OCT Russell Fork, 10-7 & 8-2017

[John and Linda VanLuik]

The Russell Fork is located in beautiful Dickenson County, VA. On the Virginia – Kentucky border. Dam release is from the Army Corp., John W. Flannagan Dam and Reservoir into the Pound River which confluences with the Russell Fork. The Russell Fork has 3 sections; the upper, the gorge, and the lower. We run the upper and lower sections and eschew the gorge which is a class V. The upper and lower have class III rapids with at least one class III + rapid on each section. We will meet Saturday morning, 10-7-2017, at 10:00 am at the Breaks Interstate Park restaurant parking lot. Just come in the park entrance and drive past the lodge and the parking lot is on the left. We will try to do both the upper and lower Saturday with the lower take out in Elkhorn City Kentucky running shuttle between the two runs. Sunday we do a short run on the upper before heading home. Lodging and camping is available in the Breaks Interstate Park and also at the Gateway Motel in Breaks, phone 276-531-8481. Be aware there is a Remote Area Medical clinic in Grundy the same weekend and there might be some competition for motel rooms from the clinic volunteers, so make reservations early. Hope to see you there.
John

[AndreaJ]

I'm going to try to be there, John. Hope Linda comes along.

[John and Linda VanLuik]

We both plan to be there. Hope to see you

[chromo]

Hi, I am planning to join you. I should be at the campground Friday night. Thanks

[Raymond]

Kurt Sisson and I plan to join you. We're staying at the Hotel, so we'll be at the meeting point on Saturday morning. May swing by the campground Friday night to see folks depending on how early we arrive.

[billh1970]

I'll be at the Gateway too. Coming up Friday.

[AndreaJ]

I am planning to be at the campground Friday night. I'll likely get there late afternoon. Maybe 5 pm to 6 pm.

Anybody know if the campground is still first come first served? In the past you simply "reserved" a campsite and selected the one that you wanted when you got there. Or just got one when you got there. Is it still the same or have they changed it?

I am looking to be in Loop A. Will have my T@B camper with me, so if you see a grey one with blue handles and wheel covers, that's probably me.

Its also been a year since I've been here, so I don't know what the dining opportunities are (other than the Lodge - which is always good for bfast).

Bill, you're not driving up on Sat AM??? Wow. Call me if you want to meet for dinner.

Andrea

[John and Linda VanLuik]

Looking forward to seeing everyone. We plan to eat at the Park restaurant Friday night if anyone is there Friday come join us.

[AndreaJ]

Sorry. I'll eat breakfast there, but not dinner.

Here is a link to a map that I put together with food locations within a 30+ min drive of the park. Google map

It looks like there is a good pizza place in Haysi that I may try out on Friday night. It looks like the Autumn Festival for Haysi was last weekend, so the town won't be "crowded".