The Upper Gauley is one of the most amazing trips in the world.
We're going up to the top of the base of the Summersville Dam.
We're getting ready for thirteen miles of the best whitewater in the East Coast. Number two in the US, number five in the world for single day white water adventure.
I'm talking about the big ride!
So the Upper Gauley is a few steps up from the New River
One step up from the Middle/Lower Gauley, you get five class V rapids, over 40 rapids in total, my personal favorite river.
We are going to run Class I-V whitewater. These class V rapids out here, the first one's called Insignificant, there ain't nothing insignificant about it.
Rolling down stream, Pillow Rock is the best 10 seconds in white water.
We're going to drop 25 feet in 25 yards, big explosive water going up off of a cliff.
Head on down stream, Lost Paddle; drops 80 feet, over a quarter mile long.
The second drop of Lost Paddle has a 16 foot water slide you go careening down through.
Head on down to Iron Ring, another fast and furious 20 foot drop in 20 yards.
We're going to finish it up with Sweet's Falls; massive 12 foot waterfall. Hey you can't get any better than that!
The biggest surprise is the lunch, because you just think someone is going to give you a cold sandwich and deli meat.
Everything is hot and served by the guides, which is awesome.
Between hamburgers, chicken, desserts, coffee, fire pit, it's all wonderful
The food is amazing! ...didn't expect that.
No doubt about it, we have the best lunches on the river.
You show up, warm up by the fire for a little bit, then you can go get chicken, brats, hamburgers, portobello mushrooms, mashed potatoes, rice and beans...
...vegetables, fresh fruit, and of course a brownie and some hot chocolate to really warm you up for the day.
Everything we do is about safety. Our guides are some of the best trained guides in the country.
Our guides on the average have over ten years experience, some of them have up to 22-23 years of experience.
Besides the river, I would say just the annual trip.
Coming back each year, renting two to three cabins, and just hanging out for the weekend.
That's probably the best part of the weekend is just the camaraderie within the guys.