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

[bambam]

I have been “loosely coordinating” this trip every Labor Day since 2002. It's an easy job but I've been doing it for the past 22 events and I want someone else to step up for 2024. I will happily share notes on how I've been doing it which you are invited to ignore.

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Traditionally we have met at Ray’s Campground on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend at ten a.m. at the picnic tables behind the office. We'll meet at nine a.m. on Sunday and Monday. If you are driving there on Saturday morning then try to allow time to at least throw camping gear out of the car so you'll be useful for shuttles.

This trip is ordinarily 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 narrow so take it easy. Ray’s is about a mile on the left. 304-658-4386. Reservations are not required for tent sites. Some tent sites are now reservable but it looks like they are already booked. At last count it was $10 per person per night. Electric sites are $10 extra. Dogs must be leashed. Please respect quiet hours.

In past years they have accepted 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. It can go a bit bonkers out there. In recent years phone coverage in camp has been at least good enough to check river levels.

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

[Alicia]

There is plenty of room for tents without a reservation. But there are 3 cabins & 2 'proper' tent sites still available for reservation:

https://www.roverpass.com/c/ray-s-campg ... =type_tent

You might want to call to see where these tent sites actualy are.

[suprio]

Looking forward to join!
How is the water level at the gorge usually during this time, Ken/Alicia?

Thanks for posting!

Cheers,
Suprio

[bambam]

Hi Suprio.

As far as I know the New River Gorge has been runnable for at least as long as I have been alive, and that's a long time. We ran it twice this past weekend at zero and at minus six inches. The latter was more challenging for me but still a fine time.

Be careful about what gauge you watch. American Whitewater calculates, I think, based off of the stage gauge at Thurmond. -4.66 + (Thurmond x 1.33).

USGS at Thurmond

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-l ... period=P7D

American Whitewater

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/cont ... /2418/flow

Here's to hoping the links will work.

Cheers,

Ken

[Terri]

Thanks Ken for coordinating yet again. Count me in! Terri

[paddlin_bill]

I'll be there!

[PaddleAllen]

Jan and I will be there for Sat, Sunday, and Monday. We will be paddling the upper gorge only. Allen Spivey

[Jenny]

Sally and I will be coming. We're staying at the Quality Inn and will be paddling upper sections only.

[Giggles]

Thank Ken.

Wade and I will be there

[WARRENSCH]

Kathy and I will be there, as well as my sister Marva. They will being running the Upper and I am looking forward to a PFD on the Gorge.

Warren

[Savanna K]

I’ll be there Saturday-Monday to run the Gorge. Bringing a friend as well. I’m looking to borrow a kayak paddle 194cm or a little longer if anyone has an extra one!

[Dee P]

Thanks for loosely coordinating, Ken. I plan to run the Gorge Saturday and Sunday.

[bambam]

There is a 7,000 c.f.s. bubble of water making its way down the New in Virginia. Gauge watchers may have noticed that the calculated AW New at Fayette Station has come up some. This may be due to dam operators making a little room for when the bubble hits the reservoirs. I expect this bubble will pass through the West Virginia portions before we get there. It should be short lived so don't freak out when you see the gorge get high in the next day or two.

Ken Dubel

[PaddleAllen]

Good info to post.
Thanks, Ken!
Allen

[Leerail]

I’m planning to come.