Posts Tagged ‘white water rafting’

You Totally Rock, Mom! (The Secret To The Last Blast Of Summer)

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Labor Day looms large here at our humble white water rafting company in the New River Gorge, and you know what that means?  Yeah.  School begins.

Yeah, you know what that means.

But I wouldn’t suggest saying goodbye to summer yet. It’s not quite over. We all have things to do, and to be precise, a whole month to do them.

Which means it’s time to rejoice, enjoy, and live a little.  This summer’s almost outta here, and it’s never coming back (this particular one, I mean).  I have some secret suggestions for you to get the most out of the last blast of summer…

How about a little rafting on the New River? It’s just about the most awesome time a kid can ever have. And just in case you didn’t already know it, those there kids only have to be 6 years old to raft the Middle New.  See how helpful blogs can be?

There’s also  great Rock Climbing at the New River Gorge Bridge.  The bridge buttress (no jokes, please) has to be one of the coolest places in the world to go climbing.  It’s an experience your kids will never forget.

Or what about a little bit of Mt. Biking on some trails in these here hills of West Virginia?  Riding a bike is like, well, riding a bike.  Once you know how, you never forget.  In fact, the only part that most people ever forget is how much fun it can be.

What about puttin’ a little hitch in your giddy up and jump on a horse for a guided trail ride.  Or visit a state park, like nearby Babcock, Hawk’s Nest, or Carnifex Ferry.

Yo, Mom- I promise your kids will think you rock if you do one of these activities with them.  If you’re looking for some lodging, we can hook you up with that too. Camping, hotels, rustic cabins and even deluxe cabins.

And while you’re visiting the mountains of WV, be sure to bring a fishing pole.  You can go out to Songer’s pond and try to catch some fish (this might be the most kid friendly thing you could possibly do, outside of a ride down the river). And of course, if you want to do some swimming you can check out Summersville lake. Rent a boat, or just go to beach.  The beach, BTW, costs a buck per person.  Don’t you love West Virginia?

Whatever you’re into, whatever your kids are into, we can definitely point you toward a good time here at Songer.  Let us help you book your trip today.

The Secret to Surfing West Virginia

Monday, July 5th, 2010

This is a post about surfing white water rivers in West Virginia. But I know you’re thinking of a long board and standing up.  That’s surfing, right?

Well surfing a raft is a little different.

First, we paddle through a rapid and then pull over to the river bank.  Looking back upstream, the guide locates the perfect little waterfall-type river feature that can hold a raft in place.  It’s called a hydraulic or a hole, and we paddle right into it.

Half the boat is covered in the splash from the surf hole.

So as you can imagine at this point, there’s no standing up.  The entire raft going in to surf.  The best way to surf is all together!

It’s kind of like riding a bucking bronco, or hot tubing under a fire hose, or getting tossed into a washing machine.  It doesn’t last long and those that stay in the boat are greeted with cheers from the crowd upon exiting.

The physics of all this: Water is rushing downstream over rocks (hence the “white” water).  This creates the baby waterfalls, pour-overs, with deep pools behind them.  When the raft is paddled with force back into these falls, the water sprays all over, pours into the raft, and if you’re lucky, the boat becomes “locked in”  At this time everyone stops paddling and enjoys the ride. Congrats- you’re surfing!

It takes teamwork to get the boat in the surf hole.

Now, there is the chance of getting thrown out, sucked out, or flushed out.  If it happens, just go with the flow.  Embrace Mother Nature or in the case, let Her embrace you.  These are called “Play Spots” for a reason.  Remember, there are two kinds of rafters: those that have fallen out of the raft, and those that are going to.  (My preference is to cannon ball upon falling out so that I flush to the top instantly).

Keep your hands on your paddle’s T-grip and enjoy the ride, Songer style.  And when you get home, tell everyone you went surfing on your rafting vacation.

5 Questions You Need To Ask When You Take Your Family Rafting

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

“I’m sooo bored!”

Guess what, parents? You can totally shock the h*ll out of  your kids on summer vacation with three words: white water rafting.  (I know that’s kind of a strong way to put it, but it’s true).

Also, the word bored is outlawed here. No whining.

Surf west virginia, y'all!

Surf west virginia, y'all!

And when I’m talking about those three words,”white water rafting”, you know I don’t mean the lazy river kind.  It’s very cool for families, kids love it, and, well, so do we.

Here are 5 common questions we get from folks booking:

1. Which river and section is right for my family?

Kids 6 to 12—The Middle New River.  Fun splashy rapids, great scenery, lots of wildlife (we saw 2 bald eagles this week), as well as creepy crawly things kids love. Do it in a raft or do it in a duckie.   Kids 12 and older—The Lower New River. Great for first timers and experienced folks. The Lower is a wide part of the river at the beginning, but the canyon walls crowd in later on. The gradient of the river gets steeper, making this a fun ride of roller coaster rapids and whitewater waves.  It’s where the big kids play.

2. How do I get there from here (because if I hear “are we there yet” one more time I’m going to [insert your own version of insanity here])?

We’re actually the easiest place to get to in West Virginia.  Seriously. We are within 8 hours or less of most of the eastern U.S.  Just don’t confuse us with Virginia; we’re a bit touchy about that.  Amtrak goes right through the New River Gorge, and if you like, we can pick you up at one of the stations next to the river. In a hurry? Fly to Yeager Airport in Charleston WV (CRW) and rent a car from Enterprise (we have a deal w’ them- call us about it).

3. Where do we stay?

Got you covered. We have it all, from camping to deluxe cabins at Cabins on Miller Ridge, to B&B’s and hotels.  We take the “staying” part seriously; the lodging totally makes (or breaks) the vacation.  You get the idea.

4. What else is there to do in your area?

Here? Well, we have a National Park and 2 State Parks within 20 minutes. We go rock climbing, horseback riding, and ATV riding, just to name a few (and they pick you up—no driving). We have Tamarac, a beautiful juried arts center.  Theatre West Virginia, an outdoor ampitheater.  And lots more, of course.  And hey, didn’t I say no whining??

5. What’s the fun factor?

Pretty high for the kids.  Like, off the charts, talk about it for the rest of the year, can’t wait to go back levels of fun.  No-brainer fun.  Pry the smile off your face with a crowbar fun.  You will be the guaranteed hero in your family for setting up this vacation.

Just don’t tell them how easy it was.

Mother’s Day White Water Rafting? Yup.

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Moms rock.

They also raft.  On white water.  In West Virginia.  Like, on the New River Gorge.  So that whole image of Mom being kind of, um, not too exciting?  Wrong.

Butterflies?  Flowers?  Must be Mother's Day in the New River Gorge!

Butterflies? Flowers? Must be Mother's Day in the New River Gorge!

Moms go rafting like anyone else.  Think of replacing the idea of soccer mom with the idea of adventure mom, and you’re on the right track.  Here are some mom-type facts and opinions about white water rafting that you might not know…

  • Songer Whitewater?  It’s co-owned by a mom.
  • We have at least 5 moms working on the Gauley River, the most difficult section of whitewater we run.
  • Mother’s Day is traditionally one of our best days on the water.  Lots of guests, and springtime at its height in the gorge.
  • Rafting makes people happy.  And to quote an old phrase, “When mama’s happy, everybody’s happy!”
  • The woman who started Grandparent’s Day is from Oak Hill, WV, just over the new river gorge bridge and down the road from Songer.  (Okay, that technically doesn’t have anything to do with Mother’s Day, but c’mon.)
  • A good Mother’s Day gift is any one that makes mom feel alive.  A little adventure vacation fits that bill.
  • Moms are great paddlers; most of them practiced on y’all!  Ha!  LOL.
  • There’s a great surf spot on the Gauley called Hungry Mother.
  • If you take mom rafting, you still have to do all the dishes on mother’s day (hint: use paper plates!  It’s not the greenest way to go, but they make plates that you can compost.

And there you have it.  Plenty of reasons why moms make great rafters.  Stay tuned for the Father’s Day version, coming up in a month or so.

“Paddles of the Past” – The History and Culture of West Virginia Whitewater

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Remember going to the museum with your family?  Boring and awful?  Just wanted to get back to the swimming pool at the motel?

Paddling, no matter where, no matter when, is a good thing.

Paddling, no matter where, no matter when, is a good thing.

My family (that would be Melanie, Dave and me) went to the WV State Cultural Center on Tuesday for the premier of  a new exhibit,  ‘”Whitewater Rafting:  West Virginia’s Gift to the World”.  It was awsome, really rocked my boat-pun intended!

The exhibit is full of historical artifacts.  You’ll see the first raft to decend the New River, pictures of two really large inner tubes tied together for the first decent of the Gauley River, and loads of old gear and photos.  Its fascinating on it’s own and the addition of the fim makes the history of whitewater rafing on the New River or Gauley River come alive.  This is not your boring documentary:  It’s full of thrills and spills, great action and poinent moments with raft guides (believe it or not)!

This film was produced by Eric J Palfrey and scripted by Ben Curnett, both longtime river folk.  (You may know Ben as our writer extradonair.  I think he won an Academy Award or something.)

Check it out at the Cultural Center in Charleston WV.  It should be there until the end of April with the film running in a continuous loop so you can veiw it anytime.  Their phone number is 304.558.0220, the web site is www.wvculture.org.

Enjoy!

It’s Official! Boy Scouts coming to West Virginia!

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Yes!  The Boy Scouts of America are coming to West Virginia. In a big way.  It’s official now- the Scouts are going to build a new permanent home in Fayette County, near Fayetteville. The Scouts purchased 10,000 acres and will build a new high adventure base camp. Located adjacent to the New River Gorge National River, this camp will bring over 25,000 scouts to West Virginia each summer. Included in the new base camp will be a High Adventure Center, Order of the Arrow, and Center for Leadership Excellence.

Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve

Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve

This new center will be called The Summit at the Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. Funding for the new camp has been jump started by a generous donation by the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation of $50,000,000. This is the largest donation ever received by the Boy Scouts of America.  Mr. Steven Bechtel, a former Eagle Scout, said, “Scouting made a tremendous impact on my life. It’s the source of the my fondest memories. I’m proud to be a founder of this project, and I’m thrilled to know that it will be part of the Scouting legacy future generations will enjoy.”

Even better:  The Summit will become the permanent home of the national Jamboree beginning in 2013. This event is held every four years and is expected to bring over 40,000 scouts to Fayette County plus their families! By hosting the national Jamboree, The Summit becomes eligible to host the International Jamboree in 2019.  Plans are being made to bid for this event to be held in Fayette County.

Superintendent Don Striker of the New River Gorge  National River exclaimed, “Friends, neighbors, we won. WE WON!” The superintendent was on the task force credited with persuading the Boy Scouts to come to West Virginia. After an 18 month search of 80 sites in 28 states, West Virginia’s Fayette County was chosen. Governor Joe Manchin stated, “Some things just go together. I have never in five years as  governor had an opportunity to work on a project that I think can transform who we are as a state, can redefine who we are as a people.”

This is a wonderful project for the Boy Scouts, and we can;t wait for them to come to Fayette County and West Virginia.  Having outfitted the public for the past 30 years in the New River area, we can definitely say that the scouts will have the best opportunity to whitewater raft, rock climb, mountain bike and grow into strong young men. We look forward to making the Scouts and their families welcome in Fayette County.

The Boy Scouts of America will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2010 and The Summit will begin the legacy of scouting for the next 100 years, right here.  Our area is proud to help them begin that legacy.  And everyone here at Songer is too.

Welcome, y’all.

A List For Bridge Day in the New River Gorge

Friday, October 2nd, 2009
lots of this, plus whitewater

Bridge Day in West Virginia

OK, let’s start by saying this:  Watching people freefall off of a 876 foot bridge never -never- gets old.

That’s what Bridge Day (Saturday, October 17th) is all about, if you’ve never been.  It’s West Virginia’s biggest festival, and definitely one of the world’s great spectacles.  And it just happens to be in our backyard.

So here’s a quick list of reasons why you should come.  Check them off and book your trip.  We try not to out and out sell stuff here on the blog, but this one is a “don’t miss” situation.

1.  Rafting-  Well, what’d you think we were going to say?  The best way to check out bridge day is from the river, after paddling down the rapids of the New River Gorge.  You can (and should) book here.

2.  People Jumping Off A Bridge-  Yup, that’s what all the fuss is about.  And unless you’ve seen it, you have no idea what you’re in for.  Coolness at the speed of physics.

3.  Food, And Lots Of It-  The whole thing kicks off with “A Taste Of Bridge Day” on Friday night, a party that brings together all of the best food from around the gorge and you.

4.  Rappel-  Some people leave the bridge on a 750 foot rope and just dangle there for a while, out in space.  Want to be one?  There’s a zipline that’s open to the public.  Really.

5.  Chili-  After the bridge jumping ceases, everyone will gather in town for the 1st annual Bridge Day Chili Cookoff. There will be beer.

One last thing:  Do you get on Facebook?  Watch YouTube?  Post photos on Flickr?  Um, tweet on Twitter?  If so, please share your Bridge Day stuff.  Just tag everything you post with #bridgeday, and we’ll have it available on our social media newsroom feed, too.

That’s it.  Are there better reasons to come? Post them here.  Hope to see you

3 Days: Best Things To Do During Gauley Season (When The Gauley River Isn’t Running)

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

West Virginia’s Gauley River (or as we like to call it, our backyard) is a fickle beast.  All year, we wait, salivating, for Autumn, when the Gauley Starts to roar.disc golf, baby

And it does.  For four days (Friday through Monday) every week until late October.  Rockin’, right?

Well, that leaves three days each week when the river is- yep- dry.  Not bone dry; there’s enough water for the fish.  But you can pretty much forget about Gauley rafting every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during Gauley season.

How does it work?  The Army Corps of Engineers uses a little device called the Summersville Dam to cut the water on and off like a faucet.  It’s actually kind of a good thing.  If it weren’t for the dam, we wouldn’t be rafting at all in the fall.

But still.  That leaves us with three whole days to fill.  So what do we do?

Go Rafting We’re lucky.  We have this whole other river called the New River where we are.  You may have heard of it.  Class V rapids?  Big Ol’ Bridge?  Yes, THAT one.  It’s still running.  So we get out on it whenever people want to go.  A good way to do it is to bookend your Gauley trip with a trip on the New.

Hit Up Some Other Activities We’ve got a lot of what I like to call, “Activities”.  Horseback riding?  Activity.  ATVs?  Activity.  Mountain Biking?  Climbing?  Activity.  Sitting around in the hot tub and watching movies in the cabin?  Around here, that’s an activity.

Chill Say you go down the Gauley on a Monday, and you want to stick around on Tuesday.  Here’s what you do:  Nuthin’.  Go for a walk.  Shop.  Eat at four or five or six different restaurants.  Lots and lots and lots of disc golf (our personal fav).  Do it up, but, you know, relax.

Travel Did you know that West Virginia is one of the coolest places in the world?  A good way to find out is to grab a map and go.  After all, you’ve got three days.  There are literally as many places to go as there are places to be, so don’t hesitate.  Just get rolling.

What would you do with three days off?

How To Tell You’re Rafting On The Gauley River

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

We’re right smack dab in the middle of Gauley Season, y’all.  All the out-of-towners have descended on West Virginia and the New River Gorge, the water is flowing, and we’ve been going big.where we start

So, how, exactly, do you know that you’re on the Gauley?  Well, as someone who’s had an ongoing love affair with the river for twenty years (y’all know what I’m talkin’ ’bout), I’ve got a couple of ideas.

First, and maybe foremost, is the smell. No, not neoprene.   The Gauley has a pleasant, earthy smell all around it.  It’s sublte, but it’s there.  And it’s said that smell is the strongest sense.  When it’s Gauley season, that sweet river-y smell fills your nose (hopefully not w direct contact with the water).  The air is crisp and fall-like.  Take a whiff, and you know what time it is.

Then there are the sights. The leaves change during Gauley Season.  So there you are in the middle of the Appalachians in this truly majestic river gorge, and it’s all yellow and red and gold and everything.  Awesome.

Finally, the sounds of Gauley, like this one: “Forward, paddle forward, I SAID PADDLE FORWARD!  PADDLE, YOU MAGGOTS!”  There’s always the rumble of rapids, because there are so many of them.  And also there’s, y’know, lots of roller-coaster-type screaming going on.

But the best sound of Gauley Season is the blast of the horn each morning.  That’s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers telling us that the water is coming out of the dam… get ready.

Gauley.  It’s finally here.  You can just tell.

How To Choose The Right Gauley River Rafting Trip

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Thinking about rafting the Gauley River?  In this post, I’m going to tell about 4 different river trips for Gauley Season, and explain which trips are right for you.

It looks like this, but in a raft

It looks like this, but in a raft

Because I know what you want better than you do.  It ain’t my first rodeo.

The Lower Gauley
This one is what you could consider “tame” if it didn’t rock so hard.  Just because the lower isn’t littered with Class V rapids doesn’t mean it’s not loaded with awesomeness.  The rapids aren’t small- they’re just not as big as the upper.  If you want to step up your game, but aren’t ready for giant steps, choose the lower.

The lower is right for you if…
-You want to take it one rapid at a time before the river tries any funny stuff.

The Upper Gauley
It’s a big as big gets.  It’s not the most dangerous or the most difficult in the world, but it’s probably the most fun.  It’s a single day adventure on one of the greatest stretches of whitewater in the universe.  This trip is what Gauley Season is all about.

The upper is right for you if…
-You look at a big ol’ honkin’ rapid, and you’re like, “Hey bud- let’s party!”.

The Gauley Marathon
The Gauley has two sections, as mentioned above- the upper and the lower.  Usually, folks choose either/or.  But a few adrenaline nuts do it all in one day.  It’s called the marathon for a reason:  the trip is 26 miles long, with more than 100 rapids.  It’s the goods.

The Gauley Marathon is right for you if…
-You think Navy SEAL training looks like a great time.

The Gauley Double Upper
The Upper Gauley has 5 class V rapids on it (known as the Big Five).  On the double, we get out right below the last one, then head to the top to do it again.  This one is a no holds barred, white knuckle assault.  Best hang on, y’all.

The Gauley Double Upper is right for you if…
-You watch MMA matches and think, “Man, I’d be great at that.”

Choosing the right trip is an exercise in being honest with yourself.  Remember, the most important thing about choosing a Gauley trip is to pick the one that you’ll have the most fun on.  It’s all about having a good time.