New River Rendezvous
I have been “loosely coordinating” this trip every Labor Day since 2002.
Traditionally we have met at Ray’s Campground on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend at ten a.m. at the picnic tables behind the office. Please maintain distance and masks are encouraged.
This trip is ordinarily open to almost all levels of paddlers. If you’ve never been in a boat before then you aren’t ready. At ordinary water levels the upper sections of the New are pretty newbie friendly while the gorge offers more difficult rapids. With rain other options open up.
Where? Ray’s is in Hico (pronounced HIGHcoh) near the intersection of routes 60 and 19 which is about five miles north of where the New goes under route 19. Head west very briefly on 60 and turn right on Sunday Road. Sunday Road is only paved in the middle so take it easy. Ray’s is about a mile on the left. 304-658-4386. Reservations are not required for tent sites. At last count it was $10 per person per night. Electric sites are $10 extra. Dogs must be leashed. Please respect quiet hours.
In past years they have accepted cash, check, and all major credit cards. I’ll guess they prefer cash so bring some bills.
GPS user note, I love that technology, trust it blindly if you wish. I recommend at least glancing at a map or two before you head out.
We have tended to have large groups on the river and packed-to-the-gills shuttle vehicles during this weekend. Please don’t even think of doing such this year.
I’ll post this to Coastals, the Monocacy Canoe Club, and the Carolina Canoe Club, the three with which I’m most active. Feel free to cross-post to other clubs if you wish.
Cheers,
Ken Dubel
All participants in any Carolina Canoe Club (CCC) trip do so as common adventurers. The CCC or its individual members may coordinate paddling trips but no one is considered leader of a trip. As common adventurers, all participants take the responsibility for making their own decisions including, but not limited to, whether it is safe for them to participate on any particular water body, what equipment they need and use, the routes they may choose to paddle, whether their skill levels and abilities are adequate for the activity or whether climate and water conditions are appropriate for their participation. Participants are exclusively responsible for their own safety.
Individual coordinators for all CCC activities set requirements per their sole discretion. The CCC does not necessarily endorse or approve requirements set by coordinators.