Rafting on the Upper Gauley River in West Virginia -- September 25 & 26, 1998. Mike, with David Lund and Mark Stevenson.
This was such a blast last year I came back for more. Our guide Phillip Belcher, once again, was the best! Surfing the holes behind hydraulics... Catching a wild ride over some of the piles of water... Lying back during calm stretches, enjoying the scenery, identifying trees... Going through "The Box". All while in control ... well, almost :-) .
We shared the raft this year with our trusty guide Phil and Peter Garvin (both in our raft last year), plus Frank Hughes and Frank Hughes Jr., a father-and-son team new to our raft this year. Now, for some samples of the fun...
A little vertical action. What goes up must come down...
Reaching for water solid enough to dig a paddle into. Rafters from left to right in the photo: Phil, David, Frank, Mike, Peter, Frank Jr., Mark.
David reaching for it. Getting wet, Mark?
In the midst in the foam approaching "Pillow Rock". Where's the front of the raft???
Rafting the Upper Gauley, September 1997 (shows a clean
run at Pillow Rock)
Rafting the Upper Gauley, September 1999 (shows a
not-so-perfect run at Pillow Rock)
Rafting the Upper Gauley, September 2000 (another
clean run at Pillow rock)
Rafting the Upper Gauley, September 2002 (see the
fear of swimming the rapids at Pillow Rock!)
Rafting the Upper Gauley, October 2006 (with more
full-contact rafting!)
North American River Runners (our outfitting company)
US Army Corps of Engineers
Huntington District Whitewater Water Control Information