Upper Gauley Virgins – Saturday
Welcome to the special place – The Upper Gauley! I’m honored and excited to organize this trip with Sejal and share my passion for paddling and for this river specifically with some of our club members.
This is the first timers’ trip for those club members who has proven technical skills, physical endurance, and mental resilience to take on a very demanding journey down the notorious Gauley River for the first time.
Registration
Registration on CCC website is required.
Please complete the registration by Checking Out. If you do not, your reservation will not be saved.
River
Upper Gauley (Summersville Dam to Mason Branch) – 10-mile section with target flow release of 2800cfs. This is big technical water with powerful hydraulics, complex currents, must-make moves, and multiple major class V rapids. Technical line selection, continuous decision making throughout the run, ability to withstand very high physical demand, and being ready for consequential swims are a must!
Water temperature is generally on the warmer side. It cools off throughout the Gauley season. By end of September expect to wear a drytop with light inner layer or possibly lighter gear if weather or you are on warmer side.
Skills
I’m not going to list technical skills required for this run. However, please be very specific when you list your skills on the registration form. This is not a run to “wing it” and you don’t want to find out that this was too much in the middle of Lost Paddle… Let’s be realistic and work together to make sure you are signing up for the experience you are ready to have!
Active CPR, swift water rescue course within last 2 years, good physical shape, fully outfitted proper gear are all essentials for this trip.
Walking out or portaging is very challenging (but possible if must be). If you are planning on walking some rapids, you are not ready for this run!
Meeting Place
Summersville Dam put-in parking lot
Saturday run: 9am
Lodging/camping
I stay at Rays (rayscampground.com) and it would be great to hang out and meet each other there before and after the trip, but not mandatory. If Rays doesn’t work for you, just meet us at the dam the morning of.
Bookings
Log in if you already have an account with us.
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.