White water rafting?

[smokedog]

Ok mds has never let me down so I ask again.
Where have you been rafting or where would you go? Would like something a few hours away or closer. I have not been in years but we want to go this year so educate me.
Thanks

 

[Alea Jacta Est]

New River or Gauley River in WV.

Most awesome.

Been twenty plus years since I went. The partying and sleeping on the ground don't hold the same attraction they once did...

It was a blast in the day though.

Enjoy n

 

[PJDiesel]

Gualey season in September/October.

Been 3 times now, first year was absolutely insane. We use ACE, the entire grounds is one big party in the late afternoons/evenings. Strip club not too far up the road in Beckley.


WELL worth it if you've never been. I recommend the Marathon (overnight). Riverside camping, they cook an awesome steak dinner an full breakfast the next day.

 

[wbw2123]

Upper Youghiogheny River with Ohiopyle Trading Po…: http://youtu.be/oSGdxZj8fG8


Great place to raft and has plenty of nearby camping or accommodations around deep creek lake

 

[Derwood]

I second any of the companies in Ohiopyle. That's a great trip. Do the upper Yough if you want some big time rapids; lower if you just want a few exciting ones.

 

[Petar]

+1 on Upper Gauley River in WV. Best time to go, after a Hurricane

 

[Hawkeye]

New River or Gauley River in WV.

Most awesome.

Yep. Some of the best rafting anywhere.

My wife and I went 9 or 10 years ago with some friends. We used an outfitter called Class VI (http://www.class-vi.com/) and they were fantastic. Great, great facilities, great guides, and AWESOME campsites. They put you up overnight on the river at a spot with a hottub, a beer keg, and gourmet food.

It was a blast.

 

[outrider58]

Upper Youghiogheny River with Ohiopyle Trading Po…: http://youtu.be/oSGdxZj8fG8


Great place to raft and has plenty of nearby camping or accommodations around deep creek lake

 

[StantonCree]

Upper Youghiogheny River with Ohiopyle Trading Po…: http://youtu.be/oSGdxZj8fG8


Great place to raft and has plenty of nearby camping or accommodations around deep creek lake

I've done this and it was actually a decent time. Fun but bit excessive.

Also WISPs man made park is actually pretty fun!!!!

 

[Mack C-85]

Easy (great for kids) - Shenandoah @ Harpers Ferry WV
Mild - Yough in Ohiopyle PA
Wild - Cheat River in Albright WV

 

[Biggfoot44]

All depends on your perception of " close ".

I'll make a small assumption, that if you were ready for " difficult" white water, you'd already know it, and wouldn't need to ask.

Either the New or the Yough will give medium to upper medium thrills. But are more of weekend trips.

For mellower, but only cpl hours away ( aka easy day outing ), the Shenandoah, either in Harper's Ferry area or the Front Royal/ Luray stretch.

All this limited to popular areas with on

 

[Sticky]

Easy (great for kids) - Shenandoah @ Harpers Ferry WV
Mild - Yough in Ohiopyle PA
Wild - Cheat River in Albright WV

^^^this...

 

[Sticky]

New River or Gauley River in WV.

Most awesome.

Been twenty plus years since I went. The partying and sleeping on the ground don't hold the same attraction they once did...

It was a blast in the day though.

Enjoy n

Both of these are awesome as well... I have rafted a ton and on all these rivers.. some downright treacherous (summer teeth on one of our rafts and we called in a LifeFlight for another group's rafter (he didn't make it)). Just be aware of your experience and plan a trip accordingly.

 

[Mack C-85]

Ohiopyle area (Confluence,PA)has some good classes if you think you might want to try canoeing or kayaking.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[PJDiesel]

and we called in a LifeFlight for another group's rafter (he didn't make it)). Just be aware of your experience and plan a trip accordingly.

Older dude / cardiac arrest? Someone died on the Upper Gauley 3 years ago that way. They landed the chopper right by pillow rock (if I heard the story correctly). My buddy was in their group, pretty much ruined the trip, they walked his people out a foot path to the next take out. It can be deadly, we've seen and been in some nasty situations. 4 to 5 seconds under the boat in 60° water feels like a solid minute. We swam hard right after Sweets last year, it can be scary for sure.

 

[Sticky]

Older dude / cardiac arrest? Someone died on the Upper Gauley 3 years ago that way. They landed the chopper right by pillow rock (if I heard the story correctly). My buddy was in their group, pretty much ruined the trip, they walked his people out a foot path to the next take out. It can be deadly, we've seen and been in some nasty situations. 4 to 5 seconds under the boat in 60° water feels like a solid minute. We swam hard right after Sweets last year, it can be scary for sure.

It was on the Upper Gauley, but at least 15 years ago. It was actually an 'experienced whitewater guide' from out west, or so we heard. He got pitched out of the raft in the rapids (it was really rough and we snatched a bunch of our rafters out of the water too that day)... anyway, he was like 15' from shore, downstream a bit from the rapids, but still in really fast water.. he tried to stand up to walk out, but it was still fairly deep and he got hooked in the rocks and slammed to the bottom. When we came through a few minutes later, they had him on shore giving him CPR. We had a radio in our drybag, so we paddled back upstream and assisted til the lifeflight started to hover. We heard on the ride back that he didn't make it.

 

[PJDiesel]

Damn, putting your feet down is probably the most dangerous situation possible in white water.

 

[Sticky]

Damn, putting your feet down is probably the most dangerous situation possible in white water.

Yes... lesson learned really well that day. He really was below the white water, but it was just smoother smaller rocky bottom and the water was still really rolling fast. Apparently he got his ankle stuck in the rocks. There were a few rafters on the point near him and saw him go down and not come up.. they jumped right in and got him out, but he never really came around.

I remember that trip well, cause it started out cold and snowy... it was a challenging day of rafting... lol

 

[Sticky]

The nice thing about this area, is that we are only a few to several hours away from some of the best whitewater rafting on the eastern seaboard. There are rivers that run from mild, to wild, as mentioned and they are all a great time. Just start out on the easier ones and work your way up. Pay attention and learn how to handle the rougher ones, cause things can get challenging quickly. You will be fine if you know what to or not to do when those occasions arise.

 

[engineerbrian]

Cahulawassee River valley