I have had such a good time this weekend...So much to report!

After a total blast on the Lower videoboating adventure Friday and Saturday, I ventured to Swiss to find a large KY contingency strumming and thumping around a campfire at the lovely "buggy field" at Swiss. It was great to be back with my crew.

Since I was all amped up from the Ace thing, I was feeling froggy and accepted an offer from Brent for a guide on the Upper Gauley Sunday.

YT masterminded a very good shuttle for us. The cast for Jbob's and my initiation was Chris Cash, Brent, YT, , Wes and Bruce.

Those of you planning on joining BWA Upper Gauley trip are in store for some good lines and HUGE water. Bring your roll and your smile--you will need both.

I won't try and convey how much fun this was, it is totally a firsthand sort of thing; but I will share my story of Jbob my hero:

Jbob started his day by cleaning off the toilet seat that some dumbass shat on. Really. He did that.

Secondly---

A member of our group ended up going through the "mail slot" at the bottom of Lost Paddle. Backwards. His paddle ended up spanning the 2 foot wide gap at the bottom of a class 5 rapid that had the power of the Summersville Dam and the Meadow going through and around it.

Since it was Jbob's first time on a class 5 run, he decided he should be the one to climb up on the rock and get it. For someone he only met that day.

Ask him about it this weekend at G-fest...I won't ruin it for you!

The rest of the run was great. Sweet's Falls is definitely SWEEEET, but I can't pick a favorite yet.

See ya!

e

e

Kick ass, E!!!
I can't wait to hear more details.

I'm hoping to paddle with you on the Lower this weekend. That is, if you still have time for the Lower............; )

-bo

Let me just say that Elizabeth was a sheer delight to show down the UG. Within minutes of paddling with she and J-Bob, I knew they were well within their skill set. They understood the lines being described without having to get out and look at some of the Class V rapids and were both fabulous with combat rolls (not unexpected on a first time run) and "read and run" abilities. Just a joy to show her the lines. We looked at Pillow and Iron Ring and ran everything else on description. We didn't need to, but we did. Should not be long before she is video boating on the Upper. I sure did enjoy it and look forward to boating with these awesome paddlers and BWAers alot more. Man, I really enjoyed hanging on the river with both Elizabeth and J-Bob.

And, what can I say about the heroic, yes, heroic effort of J-Bob to snag Cash's paddle from the Mail Slot at Tumble Home? I thought for sure we were going to have to leave it. But, J-Bob, after a solid run through Lost Paddle, got out of his boat behind the boulder and set up a tandem climb with assist from another bro that jumped in, and the paddle was saved. Just friggin impressive and an awesome effort. What a bro to have on any river with ya. Man, thanks again J-Bob. What a great boating couple to hang with - great day ya'll. Yeah, see ya'll next weekend for sure.

Brent

Awesome job E and J-bob! You two will love that run with all the surf, play, and squirt spots.
And awesome job of BWAers showing other folks down. Brent, you do a heck of a job of being there to take folks down stepping it up.

Gauley season may not happen for me this year, so keep the trip reports coming!

bubba

we were there at pillow rock sunday when you came through. awesome. i had no idea that was your first run. we ran the lower on saturday, and i would love to mimic your skills on my first upper run someday. you made it look easy. it may be a bit for me though, i need to learn how to roll my oc-1 first. congratulations, and you to j-bob, i guess we missed your run unfortunately.

matt hagan, louisville



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2009 03:53PM by mattheha.

So I guess that I have been boating now for about 9 years. I have never experienced anything like the Upper Gauley. I have never had that amount of adrenaline run through my body before. Thanks to Brent, YT, Chris Cash, Bruce, and Wes for being the guides for the best river trip in my life and most likely the best day of my life. I guess that for some people there is a point in time that they find that the river is as necessary as air. Elizabeth and I are two of those people.


SYOTR
JBob