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

bambam · Post by **bambam** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 7:33 am

We'll meet at Ray's Campground on Saturday, September 1st at ten a.m. If you are arriving on Saturday morning try to get there early enough to set up camp as trips generally spin off right after the meeting and it's helpful for shuttle if your vehicle isn't loaded to the gills with camping gear. When you arrive, folks who spent Friday night will be chomping at the bit to get going. If you are camping Friday night then please try not to chomp at the bit too much Saturday morning. We'll get there. ..... We'll meet at the picnic tables behind the office. We'll meet at nine on Sunday and Monday.

If you are camping "off-campus" please don't ask me to coordinate with you. I'm not smart enough to do that. Show up at Ray's for the morning meetings.

This trip is open to almost all levels of paddlers. If you've never been in a boat before then you aren't ready. At ordinary water levels 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. At last count it was $9 per person per night. Electric sites are $5 extra. Dogs must be leashed. Please respect quiet hours.

They accept cash, check, and all major credit cards. I'll guess they prefer cash so bring some bills.

GPS user note, I love that technology, trust it blindly if you wish. I recommend at least glancing at a map or two before you head out.

We tend to have large groups on the river during this weekend. If you are not in to such things then that's totally fine. Spin off your own small group trip and we'll hear of your adventures in camp.

I'll post this to Coastals, the Monocacy Canoe Club, and the Carolina Canoe Club, the three with which I'm most active. Feel free to cross-post to other clubs if you wish.

Cheers,

Ken Dubel

paddlin_bill · Post by **paddlin_bill** » Sun Aug 12, 2018 9:50 pm

I'm going, and planning to paddle class II stuff. I'd be I interested in a spot in a raft on the Gorge one day if it works out, but I would not want to get in the way of tradition with Ken and Da Crew!

I've done Surprise and Glade Creek section of the New both several times, but not yet enough to remember lines well enough to lead first timers.

Hope to see plenty of other class II boaters in WV!

Post by **GinnyN** » Tue Aug 14, 2018 9:53 am

There is a good chance that I will be paddling the Glade Creek section of the New - probably on Monday. Weather, water levels, other available streams will all be factors in my decision process. Going along with the "loosely organized" theme, I don't think i will commit to exactly which day just yet. I'm hoping that other streams will be available. such as:

Cherry, Fenwick to Gauley River
Elk, below Webster Springs
Gauley, Top, Cherry to Panther Creek

I'll also be looking to Ed E. for his wonderful guidance.

Elanor325 · Post by **Elanor325** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:12 am

Chris & I are probably in. The main NRG aside, are there many solid IIIs in the area? I've heard the New sections above the gorge have lots of flatwater between Class IIs, with maybe the occasional 3 drop. I'm debating between bringing my dog in a canoe vs leaving her and bringing the pirouette so I can get more play in. Joy-dog has done easy Class II-IIIs including Smoke Hole Canyon at 7ft (rose under us) and Ripplemead to Bluff City on the New. I'm a rising III+ paddler with a consistent "planned" roll and a semi-consistent combat roll.

bambam · Post by **bambam** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 6:03 pm

Hi Elanor.

The area is not particularly known for abundant class III runs but there are some around if we get rains in the right places.

Dogs are nothing new to Coastals trips. Just please keep leashed in camp and be sensitive that not everyone wants a wet dog in his car.

Ken

Thinmints · Post by **Thinmints** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 1:35 am

I'll head out to WV if things stay on the lower side of Class III and will probably camp overnight friday.

I'm not familiar with the campsite though, is this a place with port-a-johns and firepits? Or do I need to bring a full kit?

-Brendon

Post by **GinnyN** » Sun Aug 26, 2018 6:30 am

Rays has a bathhouse. Firepits and picnic tables are scattered around. First come first served. It's loosely organized.

Terri · Post by **Terri** » Mon Aug 27, 2018 6:57 pm

Count me in too. I am stoked! Terri

paddlin_bill · Post by **paddlin_bill** » Tue Aug 28, 2018 3:04 pm

Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend!

-B

nancy · Post by **nancy** » Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:18 pm

Shorn & I will be there, the first time for us!
We're planning to arrive Friday, looking forward to some class 2 runs.
nancy

nancy · Post by **nancy** » Wed Aug 29, 2018 10:28 pm

Shorn & I will be there, the first time for us!
We're planning to arrive Friday, looking forward to some class 2 runs.
nancy

martha james · Post by **martha james** » Thu Aug 30, 2018 9:59 am

I'm coming too. Brendon, you're going to love it!

paddlin_bill · Post by **paddlin_bill** » Thu Aug 30, 2018 10:32 am

Come on out Brendon. It's a good time!

edwin_talley · Post by **edwin_talley** » Thu Aug 30, 2018 9:31 pm

See you all there Saturday morning.

I'd love to get a chance to explore the Cherry, Gauley above the lake and even the Elk. I spent one summer driving back & forth by the Cherry every other weekend & I always wanted to find out what it would be like to paddle down it. We stayed in Webster Springs for the summer. Such a shame I didn't have a boat back then to paddle.

Post by **GinnyN** » Fri Aug 31, 2018 7:16 pm

Re: the Cherry: The Craigsville gauge needs to be at least 11.5 feet for a chance at the Cherry. At 11.5 to 11.8 the last 3 miles of the Cherry should be OK. I prefer 11.8 feet or higher to paddle from the Fenwick bridge to the takeout at the confluence of the Cherry and Gauley.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=03189100