2016 Webster Springs FAQ
Click HERE to find this event on Facebook.
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New for 2016: if you are paddling with the www.coastals.org group, you must be a paid dues member of www.coastals.org. You can join on the website.
Most of you are vets but there are a few first timers out there.
* What is Webster Springs?
The Webster Springs Whitewater Festival is an event hosted by the town of Webster Springs, WV and a local 4H camp, Camp Caesar. It is the weekend of 4/9/16 this year. Saturday, there is a race on a section of the Elk and a party later at Camp Caesar.
Since this first appeared on the Club's Cruise Schedule in 2005, this has turned in to a popular event for the Club. It has been where some have gotten their first taste of intermediate creeking.
I believe this year, there will be a bro down and cookout in the parking lot of the Mineral Springs Hotel Saturday night. Bring something tasty to eat.
* Where can I stay?
There are pretty much three options:
1. The paddling bourgeoisie insist on the Mineral Springs Hotel. That will fill up so get a reservation now.
2. Camping at Camp Caesar or by the Williams or Cranberry.
3. Cabins are available at Camp Caesar.
* Where are we going to paddle?
Hopefully, we'll be able to fire up laps on the class IV creeks in the area (Upper Meadow, Cranberry, Williams, Back Fork of the Elk, Laurel Fork of the Cherry, North Fork of the Cherry, etc.).
If those look too big girl, I’m sure someone will be doing a II-III section of something somewhere (Elk?). It would be nice if someone stepped up and offered to coordinate a II-III trip on the Board in a separate thread (hint
). On Saturday, I will be leaving the hotel by 10:30 am. If you would like to join me, first, make sure your 2016 Club dues are paid then, please show up well before then so we can leave by 10:30. This is shaping up to be a big trip and your help to keep it from turning in to a giant pooh parade is appreciated. (If we have a group of 18 and each person has to be waited on 10 minutes separately over the course of the day, that's 3 hours wasted.
:evil:)Also, once on the river, we need to continue to do a good job of splitting up in to small groups, keeping the groups separated, and sticking with those groups. This really minimizes boo-boos and gets them dealt with quickly and safely should they occur.
* How good has this trip been in the past, really?
This is how it has gone down in past years:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jKEBXiAz6j4" frameborder="0"></iframe>
2015 Trip Report
2014 Trip Report
2013 Trip Report
2012 Trip Report
2011 Trip Report
2010 Trip Report
2009 Trip Report
* Do I need a creekboat?
This is my all-time favorite Webster Springs question. There is a learning curve to figuring out how to paddle a creekboat well. If the stuff mentioned above sounds challenging to you and you’ve never been in a creekboat, you’d be better off in your old faithful. On the other hand, these rivers are where creekboats shine so it would be a good place to learn how to use it (actually, THIS would be a better place to learn how to use it). It all depends on what you’re willing to put up with.
If you're coming, it would be great if you'd post below.
Thanks and hope you decide to come.
Please do not "sticky" this post.[/s]
