The Great Whitewater Adventure
(May 19th thru May 22nd 2000)

Major adventure involving Hal; sons Scott, Chris, Kevin and Craig; son-in-laws Rick and Gene; and last but far from least grandson Nick. All but Rick met at Craig's and journeyed in a PLUSH van (VCR, TV and CD Player, leather captain chair seats, cooler and whatever) to West Virginia. Rick was picked up at Yeager airport and rode the rest of the way to the Appalachian Wildwater's facilities just north of Beckley, WV.

You might want to click on "mood music" if your computer is multimedia enabled, to get things rolling. Music was provided by Rick.

Thanks to cartooning by Craig and layout design by Kev, we sported the slickest "commemorative" "T" shirts to come down the pike. Check out the illustration on that guy to the left. Click on the picture for a definition of the cast of characters, if you don't recognize who is who.

Some hints for identification purposes. The Arizona folks and our bike racer were assumed much exposed to the sun and therefore were shown tanned. The rest of us folks had sunburn evident. Still having problems? Click on the picture to see the explanation view. Click on that image to get back here.

Some "T" shirt guys!

 

Day One, Saturday May 20, on the Upper New River

Day one was spent in ThrillKats® in the upper New. Several long pulls with a few class 2 spots for excitement. Nick was the hero of the day after a swing around our accompanying raft threw him into a deep eddy and flipped him. He was up in an instant, righted his boat and leaped in. Never lost his paddle. All this in boiling waters you definitely wouldn't pick for a swim.

To see an enlarged view of any of the pictures, click on that picture. Click on the enlarged picture to return to this spot.

The Dad

Scott

Chris

The Nick

Rick

Kev

Craig

Geno

 

Day One - Saturday May 20 - Evening

Pulled into the campsite and asked someone capture "the moment". The ThrillKat® was fun in the rapids but some of the pulls in quiet water tested arm and will.


Left to right we have Craig, Scott, Kev, Gene, Rick, Hal, Nick and Chris. Tired from the day's adventures and ready to enjoy the iced Coors on tap. All but Nick loved it, some more than others, right Craig? Before you start feeling sorry for Nick, there was iced Coke, Pepsi and others on tap as well. Is that being prepared or what?

Have to mentioned the spectacular steak dinner at the campsite. Hard to believe a meal THAT good could have been provided under the best of conditions, but at a campsite? Hats off to the great planning of AP and the execution by the guides Eric and Cindy. If anyone went hungry it was their own fault.

Day Two - Sunday May 21 - Lower New River

The day was launched with a huge, fabulous breakfast of eggs, diced potatoes, bacon and sausage, with LOTS of hot coffee. No "continental" breakfast for the AP folks.

Two boats for this trip through the lower New River which included some Class 3 and 4 rapids, and a few spots described as Class 5. To put all in perspective, Whitewater is rated on a scale of from 1 to 6, with the higher the number, the wilder the water. Class 5 is the highest allowed for commercial groups and Class 5 requires care and experience. A definite blast.


Gene, Scott, Kev and Craig rode the boat guided by Cindy, and did well considering they lacked the better crewing available in Eric's boat. Lots of thrills and screaming, but only deliberate wetting from dips and splashes.
The second day's trip was not all wild water or paddling. On two of the longer pulls we were met by a motored Appalachian Wildwater boat that towed us to save on arms. Great planning and an indication of AP's efforts in making this trip a pleasure as well as exciting.
Along with a few "swimmer rapids" deemed safe enough for those interested in taking on a rapids at eye level and sans boat, we had a chance for the cliff "leap for life", again if interested. Obviously, at least Kevin, Craig and Gene were. Scott was waiting on the cliff and followed...quickly. Actually most had to try it, except for dad, got tired of climbing back in the boat.


A shot of the better boat crew skippered by Eric. Chris, Dad, Rick and an almost hidden Nick showed all "how it should be done".

As a touch of ultimate civilization, a cooler of iced Coors was waiting on the landing under the New River Gorge Bridge, and was welcomed by all (but Nick). Cold soda was there for those interested.

I wish these pictures had included better shots of the GREAT guides, Eric Cowell and Cindy Ruthven of Appalachian Wildwaters. They selected our lines making it the exciting adventure it was, while being right there to make sure we didn't get into more trouble than we could handle. You can check out their full offering at their website.

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