on the left just before you get to the intersection of 60 and 39 in Gauley Bridge. It was a good sized grocery store. You won’t miss it. It is not the Food Land near the intersection of 19 and 60. Make sure you are at the right one. If you’re not in Gauley Bridge, you are at the wrong Food Land.
NEW RIVER GORGE SATURDAY:
We are meeting at the Burnwood Group Campground (across Rt. 19 from the New River Gorge Visitor’s Center) at 9:30 am Saturday to run the New River Gorge. If it is your first time, contact me (dkessmann at gmail period com) so we can make sure this is the trip for you. Veterans are welcome to just show up but DO NOT be late.
This trip is also quite large and has only been successful in the past because we have split up in to smaller groups. If you are interested in leading or safety boating for a few folks, your help would be greatly appreciated.
Another key factor to this trip’s success is having a concurrent trip on the Upper New (Thurmond to Cunard) so we can work out the PRO shuttle. No one has stepped up to do this though. If you are interested in doing this Upper New trip Saturday and being the person who saved Gauley Fest, please let me know.
Thanks.
2016 is the 12th year for this trip and I’m looking forward to it. This is how it went down the in past years:
I'm in, I also am reserving the first parking spot near the recycle bins so I can plug in my fighter pilot mask!!!
Envelope – Free stationary taken from the Marriott while on a business trip.
Snowflake address label – sent to me free and had to be used up.
Stained glass stamp – It was more then three feet away from me when I decided to get them so you know I didn’t see them clearly
Butterfly and Sunflower stickers on the back – Also free and required because the glue on the envelope was so old it no longer stuck.
--KessmanN
“...And Lord, we are especially thankful for nuclear power, the cleanest, safest energy source there is. Except for solar, which is just a pipe dream.” Homer Simpson
I am In for the New River Gorge section on Saturday with my raft. I can take 1 to 3 people and I need at least one person to make it work. I have all the necessary gear for everybody. So if you know somebody who is not ready to paddle the gorge in their own boat and would like to see / ride down the gorge have them contact me 434 two four two 2417. I will be staying at Gauley Fest Friday and Saturday night
I'm in, but you guys probably already knew that. I'm going to steal the spot next to Guy since I need power for my fighter mask as well.
Generally, I think that if I have the opportunity to paddle, and I've got something else to do or I feel like I shouldn't go for some reason, then I force myself to go and I always have a great time. So, I guess when in doubt -- Go, Paddle. -- Tommy Hilleke
I will be doing the New River Gorge on Sat with my raft. I have a full boat on Sat but have slots on Sun to do either the NRG or lower Gauley. You can contact me at 540 four eight zero 0663 if interested.
Stan-
I might be interested in rafting on Sunday if there is room. I could just as easily paddle the Glade section as well, so no hard feelings if it doesn't pan out.
I'm staying at Ray's (need power for sleeping). My number is 434-444-o157.
-Bill
-Bill Swarm
To borrow from naturalist John Muir, The river is calling and I must go.
Our camping area is the first one on the left as you enter the campground. Parking is only along the gravel road - no cars are to be out in the field.
