Gorge Guide FALL 2011
ADVENTURE
NEW RIVER
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10Things you didn’t know you wanted to know about the
bridge Bridge Day Survival Guide
YOUR RESOURCE FOR ADVENTURE IN THE NEW AND GAULEY RIVERS AREA
New River Mountain biking 101 Event Calendar inside!
Vertical Sleepers:
Ultimate (& Unsung) NRG climbs
River tales
Classic Gauley
+
A Day in the Life of a Raft Guide
2011
5 1 m p 2-6
AND CH TAST ILI ING
BIKE SWAP TAIN MOUN TE STA HOLE N COR NAMENT TOUR
www.NewRiverGorgeCVB.com Photo by Gary Hartley
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AdVeNTure
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GorGe Guide live it up Here
Publisher/editor Cristina Opdahl editorial consultants maura Kistler, Christopher Danz health editor Ginger Danz copy editor martha Opdahl design intern Elizabeth Tomlin contributing Writers amanda ashley, Ginger Danz, Jennifer Ginsberg, Donnie Hudspeth, Katie Johnson, maura Kistler, Jay Young contributing Photographers Christopher Danz, Colleen Laffey, mike Turner Editorial Content editorial and photo queries are welcome. send a brief description of your story idea or jpeg of photo you are submitting to gorgeguide@ gmail.com
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advertising Please send request for media kits to gorgeguide@gmail.com or call 304-573-8113 copyright© 2011 by nickelville Press, llc. all rights reserved. reproduction in whole or part without written permission is expressly prohibited. New River Gorge Adventure Guide P.o. box 372 Fayetteville, Wv 25840 outdoor activities are inherently risky, and participation can cause injury or loss of life. Please consult your doctor prior to beginning any workout program or sports activity, and seek out a qualified instructor. nickelville Press, llc will not be held responsible for your decision to play outdoors.
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NEW RIVER
ADVENTURE
Gorge Guide Fall 2011 Issue
12. Lost Among the Stars
You haven’t really climbed the New River Gorge until you step onto these beautiful—andoften overlooked—routes. by Jay Young
14. Speed Dreams
15. New River Mountain Biking Primer of the New River Gorge National River’s newest trails
What you need to get the most out
16. Big Bridge, We Hardly Knew Ye the New River Gorge Bridge? You’ve got a lot to learn.
18. Feast of Flight
the best views of the parachute show.
by Jennifer Ginsberg Think you know a lot about by Maura Kistler
What not to bring, what you can’t do without, and how to get
20. Hello, Goodbye!
thrilling step.
Get up close and personal with the folks who take that by Amanda Ashley
22. Golly, Good Gauley
Before there were roads and hundreds of river runners in one day, it was you, the river, and an occasional coal train shuttle. by Donnie Hudspeth
24. Living the Life
Raft guides work long hours for little pay, but they live the dream—doing what they love exactly where they want to be. by Katie Johnson
28. Adventure Calendar
Beauties and the beasts: a Class V whitewater race, a 13mile run through hardwood forest in its fall prime, and more.
29. Nature & Culture Calendar
Opportunities to watch for raptors, vie for the Fayetteville Corn Hole title, eat some brains, and adjust your f-stop in the mountains.
31. La Vida Local
Local free-range cashmere goat hair found here. As well as an abundance of sun ripened fruits, vegetables, meats and eggs to help you cut down your personal carbon foot print, and eat better in the process. by Ginger Danz
32. The Wild World of Salamanders
Snot Otters we’ve got, along with Poisonous Efts and many other beautiful salamanders who love the New River Gorge like we do. by Jim McCormac
34. The High-Low Restaurant Guide
Let your pocketbook guide you to three dollar pepperoni rolls or twenty-three dollar curry-seared tiger shrimp.
Photos (top to bottom): Mike turner, animal upper gauley race, imba trail solutions, christopher danz, melvin grubb
Go 50 miles an hour or get up close and personal with an endangered Swainson’s warbler, all without touching the ground.
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 9
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Live Far Away? Let us help you plan your next adventure. Log on to www.nrgorgeguide.com for the best trails, routes, rivers, and stories in one of the most beautiful places on Earth
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Routes 5.7 Dominaire Domino Point
Lost Among the Stars
Raise your hand if you’ve ever climbed at Domino Point. I thought not! There are only 20 stars in this entire section of the guidebook, but four of them belong to Dominaire. The long corner is committing and difficult for the grade with tricky gear that is less than plentiful. And as far as climbers are concerned, we may as well measure the distance to Domino Point in light years. But, Dominaire is absolutely chalkless and well worth the trek. A prepared party can cruise into Roger’s Campground late on Friday in the summer, mountain bike out to Domino Point for a quick lap and be back for dinner.
5.8 Happy Head, Bridge Area
By Jay Young Elaina Arenz strolls up Zealous, 5.10, Junkyard Wall Grab a copy of Mike Williams’ New River Gorge Rock Climbs. Feel that heft? The book almost generates its own gravity well, much of it coming from the massive quantity of ink used to print the little red stars that denote route quality. The New River Gorge is packed with climbs like the beautiful Zag and the magnificent Leave it to Jesus, favorite routes that are decorated with plenty of chalk and see a handful of sends on any given weekend. And then there are the less well known beauties that often get overlooked. Perhaps they have a long hike in. Maybe a mega-classic around the corner steals their thunder. They are little known and not frequently climbed but exceptional in their own right. Some of them are sport climbs, some trad, and every last one of them is worth the trip to the crag just to climb it.
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5.9 Riding the Crest of a Wave, Endless Wall, Kaymoor Slab Hidden in plain sight near the left end of Kaymoor Slab, Riding the Crest of a Wave rises high above the trees to gain one of the best views in the New River Gorge. One of the few true multi-pitch lines in the region, Riding the Crest of a Wave is “intricate and engaging” according to the Williams book. Add to that its spectacular, improbable finish on steep, clean rock and you get a route that is worthy of every one of its four stars. And yet, you’ll enjoy a virtual guarantee of being the only party to climb it that week, let alone that day. It’s well over 100 feet tall, so don’t forget a second rope for the descent.
Photo By mike turner
A Few Unsung, Not-at-All Crowded Epic Beauties of the NRG
On any given weekend in season, Bridge Buttress is one of the most popular areas in the New River Gorge. Oddly enough, the Central Bridge area, a mere one-minute walk from Easily Flakey and Zag, is one of the least traveled. Stroll downstream and on the left edge of the buttress, you’ll find a short chimney that leads to a ledge under a striking arête. That’s Happy Head, one of the most overlooked climbs of its grade. Brave the awkward and unprotectable chimney to reach the arête, and you’ll be rewarded with a very happy head, indeed… and no queue to climb it.
Photo By Mike turner
An unknown climber nearly topped out on Riding the Crest of a Wave, 5.9, Endless Wall
Much like Happy Head, Zealous is a short stroll from one of the most populated areas of the New River Gorge. And yet, for all the traffic it doesn’t get, Zealous might as well be located where no one has gone before. Walk past the top rope gangs on New Yosemite, New River Gunks and all the other main-area routes, then amble out beyond the Junkyard Cave and you’ll find a climb that, honestly, doesn’t look like much. Zealous is typically a little cob-webby at the bottom, has some lichen near the top and stays wet for a couple days after a good rain. But it still manages to be one of the best 5.10s in the Gorge. With multiple roof pulls, committing long reaches, a nearly constant pro-or-go dilemma and a balancy runout to the anchor, Zealous is utterly engaging for its entire length.
Central Endless is a veritable cornucopia of epic climbs, and Hot Tuna is one of many. If you’re not a trad climber, however, you may never have even walked past Hot Tuna, let alone stopped and looked at it. Its closest sport cousin is Something Fierce, which Williams calls, “often wet and rarely enjoyed.” This smokin’ fish, however, climbs the beautiful black and orange tiger-striped rock for which the New is famous, and offers good, though not ubiquitous, gear plus bolts right where you really need them. The 80-foot odyssey is “action packed the whole way” according to first ascentionist Kenny Parker.
5.11 Cumberland Blues, Bubba City, Bubba Buttress You wouldn’t think you’d find one of the best 5.11 cracks at the New hidden among the chalk-caked faces and crowds of Bubba City’s Beer Wall, but there sits Cumberland Blues. A bouldery start leads to an obvious right-leaning crack that splits a painted headwall. The feet up there are smeary, but despite the intimidating height and angle, the handholds are huge and the gear is diesel, so feel free to boldly go for it.
5.13 Sportster, Beauty Mountain These days, just about every 5.13 climber craves Apollo-Reed steepness. The fact that Sportster isn’t nearly as overhanging, plus the bevy of more moderate climbs surrounding it probably helps keep traffic on this test piece to a minimum. Sportster is the antiApollo Reed—technical, awkward, fingery and difficult right off the ground, with the real business at about midheight. “Most people can’t figure out the crux,” says Porter Jarrard, who claims the route’s second ascent. “You climb this slightly bulging face, and then the crux is a slab.” Make it through the slab and you still have to negotiate the heartbreakingly difficult sequence that guards the anchor.
We live here, we play here.
We know this place well.
Gorge Guide ADVENTURE
5.12 Hot Tuna, Endless Wall, Undeserved Area
NEW RIVER
5.10 Zealous, Junkyard Wall
Visit us when you're planning your next adventure. www. nrgorgeguide. com
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 13
Speed
Dreams
It seems unbelieveable that you could fly through the trees at 50 miles per hour. And yet ziplining makes it possible. Fun, even. Read on for a roundup of the local zip flavors, from scenic and meandering to fast and furious.
ACE Zipline Canopy Tour
Burning Rock Express
Length: 200-800 feet Number of zips: 8 Highest Point: 100 feet Speed: up to 35 MPH Claim to Fame: West Virginia's first zipline tour Highlight: View of the Gorge from Rigor Mortis, and if the timing is right, tiny people floating on the river
Length: 2,500 feet Number of zips: 1 Highest Point: 150 feet Speed: up to 60 MPH Claim to Fame: Burning Rock is steep: You drop 300 feet from beginning to end Highlight: Moonlight zipping with glowstick on your chest and the wind in your hair
aceraft.com 877-683-9240
burningrockwv.com 877-683-9240
Minden, West Virginia
Treetops Canopy Tour
Sophia, West Virginia
Gravity Zip Lines
Ames Heights, West Virginia
Ames Heights, West Virginia
Length: 100 – 730 feet Number of zips: 10 Highest Point: 120 feet Speed: up to 30 MPH Claim to Fame: Part-time home to Swainson's warblers, a rare and endangered neotropical migrant bird Highlight: Criss-crossing a beautiful creek and landing in a 500 year old Eastern Hemlock
Length: 500 – 3,100 feet Number of zips: 6 Highest Point: 199 feet Speed: up to 50 MPH Claim to Fame: Longest dual-racing zipline on the East Coast Highlight: Being up so high you can see three counties
newrivergorgecanopytour.com 877-811-5321
newrivergorgecanopytour.com 877-811-5321
14 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
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ZIPLINE - consists of a pulley
suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley.
Proof Quality. • • • • • • • • •
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A New River Mountain Biking Primer:
What You Need to Know Before You Go
Photo courtesy of imba trail solutions
The New River Gorge National River is on the verge of having the most trails available to mountain bikers out of any national park in the country. Park staff
have completed the environmental assessment for the nearly 105 miles of new and existing trails. And this summer, Boy Scouts and volunteers constructed the 13-mile Arrowhead Trail to extend the network of trails already waiting official approval for mountain biking. The project will create a trail network that offers excellent biking opportunities for the entire family. The trails will be graded like ski trails indicating easy, intermediate and advanced terrain. Most trails will be easy to intermediate. “It could become one of the East Coast mountain biking destinations,” says Adam Stephens, owner of Marathon Bikes in Fayetteville. “It’s the final piece of our outdoor mecca.”
The Price of Getting Dirty
Hikers, climbers, boaters, bird-watchers, and bridge admirers take heed: Now is a perfect time to take up mountain biking if you haven’t already. But before you commit to a new sport with a gear purchase, it’s a good idea to try it out for size first. Several places in and around Fayetteville rent bicycles for a few hours, a half day or a full day. Or, you can demo a specific bike you are interested in buying and then apply the rental amount to the price of the bike. Rentals start at $35 per day, and can include an (To continue reading, turn to page 38)
By Jennifer Ginsberg
Sneak Preview A special ruling from the New River Gorge National River park superintendent allows bikes on all the trails while the rule goes through its final approval process. Arrowhead Trail, the newest addition to the New River Gorge National River network, is open Friday to Sunday. Cyclists are asked to stay off of Arrowhead Trail Monday through Thursday to allow for continued trail construction.
Low Country Boils • Fresh Seafood • Local Beers • Gumbo • Crab Cakes • Award-Winning Shrimp & Grits • French Onion Soup • Vegetarian Dishes • Homemade Desserts • Kids Menu • and much more!
Get Outfitted Plan on spending around $600 for a good quality mountain bike with front suspension that can take some abuse on the trails. You'll also need: • a helmet • glasses to keep sticks, briers, bugs and dirt out of your eyes • gloves to wipe off sweat and protect your hands from getting cut up should you wreck • a patch kit and extra tubes • a bike pump • water bottles or a hydration system
Choose Your Trail Well Beginners will want to seek out wide, flat trails such as the Mary Ingles Trail near Thurmond, West Virginia, or the Mill Creek (To continue reading, turn to page 38)
Sunday Brunch Best Burgers in Fayetteville: the Gumbo, the Latin Quarter, the Dixie, and the Big Easy Hours: Tues – Sat 11:30am – 9:30pm Sunday 10am – 8:30pm Closed Mondays We are located in the center of historic downtown Fayetteville on South Court Street (304) 574-4704
www.wvgumbo.com
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 15
History
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Big Bridge, we hardly knew ye
By Maura Kistler
We sure do love our Bridge around here. Pretty much any local or frequent visitor to Fayette County can bust out some New River Gorge Bridge trivia off the top of their head: It’s the longest single span arch bridge in the western hemisphere. It’s the second highest vehicular bridge in the United States. It’s made of COR-TEN steel. BASE jumpers love it! Well, hot shots, think you know a lot about the Bridge? Not yet. Read on for some really obscure info to juice up your patter about this icon.
1. It Rates
2. It Moves
3. It’s High Maintenance
The Bridge was listed as the world’s 8th greatest Mega Structure in a program that aired last year on the Travel Channel. And VirtualTourist.com ranked the bridge as one of the Top Ten Arches in the world, keeping company with the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. They wrote: “The breathtaking steel stunner looks as much a natural part of the area as the trees over which it hovers.” We couldn’t agree more.
To look at the bridge is to see weight, solidity, mass—88 million pounds to be exact. You would never suspect that this monolithic structure is always moving, swaying side to side (in feet, not inches!), reacting to temperature changes and weather. The engineers knew that like a tree in the wind, they had to design flexibility into the structure. As you drive across there is a gradual 4.5 ft. rise that peaks in the center, creating a camber that flexes as needed.
An icy New River Gorge Bridge would be a terrifying thing—those sidewalls just don’t seem all that high. But the WV Department of Highways can’t use standard road salt (sodium chloride) because of its corrosive properties. So, when weather conditions demand, they use calcium magnesium acetate (CMO) on the bridge and for a mile in either direction. This environmentally benign compound is no more corrosive than tap water, though it costs at least twelve times as much as road salt.
After using the bridge to set a Guinness Book World Record for the longest bungee jump from a fixed structure in 1992, New Zealander Chris Allum returned the next year with bigger plans. As a record Bridge Day crowd of 250,000 looked on, he and six members of the board of the American Bungee Federation crammed themselves into a homemade tubular steel basket attached to a homemade bungee cord made from 1000 pounds of rubber imported from Thailand. A problem with a cotter pin led to the basket tilting unevenly upon release, ultimately causing one participant to suffer a ruptured spleen when his buddies slammed into him. Allum finished with a solo bungee jump from the basket raising the ire of the Bridge Day Commission, which had not cleared this stunt.
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4. It Breaks Records
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Clockwise from above: Three generation 600-foot rappel, the second GMC Jimmy to bungee off the bridge launches and becomes weightless, a New River Gorge Bridge copycat, accolades from the internet.
5. It Dares
6. It Has Killed
7. It’s a Stage
There are those who can’t resist the temptation of a large, potentially dangerous structure. In 1988, North Carolina climber Eric Zschiesche free climbed the Bridge from a concrete abutment to the top. “Onward and upward I moved, criss-crossing ever deepening expanses with the feel of dry steel under hand and foot. It was mostly an exercise in pinching the large planes of the beams and being attentive to balance and foot positioning, he remembers. Eric rated the route 5.7 (pretty easy) but noted that it was one of the most “exposure intense” routes he had ever done. Other foolhardy, don’t-try-this-at-home stunts include back flops into the 800 foot high cargo safety nets while the Bridge was under construction. “What you had to do was walk out across the beam, turn around and do a big ol’ back flop,” recalled Randall Ballard, who went on to own a rafting company. The crux, Ballard recalls, was making sure to wrap your arms in the net so the rebound didn’t pitch you into oblivion. In 1992, local climber Porter Jarrard rigged climbing ropes to the catwalk and took off on one of the world’s largest rope swings. Pushing off the beam, Jarrard remembers an 80’ freefall before the rope caught and sent him accelerating up and even with the bridge. “You lose your breath as your viscera try to exit through your neck.”
Given the inherent danger of constructing a huge bridge high in the air, it is remarkable that only one worker was killed in the process. On May 17, l974, Dan Snodgrass of Malden was killed and seven of his coworkers, including his brother, were injured when a temporary work platform shifted, sending the men tumbling down into a concrete abutment 35’ below.
In 1992, a stripped down GMC Jimmy was dropped off the bridge on a bungee cord a foot wide and 4” thick, making for a thrilling few seconds and a highly effective ad. The little known backstory is that the bright red truck seen in the commercial was the second one dropped. A miscalculation caused the first truck to smack into the river, crunching the front end. Fortunately, the second drop went perfectly.
8. It’s a Family Affair
9. It’s Been Copied
In 2006, at age 83, BD organizers allowed Parkersburg caver and Bridge Day rappeller Bob Hanley to string three ropes close together and rappel with his son Todd, 41 and his granddaughter Meghan, 14, in the first ever multi-generation rappel. He continued rapping off the bridge until he was 88. This year at Bridge Day Todd and Meghan will honor Bob’s death by rapping off the bridge with his harness and gear.
If imitation is indeed the most sincere form of flattery, our bridge should be honored. The 2009 Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which bypasses the Hoover Dam, is a dead ringer for ours. Built out of concrete rather than steel, the bridge not only borrowed our look, it stole some of our thunder: being 4’ higher, it takes top honors in the highest vehicular traffic category.
10. Its Future? Whereas most of us look at the Bridge and see a magnificent engineering feat, a certain breed of entrepreneur sees opportunity knocking. Projects likely to be considered in the future include: a bungee jumping attraction; a BASE jumping school; and a permanent zip line attraction. A Department of Highways proposal to consider installing decorative lighting caused quite a hubbub with some locals when it was leaked this year. The plan is still under consideration. Stay tuned for developments.
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 17
Guide
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FEAST OF FLIGHT
Our Survival Guide For Getting the Most Out of Bridge Day
It’s All About the View BD veterans and locals will all tell you: the best view is from the bottom, where you get a clear perspective of the BASE jumpers’ canopies slowly wafting down to the ground. But how to get there? The road down is closed to all vehicles but BASE jumper shuttle buses and rafting trucks. Until this year, the answer was a 4.5–mile hike down Fayette Station road and a trudge back up at the end of the day. Happily, the Bridge Day organizers have arranged for shuttles for spectators down to the bottom of the New River Gorge. Twenty bucks gets you a half day on the banks of the New to watch the show. Shuttles leave at 8:30am and 12:30pm; preregistration is required. Alternatively, make a full day of it. The $65 fee includes a boxed lunch. For more information, go to www.officialbridgeday.com; 800-927-0263.
Hike For It
There are several trails in the New River Gorge that take you to beautiful vantage points. Easiest and shortest are paved walkways from the New River Gorge Visitors Center off of U.S. 19 north of the Bridge. The rest are rugged and strenuous with steep drop-offs nearby. Get trail maps to the Long Point Trail and New River Bridge Trail at the Visitors Center. Whichever you choose, you’ll need to decide early. The Bridge closes at 7am to all traffic.
Photo s: PPWV (top), melvin grubb (bottom)
Catch A Bus Down
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Bridge Day Schedule Friday October 14 5:00 – 9:00pm Taste of Bridge Day
Smokies, Adventures on the Gorge Sample cheesecakes, seafood bisques, soups, jambalaya, and more at an annual competition between area restaurants.
Saturday October 15
9:00am– 3:00pm The New River Gorge Bridge is open to foot traffic
Walk out onto the Bridge past t-shirt and food vendors to watch the jumpers put their eyes on the horizon and step off the platform.
2:00 – 6:00pm Court Street Bridge Day Chili Cook-Off and Fall Festival Downtown Fayetteville
Photos, clockwise from top: steve coleman, melvin grubb, gary hartley, PPWV
Sample traditional and nontraditional chilis, then vote for your favorite. Vie for the title of Fayetteville Corn Hole Champion to the tunes of Three-Card Monte and Break Iron. wwwvisitfayettevillewv.com
Do’s and Don’ts for Bridge Day Do
• Do bring plenty of drinking water. • Bring a windbreaker for the Bridge. • Plan your hike: the Bridge is a 1-mile walk from downtown Fayetteville. Best bet for Bridgewalkers is to park near a shuttle stop and catch a ride. See www.officialbridgeday. com for parking areas and shuttle bus stops.
Don’t
• Don’t bring your dog—the Bridge Squeeze is way too crowded. • Don’t bring alcoholic beverages or drugs onto the Bridge. • Don’t plan on crossing the Bridge in your car between 7am and 5pm. Get where you need to be early, or it's a 45-minute detour.
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 19
Hello, Good-Bye!
A Closer Look at the Folks Who Take That Thrilling Step
By Amanda Ashley
Miles Daisher
Annie Helliwell
Age: 42
Age: 51
Hometown: Twin Falls, Idaho
Hometown: Sun City, California
BASE Jumping for how many years: 14 years
BASE Jumping for how many years: 29
Total BASE Jump Count: more than 2,900
NRGorge Bridge jump count: 60
NRGorge Bridge Jump Count: 32 Scariest moment: During a Bridge Day 2005 stunt involving a partner, a rope swing, three chutes, and a sudden change of flight pattern. Daisher ended up with just enough time to pull his second chute and land in a tree. Claim to Fame: World Record Holder for most human powered BASE jumps in 24 hours. Daisher did 57 from the Potato Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho, hiking 486 feet back up the Snake River Canyon in between jumps for a total elevation gain of 27,000 feet in 20 hours. Favorite Jump: In a “squirrel suit” (wingsuit) off of the Great Troll Wall in Norway in 2006. “It was one of those moments when I just laid flat. We call it an air mattress, when you fly straight from the wall. I was just looking around, it was so beautiful and my buddy Shane was doing circles all around me. He said, ‘Come on, man!’ And I just sat there and looked all around.”
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They look like little toys attached to colorful parachutes, but they are real people who love to hurl themselves off objects all over the globe. They are BASE Jumpers. BASE stands for Building, Antennae, Span, and Earth—all the tall things that make great platforms to jump off in this extreme sport. The New River Gorge Bridge is one such platform. Each year jumpers make over 800 leaps from the New River Gorge Bridge on Bridge Day. We cornered a few to ask them more about their favorite sport, and we found that, surprise, surprise: BASE jumpers are thrill seekers. Here’s what we didn't know: they are also a close knit group who share comraderie and a great respect for the safety of themselves and others.
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Parachute color: “Pink. I was jumping in Norway by a popular tourist site and heard a tour guide talking about the BASE jumpers and he said, ‘That one there, with the pink parachute is a GIRL!’ After that I made it a point to have a pink parachute.” Greatest BASE Achievement: Development of the Tailgate in 1997, a part of the canopy rigging that is now used by all manufacturers and prevents most “line overs,” a potentially fatal malfunction. The perfect jump: “Isn’t about the object. It’s the launch point experience, the people I am with, who they are and their attitude. The experience of being at the top of an object and maybe you jump off in a group or individualy, doing new manuevers and executing the perfect back flip or gainer. Surviving helps and not hurting anything either.”
Photos (clockwise from top): www.bridgedayiinfo.com, anne helliwell, graeme murray/red bull
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Profiles
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Donald Cripps Age: 82
Marcus Ellison Age: 26
Hometown: Pensacola, Florida
Hometown: Oak Hill, West Virginia
Skydiving Since: 1947
Years BASE Jumping: 3
BASE jumping Since: 2011. This Bridge Day will be Cripps’ first BASE jump.
NRGorge Bridge jump count: 13 Scariest moment: Gear malfunction while jumping from a radio tower in Rainelle, WV. “A chute opened lower than I expected. I turned to avoid hitting power lines and slammed into the ground.” Greatest BASE Achievement: Half Dome in Yosemite, California, 2009 Pre-Jump Meal: “Anything I want.”
Why He Started: Being a parachutist in the Army paid an extra $75 a month. Scariest moment: “My first jumps at 17 years old in 1947. Of my 3200 jumps, I’ve had to deploy my emergency chute twice.” The Perfect Jump: “My last jump the day before yesterday (Saturday, August 13th) I flew up to 5,000 feet, jumped out of the airplane, was in freefall for a few seconds, opened my chute did some circles and landed soft as anything. Doesn’t get much more perfect than that.” Greatest Skydiving Achievement: “Combat jumps into North Korea during the war.”
Mike Mather Age: 41 Hometown: Lubbock, Texas NRGorge Bridge Jump Count: 1 Skydives Prior to Jumping: 0 Claim to Fame: After watching BASE jumpers jump off the Bridge for 14 years while setting safety in the river below, Mather tried it himself in 2003 with a borrowed parachute and no prior experience . Practice Platform: A pop cooler
Photos: donald cripps (top left), vertical visions (remaining)
Landing: In the water
Larry Lemaster
Breakfast the Morning of: Little Debbie Snack Cakes and a Dr. Pepper
Age: 42 Hometown: Flatwoods, Kentucky BASE Jumping for how many years: 13 NRGorge Bridge jump count: 115 Scariest moment: “They are all kind of scary. My lowest jump of 180 feet stands out, just due to the intensity. I’ve had a few hard landings and have gone through trees, but I haven’t had stitches or hospital visits.” Pre-jump ritual: A gear check: from top to bottom and front to back. Dream Jump: “The NRGorge Bridge, any time, any day of the year.” Favorite Jump: January 2008, Angel Falls, Venezuela Greatest BASE Achievement: “Living.”
New River Gorge Bridge BASE Jumping Info: Number of Jumpers: 450 How High? 876 feet to be exact. The New River Gorge Bridge is the third tallest bridge in the U.S. Landing Zone: A 25-foot by 75-foot patch of river bank bounded by trees. Or, for a softer, wetter arrival, the New River. About 25% of jumpers land there, and safety boats await to pluck them out of the water. Experience Needed: BASE jumping sound like fun? Forget about repeating Mike Mather's one jump stunt. The requirement for BASE jumpers at Bridge Day is 100 prior skydives. Alternatively, for the first time in 2011you can sign up for a tandem BASE jump for a mere $999. (TandemBASE, TandemBase.com, 208-546-9873) Tricks: Backflips are a favorite. Most jumpers step from a steady platform above the Bridge railings. But for jumpers with 25 or more BASE jumps to their name who want to try, say, a triple gainer, a 16 foot adjustible spring aluminum diving board is set up for creative exits. Future Plans? Bridge Day organizer Jason Bell, an engineer in his day job, has designed a human catapult that "will eventually hurl BASE jumpers up to 20 feet high and 50 feet over the edge of a bridge or similar object." While you won't see the catapult throwing live humans over the Bridge railings this year, testing on the invention commenced this summer with crash-test dummies catapulted into lakes. (www.VerticalVisions.com) —Cristina Opdahl
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 21
Personal History
Golly, Good Gauley
Back before it was called Gauley Season, there were no roads into the river, so you hiked. You didn't know the names of the rapids, so you asked the rare boater you ran into. And when someone said point your boat straight downstream, you took their advice. Until you learned better. By Donnie Hudspeth
Donnie Hudspeth at Pillow Rock Rapid, Upper Gauley, during the first downstream race in 1992.
In the mid 1970s, my paddling roots formed in the Appalachian foothills of Western North Carolina. With some friends I learned how to kayak on Class II-III creeks. These were rocky, technical streams called Elk Creek, Elk River, Mayo River, and Dan River. They had small ledges and gravel bars, low water bridges and even barbed wire across the creek to keep livestock in. Back then there were no plastic boats. We paddled fiberglass. No one knew how to patch boats, so I learned how, and then helped out friends. No one we knew could roll a kayak, so we taught ourselves. As a result there were many swims during these first boating trips.
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We paddled almost every weekend. Being college kids, we always camped near the river to save money. We would car pool, taking just one car. We would draw straws to see who would jog the shuttle. As we sat around the campfire, we heard stories from other kayakers we met of the New and Gauley Rivers in West Virginia. Boaters who talked about it would get a glazed look in their eyes. The Gauley was a legend. We were hungry for new rivers and new paddling experiences and the Gauley seemed like the ultimate of both. In 1978 after kayaking for a couple of years I had the opportunity to go to West Virginia with a paddling club. It was led by William Neely, who 100% recycled paper
was just beginning to create his cartoons on the art of kayaking that would eventually become favorites of anyone who yearned to paddle rivers. We paddled the New River Gorge on Day One. The New just blew us away! After all our paddling on tiny little creeks, the Gorge seemed so immense, with its big waves and holes. We had never paddled anything with so much volume of water. Even the rocks were gigantic. On Day Two of our trip we set out for the Lower Gauley. There were no roads into Gauley Canyon back then, so we parked near Peter's Creek on river right. We shouldered our kayaks and hiked down on an old impassable four-wheel drive road bed. We could catch glimpses of the river far below. We could hear the roar. Finally, we arrived at the river. Just putting the boat down and sliding into the Gauley felt magical. “What would it be like?” we wondered. “Were we ready for this?” The pool at the put-in was calm and clear, though just downstream we could hear the sound of whitewater. Passing the railroad trestle, we had some nice warm up rapids, perfect for eddy catching and nerve relaxing. Then we came to our first major rapid of the day, Mash. It was pushy and required precise boat control, a Gauley trademark it seems. Other rapids came and went. Heaven Help Us, Roller Coaster, and then a section of calm water filled with house-sized boulders. “Land of the Giants” they called it. Then came the last big rapid of the day. That trip was life changing for me. Once I had seen the Gauley and experienced its beauty and power, it called to me. I travelled back many times to feel the magic. We came back that fall to paddle the Upper. We had no guide this time, just our paddling crew. I was paddling a 13 foot long fiberglass Perception Victor. We left a car near Peter's Creek. The shuttle plan was to paddle to Koontz’s Bend, stash our boats and hike out. We would hike in the next day and paddle the lower. At the tailwaters, the ground was shaking from the water coming out of the big
tubes. commercial rafting on the gauley was in its infancy then. We could not see them on the river. We paddled alone on the river that day until just above insignificant, where we caught up with a group from arkansas. They had paddled the river before and told us this was the first big rapid. When we asked where to go they just said “keep your boat straight.” The top was rocky and technical, we were used to that. in the distance the river began to get steeper and the rocks bigger. i had long been the “probe unit” for our little paddling group and i was leading. as the river began to funnel down and accelerate, it was difficult to see a clear line. The water felt pushy. i could see a wave train forming and decided that was the place to go. suddenly i dropped off the back side of a large wave and right into this huge pourover near the top of the rapid. unable to escape the hole, i finally pulled my sprayskirt and began to swim. it was more like underwater tumbling than swimming. i had no idea where to swim, and when i finally popped up i could see a big rock on the bottom right and it didn’t look very friendly. score: gauley-1, Probe unit-0. after that, we decided to scout the big drops. With only one exception, we successfully ran everything that day . rumor had it that iron ring was a class vi and should not be run, and we respectfully obliged. reaching our takeout point, we were all beaming over the accomplishment. We had actually paddled the upper gauley! being an upper gauley veteran really meant something back then; it was like a badge of honor. We stashed the boats and began the hike out along the tracks at Peter’s creek. our run the next day on the lower gauley was just pure fun. We didn’t really know the names of rapids or the order but it was all pretty straight forward and boat scoutable. We were still in the clouds from the upper trip the day before, and as we loaded our boats at the takeout and made plans for the return trip. our paddling group continued. We planned vacations around paddling, trips out west for melting snowpack, trips out of the country in the winter in search of new rivers and warm water. Waterfalls and First descents. still the gauley continued to call. so every fall we parked in West virginia every fall for the releases. We came up with some creative ways to navigate the shuttle— strap systems to drag our boats along train tracks, various access points and routes in or out. one scary hike went through a mountain via a skinny train tunnel so long the hole at the other end was tiny when you started. When we got lucky, we jumped onto coal trains with our kayaks. The trains were heading uphill next to Peters creek, and we jumped off near our car. eventually, roads were built. eventually, i managed to move to West virginia, find a decent job, and make a life for myself near my favorite river. in 1992 i paddled in a downriver race on the steep and technical upper yough in Friendsville, maryland. today, there are many “extreme” downriver races in the u.s., though the upper yough race is really the granddaddy of them all. later that year i was paddling the upper gauley with an old friend who threw out an idea, "you know, there should be a race on the gauley." one month later we had our first downriver race on the gauley with about 35 people racing in kayaks, c1’s and open canoes. We used numbers donated to our cause by a local ski area. We started in one minute intervals and used our timex watches for timing. We handed out prizes and had some food and beer afterward at an outdoor pavilion. it was a blast. nineteen years later and the race is still alive and well. last year we had an amazing turnout of paddlers: Past olympians, World champions, old friends, new friends. men and women return to defend their title as the fastest on the gauley. times have certainly changed. now there are multiple access points along the river. There are even boardwalks and grills at sweet’s Falls. Weekends in the fall literally hundreds of rafts will launch to take a journey down the infamous gauley. kayaks too by the hundreds will put in. some are very short, some very long. First time gauley paddlers come to test their mettle on the legendary gauley. others return as they have many times before, like coming to see an old friend.
The Animal Upper Gauley River Race September 19, 2011
A downriver sprint on a legendary section of whitewater.
To register go to www.gauleyrace.com
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Lifestyle
Living the Life
A Day at the Best Job in the World
but he is not the hyper sort. He tends to roll with change calmly, a good demeanor to have in his job as a raft guide. At guide headquarters he learns that he needs to go to the river on the equipment truck. He wasn’t scheduled to go to the river early, but he’s one of the few who have shown up. Healy discovered whitewater when he took a kayaking course in college out West. He fell in love with rivers and whitewater and researched guide training programs in Colorado and West Virginia. ACE Adventure Center had a free program. He quit college, ditched his job waiting tables and came East. In the spring he went through the training processof 19 straight days on the river. The water was high and the air was cold. Not everybody who goes through guide training becomes a guide. “Older guides told me that they were looking for people who weren’t afraid to take the stick in the hard rapids," Healy says. "So I asked to guide the Keeneys and Double Z. ” Those are two of the hardest rapids on the river at any level. He sailed through the training program and became a guide the same year.
6:15am Healy strolls over to guide headquarters for a cup of coffee. He is tall, about 6 feet, with sun-kissed, buzzed brown hair and strong features. He is known for his enthusiasm,
6:40am Healy and the other guides arrive in the gear truck at Cunard, the put-in point for the Lower New section of whitewater where Healy is guiding today. Cunard is a National Park
24 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
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Service maintained station that sees more than a thousand guides and river guests on a busy weekend day. Early in the morning during boat prep time, it is a peaceful place. The air is still and so is the water except for the occasional fish jumping for breakfast. Healy and several other guides begin to blow up rafts that are stacked, deflated, thirty high on the flatbed of the truck. This requires teamwork, communication, timing, and strength among everyone involved. It’s hard work. Two guides perch on top of the stack, holding the nozzle end of air pumps to the boat valves until the boats are taut with air. Then they lift the boat to guides waiting below, who haul the rafts down a steep hill to the river. The boats aren’t heavy, but they are bulky and awkward to carry. On the river they stage the first trip’s boats, about six rubber rafts that float empty at the water’s edge. Several towers of rafts stacked five or six high await future trips. It’s a cloudy morning, cooler than it has been in several weeks but Healy is dripping with sweat. 8:30am More guides arrive on a bus with a boatload of 30 to 40 river guests who have been prepped with a safety talk from their Trip Leader on the bus down to Cunard. As the guests climb into their rafts and meet their guides, Healy and the remaining guides talk about what still needs
6:00am Brian Healy, a 26-yearold raft guide from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, wakes up in a buddy’s hammock. He’s at at ACE Adventure Center in Minden, West Virginia, deep in the Appalachain Mountains near a well known whitewater section of the New River. Healy doesn’t actually live at the rafting company. He has a tent about 20 minutes from here, closer to the river takeout just off Fayette Station Road. It’s a shady camp overlooking Goose Creek, with a picnic table, a tent on a platform, and a complicated system of tarps that maintain a rain-free zone and keep the Bud Lights from getting too hot in the sun. But last night he crashed in this hammock. He was on the river the day before and he didn’t feel like driving back to his camp, then returning to Minden for an early guide call.
Photo By christopher danz
By Katie Johnson
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • to be done and who’s on what trip. As the first trip rafts float downstream into the mist and out of sight, a guide named Dave paddles empty rafts into position for the next trip. Above, near the gear truck, it is decided that a few more boats can be readied. “It’s really nice when you come in on the 10:30 trip and everything is done,” Healy explains. 9:00am With their guests due to arrive soon, the boats for Healy's trip are moved into position for take off. Lunches and water coolers
9:15am Healy has been working for three hours and the guests for his river trip are just now arriving. Healy and the other guides stand next to their rafts while the Trip Leader, Jeff Cogle calls out their names. “Yo” someone answers and the guests know which boat to go to. This is one of the crux moments of the day. A lot of profiling goes on in a guide’s head when they see their guests. Especially at tricky water levels. The rapids of the New River are not the most difficult of the area, but a few do hold a Class V designation and require a tricky move or two. From a guide’s perspective, it’s always nice to see healthy, bright-eyed folks making their way to your boat. 9:20am A family of four climbs down the rutted hill toward Healy’s raft. Upon first size up it looks like a favorable crew. Healy makes the transition from laborer to guide, smiles, and introduces himself as Healy. They ask him to repeat his name. “Like the roller-skate,” he says, and launches into a tale explaining that his dad invented the roller-skate inside the shoe. It’s a
9:30am Healy pushes off from the shore and begins to go through his paddle commands in the flat water. He explains to the family that it is not strength that is critical for success but the ability of a crew to coordinate their paddling. “Look into each other’s windows of your souls,” he tells Sam and John to help them time their paddling. They laugh and stare deep into each others eyes. “I enjoy the challenge of teaching each crew,” Healy says to me, “It’s usually not the crew that’s bad but the guides inability to teach them that is the problem. Sometimes you have to be really firm.” 9:45am We head into the first rapid of the day called Pinball where Healy points the raft at a rock on the left of the current and lets the craft drift into it. “Get down!” he calls, a command he taught earlier. The water level is typical late summer low, which often can translate into boredom. The rock spin is one of many tricks the guides learn to make the trip more exciting at these levels. After coming full circle, Healy checks in with his crew. “Is everybody OK with that?” The family nods and smiles. 10:00am We slowly drift in between two rapids down a long pool of calm water. The pool ends in a gentle wave train and swimming is encouraged. The kids and I jump out. The water is warm and it’s fun to feel the current tugging at you. John is twisting and spinning in the water, playing porpoise. Some guests from another raft have gotten out of the current and are getting pulled away from the flotilla by the upstream current in the eddy. They look confused and their guide yells, points in the direction to swim, and tells them to find the downstream current with their bodies. “You’ll feel it,” he says. Everybody else is smiling in the water feeling weightless while they bob along in the waves.
10:15am Everyone climbs back into the raft. It starts to rain. “Yes,” Healy says. “We need it.” It feels good and no one is complaining. We still have some more flat water ahead of us and Healy starts to tell jokes. “I’ll try to keep them PG,” Healy says. “What’s a man without arms and legs floating in the water?” Mark, the father, shares his version of similar jokes. Healy steps it up to PG-13 with a joke about a female raft guide and everyone groans. An uncomfortable silence follows, but we’re soon saved by the current ahead. “Forward two,” Healy calls out. Moving through the smaller rapids Healy steers the boat toward all of the most interesting features on the river. The raft spins through narrow slots and runs some drops sideways or backwards to splash different parts of the boat. With Gauley Season just around the corner being creative like this is a good idea. On the Gauley River you often are knocked off course and must be prepared to predict, react and communicate to your crew while off balance. 10:25am Healy steals a glance my way. “I’m not sure if I should do this since Katie’s here, but let’s run Hip Kick,” says Healy. We are at the top of another small rapid, one of four “Warmups” to the bigger ones below. Boats have “pinned,” or gotten stuck, on the rock for hours. There is a
small channel between a jumble of rocks. Healy’s commands are brief. “Forward two,” he says. The boat lurches forward. We come up on a small ledge and run over it sideways. The recirculating currant at the bottom tugs on the boat and Debbie, who’s seated in front of me plops into the river. She disappears for a second and then pops up next to my paddle. I grab her by the shoulder straps of her life jacket and pass her back to Healy. He stands up, pulls her up by the life jacket and then leans back so she comes into the boat sprawled out on her belly. She wobbles a little on the way back to her seat and tells us what she felt happen. Her family is smiling at
Photos by katie johnson
have been waiting by the gear truck and they are carried down to these boats. The guides strap them in securely, making them “rigged to flip.” Every so often a raft can turn upside down, and the straps ensure that lunch isn’t lost in the process.
long story and ridiculous. The father of the family rolls his eyes and says, “Oh boy, here we go.” As we get ready to launch, Healy asks about any previous rafting experience. Mark, the father, and his son John, age 17, have rafted several times. John’s mother, Debbie and daughter, Sam, a cute, athletic 20 year old, have not. Sam and John climb to the front of the raft and their parents take a seat in the back of the boat.
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 25
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 11:00am In the ripples before the Keeneys Rapids Healy asks me, “Katie, do you like to run the ledge on the left at this water level? “No!” echoed around in my head, remembering my former days as a video kayaker, when I’d see unsuspecting guides or the person sitting next to the guide (me in this case) being catapulted 15 feet into the air. Feet kicking and arms waving they’d usually land on their lunch cooler, their guests, or in the river. As casually as possible I say, “Uh, no but usually I’m rafting with my children so I’m pretty careful.” For the first time in the day I feel my heartrate elevate and butterflies take flight in my stomach. We entered the rapid, “Crap.” I think. “I wish I was kayaking.” Cresting over the waves I see the ledge and I am tempted to use my paddle to keep my position safe. Instead I crouch on the floor and peer over the front of the boat. Seconds later Healy calls, “Get Down!” to the rest of the crew. We slide right over the ledge. I pull myself up
from the bottom of the boat, feeling a little dumb, and we paddle through the rest of the rapid. 11:15am At the bottom of Middle Keeney Rapid we arrive at a large frothy wave called a ”surf hole” by river runners. There is a line of rafts from another company queued up downstream. “Forward,” Healy calls and steers us in line. Guides call out greetings to one another as they wait. At our turn the water rushing downstream pulls the nose of the raft sideways and away from the hole. “Forward,” Healy calls again and steers
26 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
the raft to the back of the line. We wait through the line of boats, watching another crew have a blast, laughing and screaming while their boat spins around and stays in the hole. The move is tricky, and guides feel the pressure to give their crew a good ride here. Miss the surf and they may have missed the best part of the day. On our second attempt, Healy calls “forward” again and this time the raft nose sticks into the white backwash of foam. Water splashes up and the boat surges a bit, but stays about 15 seconds, enough for the family to experience the feeling of being up close to the powerful churning water. 11:30am We run Lower Keeney Rapid, the steepest drop of the day. The whole boat is soaked by the large waves at the bottom. A hundred feet downstream of the rapid is one of my favorite places to swim, the Halls of Karma. This is a strong whirlpooling eddy- line and John and I jump out of the boat. “Follow Katie,” Healy tells him. I swim into the sweet spot and feel a little tug from below. A swirl surrounds me and I am pulled down into the whirlpool. I’ve done this hundreds of times so I know what to expect. John goes even deeper and pops up downstream of me. I see him get a breath before another whirlpool pulls him down again. He comes up wide-eyed a few seconds later. His family is laughing as he climbs back into the boat. ”You went under me,” I say. “I wasn’t expecting the second one,” he sputters shaking his head. 11:45am We drift alongside a large rock called Jump Rock and Sam and John get out of the raft and climb up to the top. The rock is tall, about eighteen feet, which is a long way up when you’re looking down. As Sam and John wait their turn, a lady from another raft peers over the edge, attempts to go, then peers over it again. “One, Two, Three!” Healy counts for her. She overcomes her paralysis on three and jumps out and splashes down into the beautiful green pool below. Everyone cheers when she pops up. 12:00pm In a large calm pool Healy’s raft ends up next to the raft of Cogle, the Trip Leader. Double Z Rapid is below, considered by all 100% recycled paper
guides to be the most dangerous rapid of the day. “Do you want me to eddy out and set safety?” Healy asks him. Cogle shakes his head no. “We should be OK with this solid crew,” he says. “Let’s just run it.” But then Cogle changes his mind. Regardless of crew, it’s easy to get off line and pin a boat here at this water level. Murphy’s law is strong in rafting. The time that you don’t prepare for the unintended, the unintentional happens. He’ll stop in the first eddy for safety. Every boat runs cleanly through the rapid. 12:15pm Healy steers his raft into a large eddy with the others and helps the other guides unloading coolers. The set up appetizers on one end of the rocky beach and large plastic containers filled with condiments, salads, and cheesecake are placed on a big flat rock. A campstove has come along on this trip and is fired up at the back of the beach. The guides admire some new shiny griddles as they grill up hamburgers and veggie burgers. Soon the smell of cooking meat surrounds the hungry guests. For most of the guides this is breakfast. “The food’s good,” says Healy watching the line of guests fill their plates, “but just this, day after day definitely gets old.” 1:10pm The sun comes out, which elicits some groans. The cloud cover had felt good. Many of the guests are finished with lunch and are swimming in the eddy, bobbing in their bright orange lifejackets. The guides stand in a semi circle discussing different ways to get rid of trench foot, or foot rot, one of the facts of a raft guides life. Healy reports that he scrubbed his feet with bleach the night before. I glance down. His toes looked like a set of 10 neon pink magic markers. 1:20pm The coolers are packed with empty containers and the trash strapped back into the boat. Healy eases his raft off of the rock he’s parked on. With most of the big rapids behind us the afternoon has a lazy feel. Healy paddles
photos by Katie Johnson
her and she says she’s okay. She’s still wide-eyed and a little quiet. Everyone congratulates her on holding onto her paddle.
through the pools while the kids swim and the parents relax and chat. We spin our way through several nice rapids.
water. healy fills his helmet full of cans of bud light and gets on the bus. he asks if anyone needs another beer and hands go up. his helmet is quickly emptied. 2:30pm We pass under the new river gorge The seats are full and guides are standing in bridge discussing bridge day and base jumping. the aisle. cogle asks healy to do a head count. it occurs to me that no matter how creative you The whole bus watches as he counts out loud. “28, are as a guide you are going to end up saying 30, 31,33,35, huh,” he pauses and everyone bursts the same things over and over. it starts with the into laughter. “Just a day in the life of a raft guide,” safety talk and paddle commands, then on this comments dave from the front. another guide river, it ends with a discussion of the bridge. named kelly takes over the counting. “45? do we healy works hard at keeping it fresh but he’s have 45?” she asks cogle. he nods and we head up just been out here two years. another raft drifts the hill. nearby. The guide and the guests have leafy twigs on the bus, the guides talk about winter and sticking up through their helmets. i recognize the what they are doing after gauley season. There’s guide from my days as a video boater 20 years talk of visiting families and ski season. There’s a ago, and his guests wore twigs in their helmets monologue about whiskey and beer and headaches Start planning your wild, wonderful then, too. from one of the West guides.Virginia vacation and get
with my customers and get tipped well. raft guides puts a lot of muscle, heart and soul into their entire day and may not get tipped. They can’t be doing this for the money. “i do this because no two days are the same and the river demands my focus,” healy told me earlier. i check my watch. he has been working for more than 10 hours and he’s not done yet. it’s definitely not for the money. but raft guides seem to get what they want despite the lack of money. They trade the strip malls and bumper to bumper commutes for a place in the woods and a ride in the back of a gear truck with a bunch of likeminded people. This ability to live simply and work hard gives them the freedom to live and work wherever they want. “i’d love to go out West and guide,” healy the said.most “i’m thinking about other countries, too. maybe even the White nile or the zambezi in your host. africa.”
There’s Nothing Like It!
authentic experience at an affordable price with River Expeditions as
2:40pm teays landing is our take out, but when 3:35pm as the guests climb down from the bus we reach it the work is Count not over.on carefully, healy allthey filtered into the exciting lifejacket and paddle vacation getaway us to provide theare elements of an adventure explains the process of unloading the raft and building. The guides hang their jackets up and 5:00pm The video is over and healy shakes while balancing your schedule, budget and interests. Take advantage ofhands our great then carrying the raft up the short hill to the gear then get back on the bus to go back to unload the with the guests. There’s a tip involved, but truck. “lift the raft above your heads,” he tells of the gear. i don’t ask how whitewater rafting rates andrest area adventure vacation packages including zip lines, atv much. instead i ask him what else us. “Then we’ll gently pass it to the guides on the he’ll do for the rest of the day. “i may take a raft tours, rock climbing, mountain biking and more while making the most of your visit truck. We don’t want to knock anyone off.” after 4:30pm The guides and the guests meet back in a out on a play trip,” he replies. “i’m going to see if our boat is loaded, healy aboardand the historic gear big top tent where theNational video is going to be shown. nothing i canlike r1 itit! down the river. “ r1 refers to a single to climbs the scenic New River Gorge Park. There’s truck to help load more rafts. mark, debbie and This is where they can see their guests for the last person in a raft. his company provides a river the kids load the bus with the rest of the guests time and it’s a chance to collect a tip. “i like to try shuttle on sunday evening for employees to play on this trip. When the boats are loaded and the to live off of my tips,” said healy when i first met on and they feed them at the end. “it’ll mostly be a beach is clear of our gear we go to the cooler him, “and save my paychecks.” i think about my trip for free food,” healy grins. “Then tomorrow i at the front of the bus. There is beer, soda and job as a waitress where i only spend a few minutes get up and do it all over again.”
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT!
Start planning your wild, wonderful West Virginia vacation and get the most authentic experience at an affordable price with River Expeditions as your host. Take advantage of our great whitewater rafting rates and area adventure vacation packages including zip lines, atv tours, rock climbing, mountain biking and more. There’s nothing like it!
2011 Gauley River Whitewater • 800.463.9873 • raftinginfo.com
•
Adventure Calendar
Crisp days and beautiful views make for even better races. This fall brings four exceptional events: a Class V whitewate, a famous opportunity to cheat death, a run and a ride through the mountains. Read on for the best adventure out there.
September 19 Animal Upper Gauley Race Where: Summersville, WV What: 9.8–mile Class IV & V whitewater race
September 24 Ride to Tamarack Where: Oak Hill, WV What: 50-plus miles of Road Cycling Take the best way to Tamarack—a circuitous route along the mountainous backroads from Oak Hill through the tiny towns of Whipple and Mossy, over Haystack Mountain, and past Paint Creek. Shop for West Virginiamade crafts and art, eat at the Greenbrier–run food court, and then haul home a slightly different but equally scenic route. Total elevation gain: 3,700; organizers from the New River Bicycle Union promise you’ll attain it in small doses. For more information on this and other rides, go to New River Bicycle Union’s page on Facebook.
October 15 Bridge Day Where: Fayetteville, WV What: BASE jump or rappel Only experienced skydivers, BASE jumpers, and rappellers need apply for the opportunity to leap off the 876-foot Bridge or rappel 600 feet of fixed rope. If you’ve sharpened your skills elsewhere, the experience is well worth it. (Spectators, see pages 18-21 of this issue for more details.) www.verticalvisions.com bridgedayrappel.com www.OfficialBridgeDay.com
28 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
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October 22 ACE New River Gorge-ous Trail Run and Walk Where: Minden, WV What: 4.5-mile walk, 7.5-mile run, or 13.2-mile run Timed to when the leaves are brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow to inspire you through the hard wood forests and toward the finish line. When you’re tired of looking at the trees, you can try to catch a glimpse of the town of Thurmond hundreds of feet below. www.aceraft.com/events-trailrun
Photos courtesy of animal gauley race, bo wriston
A 9.8–mile downstream sprint through famous Class V rapids Insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, and Iron Ring. Finish just past Sweets Falls in front of a racous crowd of river runners out for the festivities. Classes include raft, Wildwater C1 and K1, Wavehopper, Slalom, and Playboat. www.gauleyrace. com
Nature & Culture Calendar
September 17-19
October 7–9
Where: Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park Summersville, WV
Where: New River Birding and Nature Center Fayetteville, WV
Gauley Fest
Fall Birding Weekend
Throngs of river lovers gather to benefit American Whitewater, a nonprofit that works to protect and restore whitewater rivers all over the country. Join the mass celebration of the Gauley River with a whitewater marketplace, a silent auction, the Halftime String Band (Friday night) and Snake Oil Medicine Show (Saturday night). www.americanwhitewater.org
September 15
Klunkers Fundraiser
Where: Historic Fayette Theatre Fayetteville, WV Attend a documentary on the roots of mountain biking to raise money for trail building equipment. (304-574-2337)
October 15 September 25
Jim and Valerie Gabehart Where: Tamarack Beckley, WV
Traditional Appalachian bluegrass tunes and orignial music from a longtime guitar and banjo duo. www.tamarackwv.com
September 16–18
Photography Workshop
Where: Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Cass, WV Build technical and practical photographic skills with nationally published photographer amidst the scenic mountains. Day Two includes a night photography session. www.cassrailroad.com
Saturday is dedicated to searching for fall warblers from a boardwalk over a 15-acre wetlands. Sunday, you’ll climb up to a Hawk Watch Raptor Observatory with esteemed naturalist and science writer Bill Hilton, Jr. to enhance your raptor identification skills. www.birding-wv.com
Fayetteville Bridge Day Harvest Festival Where: downtown Fayetteville, WV
Sample traditional and nontraditional chilis, then vote for your favorite. Vie for the title of Fayetteville Corn Hole Champion to the tunes of Three-Card Monte and Break Iron. www.visitfayettevillewv.com
October 29 September 28
Halloween Train
Video Boater's Challenge
Where: Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Cass, WV
Relive the season in video at the annual video boater’s faceoff. Categories include Jump Rock Fail, Best Skit, and Best Kayak Beat Down. www.historicfayettetheatre.com
Ride a haunted train past trainyard ghouls up a mountain to Whittaker Station. On the way up you can dine on brains and eyeball platters in the dining car. Descend in the dark wearing glow-in-the-dark necklaces. www.cassrailroad.com
Where: Historic Fayette Theatre Fayetteville, WV
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 29
PHOTO CREDITS: TOP CENTER, DAVIS RIDGE FARMS; BOTTOM LEFT, WHIPPOORWILL FARMS; ALL OTHERS BY CHRISTOPHER DANZ
Shopping
Clockwise from top left: Sun ripened tomatoes, bacon-to-be at Davis Ridge Farm, harvest at the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market, yellow cherry jam at the Farmer’s Market, and cashmere goats from the Whippoorwill Farm.
La Vida Local
Where to Find the Freshest Food Money Can Buy By Ginger Danz Every time I bite into a blood-red freshly picked tomato I vow never to eat the pale, mealy variety available in January. I appreciate the bounty of the super market, but I’ve begun to question the wisdom of having access to out of season fruits and vegetables at the cost of flavor and peak freshness. Produce from the average U.S. supermarket journeys nearly 1,500 miles by the time it reaches our refrigerators. That uses up a lot of fossil fuels. And, because the produce is mass-produced and cultivated for durability rather than taste, quality definitely suffers. Barbara Kingsolver sums it up in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: “Our vegetables have come to lack two features of interest: nutrition and flavor.” The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (www.buyappalachian.org) lists even more reasons to buy local: • Eat fresher, better tasting, and healthier food • Help your farming neighbors stay in business • Sustain our rural heritage, • Protect the natural beauty of the mountains by preserving farmland. • Encourage sustainable, environmentallyfriendly agricultural practices. • Strengthen the local economy.
The New and Gauley Rivers area has farmers markets, restaurant chefs who shop there, grass fed and free range meats, and even sheep raised for wool. Not sure where to start? Read on for a handy list of local options:
Farmers Markets Fayette County Farmer’s Market Court Street, Fayetteville Saturdays 7:30–11:30am Main Street, Oak Hill Thursdays, 4pm – 7pm Garden fresh vegetables, bedding plants, baked goods, and much more. The Saturday morning Fayetteville Market is located in the parking lot between Diogi’s Mexican Grill and Cantina and the Fayetteville Visitor’s Center. Oak Hill's Market is on Main Street by the BB&T building. Davis Ridge Farm, Nettie Sausage, "fresh” bacon, tenderloin, and many other cuts from free range, antibiotic free “heirloom pork.” Roving and hand-spun mohair from Angora goats. (304-661-7663, davisridgefiberfarm.com) JM Catering and Event Production, Lookout Catering and event planning committed to using local ingredients. Recipes include ramp and apple
cider dressing and ricotta cheesecake. (304-574-0394, gourmetonthegorge.com) Okes Family Farms, Cool Ridge Sheep, pumpkins, corn, beef and lamb. Pumpkin patch (hayrides, fresh cider, corn maze) available weekends in the fall. (304-673-3268, okesfamilyfarms@hotmail.com) The Ponderosa Lodge, Lookout Large groups can stay on an organic farm where turkeys, ducks, steer, and sheep live happy, healthy lives—until they end up on the table. Meals, like oven roasted turkey, baked winter squash, and cabbage stew, come from the farm. (877-246-9972, theponderosalodge.com) Swift Level, Lewisburg Grass-fed, organically grown beef with a history: raised on a 151 acre farm that has had cattle grazing its green hills since the 1930s. Sold by the steer or by the pound. (304-661-6777, theswiftlevel.com) Whippoorwill Farm, Plum Orchard Lake "Roving"—prespun wool used as is for felting or spun to make yarn—is available from cashmere goats, Shetland sheep, and others. (304-465-0225, whippoorwillfarm.com) (to continue, turn to page 38)
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 31
Nature
extroverted and poisonous: a red eft crosses a wet road near the cranberry glades, Pocahontas county, West virginia. Photo by Jim mccormac
The Wild World of Salamanders
Snot otters, poisonous efts, and other Beautiful Amphibians that Share our Habitat By Jim Mccormac a hidden army oF gelatinous Wrigglers lurks all around, its soldiers seldom seen except by those who know where to hunt. These are amphibious battalions: the salamanders. The new river region has salamanders in spades; in fact, these secretive animals are easily the most numerous vertebrates (back-boned animals) in our area. southern West virginia and adjacent appalachia is the cradle of biodiversity in eastern north america, harboring an astonishing array of life. scores of plants, mammals, birds, fishes, insects and other organisms create an intricate and nearly infinite web of life. salamanders play a big role in this ecological picture. a jaw-dropping 34 species of salamanders occur in West virginia – one of the largest totals of any state. Their diversity is dramatic, ranging from tiny four-toed salamanders that scarcely measure four inches to giant aquatic hellbenders that tape out at two feet. some species are finicky as to their haunts; other species are widespread and general. They all share a common denominator: moisture.
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NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
salamanders must remain damp. indeed, a group known as the “lungless“ salamanders breathe through their skin and if the animal dries out it will soon perish. The aforementioned hellbender takes the aquatic life to extremes, dwelling under rocks in streams. hellbenders are rather terrifying in appearance, and not just due to their large size. These creatures are covered in creases and wrinkles from head to toe. it’s as if some mad scientist attempted to cross a shar-pei dog, a snake, and yoda from star Wars. some folks call hellbenders “snot otters,“ as these amphibians are coated in gooey mucilaginous skin secretions. at the other end of the aesthetic spectrum is the gorgeous cave salamander. as this aptly named species dwells in the subterranean gloom of rocky recesses, they aren’t easy to see. but if you ever get a good look at one it’ll knock your socks off. sleek and graceful, the cave salamander is a beautiful shade of reddish-orange copiously speckled with leopardlike black dots. cave salamanders are rather rare and 100% recycled pAper
localized, but have been found in Fayette county. not all salamanders are shy skulkers. The species that is seen more than any other is the red eft, a brilliant orange little extrovert prone to boldly marching about in broad daylight, especially after rains have dampened the ground. efts are the immature stage of the strictly aquatic red-spotted newt. after hatching – all salamanders start life as an egg – the efts abandon the wetlands for life on land. For two years or more the efts roam upland forests hunting small invertebrates. Their brilliant coloration and seeming lack of concern with being seen can mean but one thing – efts are poisonous. and toxic they are, possessing glands filled with a chemical similar to that found in deadly pufferfish. Predators quickly learn to avoid efts. after a few years on land, the eft returns to water and transforms into the adult red-spotted newt. salamanders are vital cogs in West virginia’s forest ecosystems. They are important predators of lesser animals, and in turn are preyed upon by other creatures. besides, salamanders are just plain cool.
t e
Gallery
Iron Ring Rapid on the Upper Gauley River is named after an iron ring that used to be embedded in a large rock at the edge of the rapid. The ring was used to help break up log jams when the river was used to transport felled trees. In the late 80s the Iron Ring was stolen. This photograph was taken while it was still on the river. Photograph by Colleen Laffey To submit a photograph for the Gallery, email a jpeg to gorgeguide@gmail.com
fall 2011  NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE  33
Food
The High-Low Restaurant Guide
Clockwise from top: Music at dusk at Chimney Corner, Ahi Tuna Tacos from Diogi’s, Sausage, shrimp and corn from Gumbo’s, the bar at Pies and Pints, and the Cathedral Cafe
34 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
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Restaurant
Address
Appalachian Coffee & More 304-465-5000
138 Main St. West Oak H ill
Cathedral Cafe 304-574-0202
134 South Court Street Fayetteville
Chimney Corner 304-632-1230
15303 Midland Trail, 9 miles from Fayetteville on Route 60
Diogi’s 304-574-3647
312 North Court Street Fayetteville
Dirty Ernie’s Rib Pit 304-574-4822
310 Keller Ave Fayetteville
Gumbo’s Cajun Restaurant 304-574-4704
103 South Court Street Fayetteville
Pies and Pints Pizzeria 304-574-2200
219 West Maple Ave. Fayetteville
Secret Sandwich Society 304-574-4777
103 1/2 Keller Ave. Fayetteville
Vandalian 304-574-6912
101 South Court Street Fayetteville
Wild Flour Bakery 304-574-0001
105 West Maple Fayetteville
Where To Eat What You Should Get Fare
Which Meals
Good Deals
Worth the Splurge
Coffee House with sandwiches
breakfast & lunch; closed Sundays
Daily special: sandwich and a drink for $5
Coal Miner's Latte: mocha esspresso with a chunk of chocolate in the bottom
Cafe fare
breakfast & lunch
Bowl of white bean chicken chili or other homeade soup and a salad, $6
Scrambled eggs with salmon and fresh dill, $7
“Casual Appalachian”
lunch & dinner; closed Mondays
BLT with fried green tomatoes, $7
Pan-fried West Virginia trout, $15
Mexican food
lunch & dinner
Chicken, Beef, or Bean Enchilada (a la carte), $3.50
The Ahi Tuna Tacos—seared sushi grade tuna in corn tortillas served with avocado, $17
American BBQ
dinner
Bowl of Devil’s Chili, $4.50
Full rack of tender Baby Back Pork Ribs, $19
Cajun cuisine
lunch & dinner; brunch on Sun; closed Mondays
Grilled Reuben & chips, $6
Combo Steampot: New potatoes, corn, andouille sausage, Gulf shrimp, crab, crawfish, and mussels, $48 (feeds 2 to 3 people)
Pizza and beer
lunch & dinner
Slice of Cheese Pie and a PBR, Monday – Friday before 2, $4
The Thai Pie: Shrimp, toasted coconut, and thai curry sauce, $23 for a large
Sandwiches and homemade soups
breakfast, lunch & dinner; closed Tuesdays
The Wheeler: two fried eggs, muenster, and butter on an English muffin, $4
The Ulysses: house roasted pork, peach jam, Swiss cheese, and fresh greens on sourdough, $10
Contemporary American
breakfast & lunch; dinner Fri. – Mon.
Cheddar, swiss, and muenster grilled cheese sandwich, $6.50
Curry-seared Tiger Shrimp, $23
Bakery
breakfast & lunch; closed Sundays and Mondays
Pizza rolls the size of two fists, $3
Whole chocolate creme pie topped with whipped cream (48 hours notice required), $18
fall 2011 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE 35
Ginger Danz ~ Artist
art@gingerdanz.com • gingerdanz.com 304.640.2850 Still Life, Landscape, Abstracts Commissions Accepted
Mountain Art Glass Stephanie Gasior Danz Stained Glass Artisan mountainartglass@suddenlink.com 304-574-2244 (cell) 304-894-7905
Custom Designed Panels and Windows Wedding Gifts Corporate Gifts Weekend Workshops by Request
Erin Larsen
Holistic Health Coach &Yoga Instructor Personal and Group Yoga Instruction and Individualized Health Coaching 970-708-7947 eelarsen@hotmail.com www.thevitalchange.com
Action Printing 813 Main Street Oak Hill, WV (304) 465-1407 phone (304) 465-1491 fax action@westlake-wv.com
faxing business cards printing copying books laminating
community Page
Who’s doing What
how to get involved
Art • Water • Entrepreneurship • Local Food • Learning • Health • Sustainability • Access • Community Theater Create Fayetteville is a volunteer initiative that empowers citizens to build a healthy economy by embracing technology, entrepreneurship, diversity, and quality of place. www.createfayetteville.com Fayetteville Arts Coalition’s mission to create a sustainable arts community that supports local artists, creates arts awareness, and fosters artistic growth and education. our goals include installing jurybased outdoor artwork throughout the community, creating and facilitating an artist cooperative and resource center, and creating a monthly “First Fridays“ artists market and musical gathering in downtown Fayetteville. Find us on Facebook or email: fayettevilleartscoalition@hotmail.com. Fayette County Farmers Market is an outlet for farmers, gardeners, bakers, and farm-based craftspeople in Fayette county. FcFm manages two farmers markets during the summer months: saturday 7 am to 11:30 am at the court street parking lot between diogi's and the Fayetteville cvb, and Thursdays 4 Pm to 7 Pm in downtown oak hill on main street near bb&t. We accept senior coupons and Wic–FmnP coupons. new growers and sellers are always welcome; email: fayettemarket@gmail.com. The Fayette County Green Advisory Team works to promote social, economic, and environmental health in the communities of Fayette county, West virginia. current initiatives are our annual new river earth day celebration, greening of bridge day and other community events, and our recycling and hazardous Waste committee. The green team meets on the last monday of the month at 6pm at the Fayetteville cvb. www. greenwv.org, info@greenwv.org Leadership Fayette County is a program for selected Fayette county high school juniors to promote essential leadership qualities. our goal is to provide Fayette county youth with the information and tools to enable them to make the choice to return to Fayette county to live, learn, work and play upon completion of their higher education. scholarships are made possible by donations through the 501 c3 Fayette county education Fund, inc. leadership Fayette county on Facebook. Historic Fayette Theatre hosts an average of 5,000 people for the many varied productions each year. audiences come from the local and regional community as well as tourists in the area. hFt has recently purchased the theatre and is working towards making upgrades such
as a downstairs handicapped bathroom. to learn more about how you can help historic Fayette Theatre and see our schedule, go to historicfayettetheatre.com. New River Alliance of Climbers works to preserve and promote climber access, and to conserve the climbing resources in the new river gorge and surrounding areas. www.newriverclimbing.net New River Gorge Learning Co-op is a nonprofit organization formed and run by parents committed to being directly involved in their child’s education. our goal is to provide a montessori-based learning option in which children can grow and learn with ample opportunity for experiential outdoor and environmental education. Pre-k through 3rd grade are currently served. call 304-573-8113. Plateau Action Network is a citizen’s coalition working within the community to promote responsible economic development and sustainable environmental management. since 1998 Pan has been involved in a variety of projects and issues related to watersheds and the communities within them, varying from power line routes through scenic and sensitive areas, proposed gas line routes, water quality issues, long term planning efforts within the county (e.g. land use, zoning and building codes), and responsible economic development. For more information, visit plateauactionnetwork.org. Vibrant Health is a new non-profit organization created to improve the health and fitness of the community and provide additional recreational opportunities through fitness and aquatic programs, nutritional education, senior and youth programs and weight loss and lifestyle management. vibrant health’s first project is to build an indoor aquatic center in the oak hill/ Fayetteville area. They are seeking funding sources, monetary donations, and people interested in contributing to the success of the project. For additional information contact debra Fragala Pories or casey gioeli at 304-465-3654. Fayetteville Junior Woman’s Club is a member of the general Federation of Women’s clubs. gFWc is an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. our projects include an emphasis on children and families, domestic violence awareness, and health issues. to learn more about us, visit us at www.gfwcwestvirginia.org.
Studio B
Health
Art Gallery & Wine Shop
By Erin Larsen much better, which is very important to staying healthy. so to feel your best, turn off the t.v., shut down the computer and take a hike! learning how to relax is the third component of a healthy lifestyle. our bodies release the hormone cortisol, which helps regulate blood pressure, metabolize glucose and support our immune system. however, cortisol is released in excess during times of stress. research indicates that elevated levels of cortisol over a long period of time are linked to a depressed immune system and weight gain (www.ama-assn.com). Find a way to let the stress go. meditate on the rim of the gorge, write in your journal, dance, laugh out loud, play games or take a yoga class. Quality sleep (the ultimate form of relaxation) is also a necessary component of physical and mental well-being. sleep deprived individuals, from my experience, are not happy people. if you learn to eat well, get your body moving everyday, and take time for r&r you will build a great foundation for your health. however, sometimes it is good to boost your immune system knowing that it will be challenged occasionally. take a high-quality multivitamin daily to enhance your regular diet. and consider taking a few additional supplements as well. did you know that approximately 70% of your immune system is located in your gastrointestinal tract? antibiotics, which we use to kill off the bacteria that make us sick, also kill the bacteria that keep us healthy. Probiotics (found in yogurt, kefir and supplements) rebuild your beneficial bacteria and are a good diet supplement as well (http://nccam.nih.gov). drinking lemon honey or herbal tea in the mornings can replace caffeine, which in small doses is a great stimulant, but has effects similar to cortisol in excess. echinacea has helped me avoid bouts of sickness when i felt it sneaking up on me. take good care of your immune system, and it will work hard for you. To learn more about what you can do to protect your health and live to your fullest, contact Erin Larsen, Holistic Health Coach, at eelarsen@ hotmail.com or thevitalchange.com.
Studio B Art Boutique Wine & Beer Gallery
Sue Plumley
Certified: Energy Healer, Yoga Teacher, and Guided Meditation
• • 304-673-4610
splumley@suddenlink.net call for free consultation and pricing
NT OU
RY POTPOU R
RI
it is that time of year: The kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter, and bacteria seem to spread like wild fire. lack of sleep, food on the go, high stress jobs, and seasonal changes can all deplete the immune system. i have talked to numerous individuals that battle repeated sickness. There are three things that most people are not incorporating into their busy lives: healthy diet, physical activity and relaxation. healthy diet, physical activity, and relaxation are crucial for your immune system to stay strong and keep up its lines of defenses. When i say “diet,” i don’t mean eating to lose weight. i refer to a diet as anything that you ingest: vegetables and whole grains or fast food hamburgers, grassfed meats, or hot dogs and other processed meats, fruits or refined sugars. if you want your immune system to stay strong, avoid processed food as often as possible. limit foods that are packaged. There are some exceptions, so read your labels and avoid foods whose ingredient list leaves you confused. Whole foods are those foods that are close to their original form in nature. i ask my clients a simple question: can you pick it from the ground or catch it from the wild? if the answer is yes then it is probably good for your body, but you can’t go pick lucky charms out of a field (believe me if you could i would have been the happiest college freshman.) highly processed food and sugary beverages cannot replace vegetables, fruits and water. during food processing nutrients are stripped from the food and your body has to work overtime to compensate. your body is an amazingly adaptable and resilient, but eventually, it will break down if it does not get the essential vitamins and minerals it needs. in addition to improving your diet, try to get 30 minutes of exercise daily (as recommended by the surgeon general). The new river gorge area provides an array of opportunities for physical activity. exercising outdoors is my preference, and why i moved to this area, but i also love going to the gym and practicing yoga at the studio. Find something you enjoy doing that gets your body moving. exercise releases stress, improves your heart, and makes you sleep
309 Keller Ave. Fayetteville, WV 25840 (304) 574-9100
C
Be Well
country antiques appalachian crafts gifts handmade candles and more! carrying gauley river rustic candles rt. 129 W. off rt. 19 535 summersville lake rd. mt. nebo, Wv 26679
(304) 872-4132 open sat. 11–6 or by appointment
Work for yourself? An ad in the Gorge Guide Business Listings is an inexpensive way to get the word out about what you do.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • (Choose Your Trail, continued from page 15)
Intro to Mountain Biking package for $50/2 hours. Or you can demo a bike for $25 per day or $75 for 3 days, and apply the rental amount to the price of the bike (New River Bike, 304574-2453, www.newriverbikes.com). Once you’re ready to purchase, plan to spend some time at the shop to get the bike fitted to your physique. If you're inexperienced, a bike shop is the perfect place to ask for tips for proper shifting and braking. “Before you leave here with a bike, you’ll know how to shift. The bike will properly fit. If you don’t know how to use the equipment you just purchased, it won’t be so fun,” says Adam Stephens, owner of Marathon Bicycle Company (304-5742337,www.marathonbikes.com).
èEarly Elementary Teacher. A parent-run learning center in the New River Gorge Area is looking for an individual to serve as one of several children’s guides in a Montessori-based experiential program. The ideal candidate loves children and has teaching experience with early elementary age groups. He or she is curious about the world and is excited to work with children who are even more curious. This position is 30 hours a week with approximately 3 months off every year. Montessori training opportunities are provided.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): The Briar Patch, Mount Hope Organically grown berries, apples, peaches, pears, vegetables, and edible flowers. (304-673-0568)
No time to cook? The following restaurants regularly offer fare made with local ingredients: Blue Grass Kitchen, Charleston Locally and naturally grown/raised eggs, meat, and produce. Blue Smoke Salsa and Gift Baskets, Ansted Local eggs, tomatoes, peppers and other local produce. Cathedral Cafe, Fayetteville Local eggs & produce from the farmer’s market. Gumbo's Cajun Restaurant, Fayetteville Local eggs, produce, and locally brewed beer. Secret Sandwich Society, Fayetteville Local eggs, locally brewed beer; salads and soups made from the Farmer’s Market produce. Vandalian, Fayetteville Local honey, eggs and produce from the Fayette Co. Farmer’s Market. Wild Flour Bakery, Fayetteville Local eggs year round and local berries during the summer season. The Ponderosa Lodge
38 NEW RIVER GORGE ADVENTURE GUIDE
Trail near Ansted. Once you have a few rides under your belt, progress to level singletrack. The Southside Junction Trail is a 14-mile outand-back singletrack with gently rolling uphills and downhills. Or head to the new Arrowhead trail, which has an easier loop you can use as a warm up to more commited routes that spur off it. Riding tips include: •Look where you want to go. Where your head points, your body and bike will follow •Lean back when attempting to ride over obstacles •What goes down must come up. Expect a climb after a breath-taking descent. Shift down before you reach the toughest part to keep the cadence of your pedal strokes flowing smoothly.
Bicycle Network Once beginners are all geared up and know how to properly use their bikes, they can find a plethora of info and trail maps from the New River Gorge National River Canyon Rim and Sandstone Visitor Centers, local bike shops and outdoor adventure companies. Riders should friend the New River Bicycle Union, New River Bike and Marathon Bicycle Company on Facebook to learn more about group rides and clinics. There are also several beginner friendly and women-only rides.
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Interested parties send resume to: nrglc@yahoo.com.
• 3 • Internship Looking for publishing experience? The Gorge Guide is seeking a part-time work-at-home intern during the months of March, April, and May, 2012. Email gorgeguide@gmail.com
Editorial and Photography Guidelines Editorial and Photo queries are welcome. Please send a brief description of your story idea or jpeg of photo you are submitting to gorgeguide@gmail.com
Services
Photos courtesy of ponderosa lodge, imba trail solutions
(La Vida Local, continued from page 35)
Restaurants:
Sales Associate. Part-time position in ad sales is available to a self-motivated individual. Must be willing to work from home and develop long term relationships with clients. Contact gorgeguide@gmail.com
Praxis Electrical Inc. Christopher G Danz Licensed Electrician Electrical Contractor #WV048491 (304) 578-8658 praxis.electrical@gmail.com
(Getting Dirty, continued from page 15)
Help Wanted
Hundreds of miles of big whitewater and steep creeks, 63,000 acres of national Park Land, more than 1,400 established climbing routes, one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world, and miles and miles of trails to enjoy it by. Enjoy this issue, and keep your eyes open for the next—we are just getting started.
GorGe Guide
FREE!
AdVeNTure
NeW riVer
SUMMER 2011
EvEnt CalEndaR inSidE!
Live it up Here
HOW TO BUILD AN
ADVENTURER tURn yOUR kidS intO yOUR FavORitE playMatES
locals Give it Up On Favorite trails
5
REsT DAy ODyssEy OUR
takinG-it-EaSy tiCk liSt
FILL THE VOID Where to Eat after takeout, Hike Out or Bike Out
sUmPTUOUs sHADE cool crags and what to climb there
the RESOURcE FOR ADVEntURE in tHE nEW AnD gAULEY RiVERS AREA Look for your FREE copy at restaurants, stores, visitors centers, rest stops, cabins, and hotels everywhere.
Check us out online: www.nrgorgeguide.com to advertise, contact gorgeguide@gmail.com or 304-573-8113