CCC Labor Day Event
| River: | New |
| Skill: | Novice |
| Trip Date: | 09/02/2011 |
Day 1 of 3
We got an early start on our Labor Day CCC trip, leaving Thursday after work and driving to Randy's family's farm near Hinton, WV, a little over an hour from Ray’s Campground in Hico. We had a leisurely morning, sleeping in and having a great home-cooked breakfast. Then we headed to Ray’s, arriving early afternoon. This was the first time I’d been to a CCC event where I arrived at the campground early enough in the day to get a prime camping spot, set up camp during daylight, and relax and enjoy the evening. Topped it off with some pizza and beer from Pies and Pints.
Met everyone at the morning meeting. There were quite a few clubs represented besides the CCC at Rays that weekend…the West Virginia Wildwater Association, the Coastals, the Monocacy Canoe Club, the Blue Ridge Voyageurs, and the Peach Cobbler Club (very friendly group of Ohio rafters / paddlers, so named because their leader announced Sunday night over a bullhorn at the campground that fresh peach cobbler was available at their site). Chuck Brabec provided an update of the local flows (easy to do, basically only one thing running) and we broke into our groups. My group decided to do Glade Creek to Grandview Sandbar. Randy was kind enough to forego the Gorge and help get us to the put in and lead folks down the river (thanks, Randy).
Had a really great group…please forgive the missing last names…I’m not good with last names: Woody, Sonia , Dave , Mary Ellen , Steve and his daughter, Julie and her dad, Sabine and her young daughters Lisa (tandem with Sabine) and Annika (in her shiny new yellow boat).
If the rapids are named, I don’t know the names. BUT, the first wav-y train-y rapid is definitely my fav on this stretch. At 1.5 ft on the Thurmond gauge, however, it wasn’t too fluffy on Day 1.
Stopped and played several places on the river, even got some good current rolls in.
Quinnemont Rapid was fun that day, a good opportunity to practice river reading skills.
Day 2 of 3
Today, a subset of the group above, tried a new stretch of the New (for me, anyway), Thurmond to Cunard. We were able to work shuttle with a Gorge group so that we had vehicles at the takeout without actually having to take vehicles to the takeout before putting on.
There were several fun and interesting rapids on this stretch, though they were connected by long stretches of slowly moving current. We did see some lovely blue herons, an eagle, and a few snakes (but no squirrel on a rock in the middle of the river, as was seen by Randy on the Gorge). Surprise Rapid at the end, was a little more intimidating at the top than it was as we were sneaking it on the right.
Cooked at the campground that evening with several folks from our group under steady rain (was glad I brought my canopy). We enjoyed a fabulous appetizer, courtesy of Mary Ellen, fresh tomatoes from her garden, fresh mozzarella cheese, white balsamic, and olive oil on bruschetta, then brats and fixins, courtesy of Chef Randy. I just sat there like a slug and enjoyed it all. Good friends, fun times on the river, good food, and the gorgeous backdrop of West Virginia…who could ask for more?
Day 3 of 3
Day 3 was by far the best day, condition-wise, 5ft (Thurmond gauge) and we opted to repeat Glade Creek to Grandview Sandbar. The group shrunk, was just Randy, Mary Ellen, and I. My favorite first rapid was much bigger than on Saturday, super fun and fluffy, big waves! We moved pretty quickly down the rest of the river, knowing we had a 5 hour drive and early workday the next day. Quinnemont was padded out this time and I was able to get some good current rolls in before the take out.
We left Fayetteville and came home only to learn I’d left my booties and socks in an empty ice bag in the restroom at the Grandview Sandbar takeout. I wrote them off and ordered new ones a few days later…then Randy saw a post on the West Virginia Wildwater Association’s message board by Bridget Tincher…she had found my bootie bag! Thanks river karma! I was reunited with my *nicely washed* booties and socks a few days later (huge thanks to Bridget and her husband Tom for arranging transport).
All in all it was a wonderful way to spend Labor Day Weekend. Looking forward to next year!!