The trip was posted with a minimum preferred water level of 1' or above. The gauges held all week before the trip at around 2.5', so I figured we would have at least 2' by the weekend. We met at the visitor's center on Saturday morning and the folks there were reporting a level of -1.35'! To say the least. we were surprised, but a quick smartphone check indicated that the gorge was steady at 0.87' – a good, fun level with only minimum intimidation potential.
I got word “at the last minute” that Kibler was doing an unscheduled release at 9000 KW. I quickly posted a trip on CCC for this release. Since it was a last minute trip, I did not know if anyone …
I recently rejoined the the CCC and participated in the youth paddling clinics with my 11 year old nephew. My previous CCC experience spanned the late ’80s and 90’s during which I had the privilege to participate in various clinics, great trips and many memorable WORs. My compliements to Greg Runion and Jeff Deny for their professional and patient work with the eight students in the novice clinic. Their teaching style and one on one demonstrations of technique for each student created an enthusiasm for kayaking that was clearly evident in the smiles on each student.
The only thing better than seeing my kids’ smiling faces after a fun run on a river is seeing the faces of over 30 kids and 40 moms and dads after a day on the river making new friends and sharing days outside in the fresh air and cool river water. That is what Families Paddle Too! is all about – it is to encourage the enthusiasm and joy of our next generation of whitewater paddlers.
May 19, 2012 – Upper Meadow
When I posted this trip back in April, I was hopeful that there would be water in West Virginia on the weekend of the trip. On the Monday before the trip, West Virginia got a pretty good rain, but as the week wore on, many of the West Virginia creeks started dropping out. First the Back Fork of the Elk dropped below minimum, followed by the Cranberry. I was starting to worry. But by Thursday, it looked like the Meadow would hold, so we headed to West Virginia on Friday afternoon.
