10/01/07

Wow!! It’s hard to believe the first 4 weeks of Gauley Season have come and gone. It seems like yesterday that we were waiting for day one to arrive. As always it has been filled with fun, folly, great times, and unbelievable rafting. How could it not be when we are running one of the greatest rivers in the world! Thanks to all our friends who came and enjoyed the experience with us. And of course we still look forward to all who are rafting in the remaining weeks. It’s not like Gauley season is over yet. Not by a long shot!

The fifth weekend (October 5-8) is coming up, and for foliage lovers everywhere, it usually represents the start of the leaves turning colors, which just adds to the beauty of the Gauley River. With the multi-colored hue of its lichen covered rocks, fall foliage enhances the Gauley River’s natural beauty. And as always, the fifth weekend is a standard 4-day, Friday through Monday, release weekend. With October the driest month of record in West Virginia, we usually have crisp mornings followed by sunny days to look forward to all month. So far, we have had some great weather this season. Most days reaching up into the 70’s, with a few running up into the 80’s on the first, third, and fourth weekends. Saturday, October 6th is also our annual chili cook-off, so if it is a bit crisp outside, when you get back from your trip we’re pretty sure we can reheat you with some samples of West Virginia cooking (no, possum chili isn’t part of our offerings). If chili runs in your veins, enter the contest at no cost, and possibly take home a cash prize. Bring a crock-pot of your finest, and we’ll plug it in while you raft the river!

As always, the sixth weekend of Gauley season (October 13-14) is an abbreviated Saturday/Sunday affair. By now the foliage is close to its peak, the weather is still wonderful, and we have our Gauley Blowout Special! Buy one get one half price on all one day raft trips. The crowds of the first few weekends have thinned out, and the water has actually warmed up as the Summersville Lake level draws down and we release the warmer top waters. For many of our regulars, this is the weekend they book each year. Maybe they know something? Only one way to find out.

And as happens every few cycles of the calendar, this year the New River Gorge Bridge Day Festival falls outside of Gauley Season, which results in an additional day of rafting on the Upper and Lower Gauley River. October 20st is Bridge Day here in Southern West Virginia’s New River Gorge. Once each fall, we close down the Nation’s 2nd tallest bridge for a day of celebration. A carnival like atmosphere exists, as BASE jumpers fling themselves into the New River Gorge Abyss. BASE (Building, Antenna, Span, Earth) jumping is parachuting off a structure and falling to earth, and Bridge Day is the world’s largest gathering of these daredevils. Fair-like festivities take place all along the bridge and into the host town of Fayetteville. Songer celebrates the day by running a trip down the New River Gorge aimed at eating lunch below the bridge so we can take in the jumpers from the best possible vantage point. It’s a great way to beat the crowds and still enjoy the show. Combine this with a Gauley trip on Sunday and receive a special discount. Or enjoy the festivities on your own by land and then join us for the close of Gauley Season 2007 on October 21st!

Hey, it’s not too late to See You on the River
Video Dan

Print