New River Gorge Guide Spring/Summer 2014

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YOUR RESOURCE FOR ADVENTURE IN THE NEW AND GAULEY RIVERS AREAGorGe Guide

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Celebrating 35 years of Bridge Day, 10/18/14.

New River Gorge Adventure Guide covers the beautiful natural playgrounds in and around the new river Gorge including the Gauley river and summersville lake area, the Bluestone river, the Meadow river, and more. it is based out of south-central west Virginia near the new river Gorge Bridge.

PuBlisher/editor Cristina Opdahl

coPY editor Martha Opdahlhealth/enVironMent editor Ginger DanzcontriButinG writers Jonathan Danz, Pat Goodman, Katie Johnson, Keith Kinsey, Erin Larsen, Jim McCormac, Bryan SimoncontriButinG PhotoGraPhers Christopher Danz, Pat Goodman, Colleen La� ey, Molly Wol� , Sam Richmond

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outdoor activities are inherently risky, and participation can cause injury or loss of life. Please consult your doctor prior to beginning any workout program or sports activity, and seek out a qualifi ed instructor. nickelville Press, llc will not be held responsible for your decision to play outdoors.

coVer: sarah chouinard fi nds balance at the new river Gorge. Photograph by Shullphoto.

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Spring/Summer 2014 Issue

happenings 8. Pushing the envelope local whitewater suP paddlers are shredding Big

wave and showing their sport what river surfi ng is all about.

9. stone cold what did you do during last winter’s polar vortex? we bet it wasn't anything as exciting as this.

9. water wiser a chemical spill to the northwest of the new river Gorge sets off a rallying cry for clean, safe water.

10. Guardians of Flight by Keith Kinsey Th e Th ree rivers avian center stands watch over our winged cohabitants of the new river Gorge.

14. digging deep by Katie Johnson Parenting on the trail, river, and campsite can be hard—but the payoff is worth it.

16. Th e under-18 tick list by amanda ashley Because challenges are fun and you never know what you can do until you try: a tick list for younger outdoorspeople.

20. Mix it up by amanda ashley why do just one sport in a day? Th ese 5 crosstraining adventures will lead you to wonderful places.

24. small but Mighty Biking, disc golf, nature watching, fi shing, and more at the state parks surrounding the nrG area.

26. wanderer by Geoff heeter Th ere are those who hike trails and those who get kinda lost for a while.

28. water = life by levi rose what you should know about where your water comes from.

29. nature’s Jackhammer by Jim Mccormac noisy, prehistoric looking, and quite large, a pileated woodpecker hammers for her dinner on a tree near you.

30. event calendar Th ree triathlons, two music festivals, and other not-to-be missed events in and around the new river Gorge.

32. Be well: sleeping under the stars by erin larsen research shows that your sleeping environment matters.

32. new river 911 by Bryan simon what to do when accidents happen on the trail, rock, and river.

35. Th e Gorge Guide restaurant Guide hungry? let us help source your next meal. check this chart to fi nd all the good food this area has to off er.

36. where to Find it adventure, cabins & hotels, restaurants, retail, and services found here.

37. classifi eds

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Happenings

the pump…repeat. it’s forlorn and frigid, but the fun is unmistakable for the intrepid sort. temps need to be below freezing for at least a week for the ice to get good enough to climb. we hit the fi rst waterfall you come to at Bridge Buttress. it’s a great ice climbing introduction to those with no experience because it can be top roped. Burma road and Junkyard were my go-to spots because of the easy access and varied terrain. (Th ese areas also have beginner-friendly lines and top-ropeable routes.) we also climbed at beautiful cathedral Falls, applying what we learned on the shorter ice falls. dense Pack at whippoorwill, summersville lake, off ered perhaps the grandest selection of good ice in our region. and then there was Big Daddy at Beauty Mountain, just to the right of Let’s Make a Deal: at 110 feet it is the longest, steepest ice pillar around. it rarely forms up, but this winter—thanks again, Polar Vortex—it appeared. and so did we. —Pat Goodman

“Polar” and “VorteX” were unwelcome words for most new river Gorge-based athletes last winter, but a week of below 0°c temperatures was good news to me and a few climbing buddies. Th at dense, cold air that we got so much of provided us with more than a dozen pleasant days of quality ice climbing this winter. with thermoses full of hot soup, we made the rounds to all the standard spots in the Gorge. during one cold snap, summersville lake was frozen solid (a sight to behold!) and we suspected we would fi nd frozen smears and hanging pillars never before seen. we were right. at one location we scratched our way up bare, overhanging rock to a free-hanging pillar of ice that stood out from the wall more than an arm’s length. with one ice tool and cramponed feet hooked to tiny features in the rock, we leaned out away from the rock with the other tool in hand to swing over to the pillar. a barbaric ballet ensued: swing, kick, kick, balance, breathe, fi ght the pump, swing, hide your face from falling ice shards, balance, fi ght

stone cold

Pat Goodman at Junkyard Cave, NRG

pushing the envelope

this June, the PaYette riVer GaMes in cascade, idaho, will shell out a $50,000 purse for the combined sprint and suP cross (think snowboarder cross) events. clearly stand up Paddleboarding, which has thrived in ocean environments where it started, is coming of age as a river sport. suP paddlers are successfully running harder and harder whitewater. a quick internet survey pulls up runs on the class iii –iV savage river in Maryland and class V south silver creek in california. local suP paddlers are pushing the frontier on our home rivers as well, running the lower Gauley river and the lower new. and they are gaining national attention on none other than the Big wave, an awesome, towering wave with a heft y foam pile found near the put-in to the new river dries just downstream of the rt. 16 bridge below hawks nest dam. Big wave has for years been the favorite training wave for a small group of elite freestyle kayakers. once, pro paddler Jimmy Blakeney paddled his surf board out to the wave at a whopping 34,000 cfs

(summer fl ows average 3,000 cfs), caught it fi rst try, surfed it, paddled back to shore and never did it again. Pete iscaro fi rst began surfi ng Big wave on his stand up Paddleboard in 2009 when few people were attempting whitewater on suPs. Th e dries, which only runs when the new river has more than 10,000 cubic feet per second of water, was at relatively low levels. Th en last July, it was a high water year and the dries were pumping. iscaro invited fellow suP paddler randy Fisher to give Big wave a try. Fisher jumped in. “when i stuck the wave, logs were fl oating by,” remembers Fisher. “it was crazy! now it is all i want to do.” eventually Fisher put up a video of himself surfi ng the Big wave on Youtube. “it blew up,” he said. “People in hawaii were sharing it.” not

long aft er, he got a call from Boardworks, a suP company from california. he was invited to join their ambassador program—he is now the only river surfer on the team. if the new river Gorge area grows into even more of an suPing hotspot, it will largely be thanks to Melanie seiler. seiler, a team athlete for werner Paddles, has led the charge in suP instruction, demo days, and, for three years running, a downriver suP race on the new. she is the fi rst woman to earn an american canoe association level teaching

Randy Fisher surfi ng up Big Wave on the New River Dries

sprinG/summer 2014 NRGORGEGUIDE.com 9

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certifi cation for level 3 whitewater suP. she runs the lower Gauley and the lower new on a suP and is the only woman to surf Big wave on a suP so far. “Th e intimidation factor was huge,” she remembers of her fi rst attempts. Th ese days seiler shreds the wave with ease. so far, iscaro, seiler, and Fisher are consistently surfi ng Big wave between 18,000 and 28,000 cfs. as this trio continues to push their level, we will see how much higher the bar can go. and soon they will likely have company. “our area is becoming a destination for elite stand up paddlers,” states Fisher. —Maura Kistler

on JanuarY 9, 2014, residents near the elk river and a storage facility owned by Freedom industries in charleston, wV, smelled a sweet licorice scent in the air. it was soon discovered that one of the storage tanks was leaking: upwards of 10,000 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexanemathanol (MchM) had leaked into the elk river 1 mile upstream of a large west Virginia american water intake, treatment, and distribution center. Th e MchM spill went down as one of the worst chemical accidents in west Virginia history and resulted in 300,000 people without potable water for 5 days. Th e ban has been lift ed, but many residents still question the safety of the water. tap water for Fayette, raleigh, summers, and nicholas counties surrounding the new river Gorge was not aff ected, since water intakes for these counties are located upstream of the spill. But many locals helped out our neighboring counties with water drops. and nrG locals have joined in the upsurge of water protection activism calling for eff ective environmental oversight. levi rose gives us an in depth look at our water and what is being done to protect it on page 28, “water = life.”

water wiser

Th e Elk River upstream of the chemical spill


Guardians of Flight

Wendy and Ron Perrone of Three Rivers Avian Center—and the volunteers who help them—stand watch over the most majestic residents of the New River Gorge National River and help out when they can.

March 8, 2014, Route 20, Summers County Perched on a wide stone wall a few hundred feet above Brooks island, about 1 mile upstream of sandstone Falls on the new river, sit two people with a keen eye for birds. They have an air of patience like birders must, as they alternate between scopes on tripods and their naked eyes to scan the new river Valley in front of them. They aren’t looking for scarlet tanagers, or warblers, or sparrows, or any of the beautiful winged creatures that draw bird watchers to the new river Gorge national river. rather, a pair of nesting bald eagles that live on Brooks island are in their sights today. They keep a lookout for any other eagles that happen by, for today is Part 2 of the 7th annual eagle count organized by the Three rivers avian center in nearby Brooks, west Virginia. These seasoned birders’ names are

The bald eagle called Streaky by her admirers flies over the New River in March, 2014

by Keith Kinsey

wendy and ron Perrone, who run the trac. if you travel these summers county roads frequently, you may spot ron or wendy roadside at an overlook with a big blue van, spotting different types of birds of prey. This overlook on state route 20 has special significance for them because it offers a distant but direct view of a nest used by the same pair of bald eagles since 2010. only 24 hours ago, they had received a report that one of these eagles had been struck by an amtrak passenger train that follows the new river during part of its journey from new York to chicago. it was the female they call streaky because of her streaked markings when she was first discovered at Brooks island with her partner whitey in 2010. The same thing happened in March, 2013, to streaky’s partner, whitey. The collision and mile marker where it happened was reported immediately. while wendy and other

volunteers watched the nest, ron Perrone hiked the tracks looking for whitey but found nothing. Then, 2 days later, he reappeared at the nest, looking a bit ruffled but oK. now it was streaky who had suffered a collision with an amtrak and appeared. experienced watchers noticed that she seemed to be having difficulty with her right leg, but the Perrones and others were relieved to see her. The Perrones have been getting calls about birds in peril since they opened Three rivers avian center in January of 1990. The center has treated more than 3,500 birds that would have very small chance of survival without human intervention—songbirds, wading birds, and common varieties as well as birds of prey. of these, they have been able to release almost half back into the wild. They are the ones called when a fledgling is found out of the nest somewhere

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in southern west Virginia. or when a fl edgling barred owl is found, dehydrated and almost dead, in backyard woodlands. Th ey arrange for X-rays to be taken and place most of the birds with one of the veterinarians in their network, for besides ron and wendy, there is a small army of volunteers who donate their time and eff orts to help out our winged friends in need. “twelve veterinary hospitals, 18 veterinarians, 40 volunteers, interns, and an active Board of directors and Board of advisers” keep trac going, wendy points out. “Th ere would be no organization without the work of these other people.” a common problem with birds of prey is lead poisoning. Birds that feast on deer carcasses and other animals contaminated by lead ammunition take the toxin into their systems. “Virtually all the birds we take in have some amount of lead poisoning,” says wendy. “we are trying to get the word out to hunters and fi sherman.” some birds do wind up at trac. if they are young and healthy enough to be reintroduced into the wild, they may be trained by two surrogate avian mothers who live at trac. one red-shouldered hawk and a 23-year-old red-tailed hawk (with a missing wing) have raised

more than their share of young raptors: they have shown them how to be one of the most powerful creatures in the animal kingdom. however, some are permanently compromised and will not make it on their own. trac has taken a number of them in, like robbie, a lively and talkative Barred owl; hoolie, a serene Great horned owl; and regis, their resident Bald

eagle who hops in and out of his shelter, peaking at visitors. robbie and company travel with the Perrones for the numerous educational presentations they do at state Parks and schools. trac was also involved in the restoration of peregrine falcon habitat in the new river Gorge near Fayetteville, west Virginia. although this program has been terminated, by 2011 it had released 120 peregrines.

an eaGle GettinG hit by a train in nearly the same spot two years in a row seems like quite a coincidence. it raises the question: how can an animal as intelligent and quick as an eagle get struck by a moving train?

according to ron Perrone, many of the trains going through the sandstone area carry grain on triangular-bottomed cars. Th ese cars leak grain through the cracks in the bottom of the cars. if the train has to stop for some reason, this grain will quickly accumulate on the tracks. Th e grain

Wendy and Ron Perrone (left ) at the 2014 eagle count near Brooks Island

Th ree Rivers Avian Center


A juvenile bald eagle in its 4th year. Photograph taken near the New River, April, 2014.

attracts deer and turkey, which fi nd themselves directly in the train’s path and get hit. Th e eagles later fi nd these animals as an easy meal and the danger continues, with the eagles then fi nding themselves in a train's path. eagles are very intelligent, but at 10 to 14 pounds with a wingspan of 72 to 90 inches, they are not able to take fl ight quickly. last year whitey was lucky, and continues to return to his nest a year aft er getting hit by the train. unfortunately, perhaps because streaky had left the eggs during the 3 days of whitey’s absence to fi nd food, that year the eggs in the nest failed. But this warmish March day, it’s a new year and a new set of eggs are on the nest. streaky seems to be recovering from her encounter with the train. For hours we watch her sit on a tree branch perched over the new river, cleaning herself while whitey incubates the eggs on the nest. it is a good sign to see an injured bird preening itself, ron points out, as this is normal bird behavior. west Virginia’s fi rst mating pair of eagles was recorded in 1981. our rivers in their natural state were originally not an ideal bald eagle habitat. Th ey were too shallow and fast moving, although there were some golden eagles, which hunt diff erent prey. aft er damming several rivers throughout the state,

humans have created the deep, slow-running rivers that are ideal for bald eagle habitat. Th eir numbers have grown naturally with no bald eagle release programs. wendy, ron Perrone, and their team of volunteers do what they can to protect all birds and rehabilitate the ones who are injured and found. as results came in from the 11 observation sites for the annual eagle count, 7 of them reported eagle sightings. a total of 29 bald eagles and 6 golden eagles were spotted. it looks like eagle numbers are soaring.

2014 Numbersduring trac’s spring eagle survey between 10am and 2pm on March 8, 2014, the following were observed at 8 sites on the new river, 1 on the Greenbrier, and 1 on indian creek.

• Bald eagles: 7 adults, 10 fi rst-year, 10 second-year, & 2 third-year = 29 bald eagles total• Golden eagles: 5 adults + 1 immature = 6 golden eagles Total: 35 eagles in the watch area

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EventsTh e Th ree rivers avian center opens for tours on the fi rst saturday of each month, May through october, from 1pm to 5pm. trac also hosts educational programs, including:

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• August 30: Wings of wonder/Birds of Prey at Pipestem state Park

Go to tracwv.org for a full schedule of 2014 events.

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Th e operation of Th ree rivers avain center is costly. to make a donation to the non-profi t organization, go to www.tracwv.org.

April 17, 2014, Brooks, West Virginia

we are sad to report that trac received a call on March 18, 2014, that a bald eagle was spotted in a ditch along river road across from the Brooks island nest. Th e Perrones went to the spot and found a thin and underweight streaky in bad shape and unable to walk. Presumably she had been hit by a vehicle. Th is was just 10 days aft er she was struck by a train. trac took her to their staff veterinarian in Princeton, wV, who found that she suff ered from a broken beak, head trauma, and acute injuries to her right leg that prevented her from walking. tests revealed that she had elevated levels of lead in her system. streaky was taken to trac and treated for her injuries and the lead poisoning, given fl uids and ample food, which she ate with relish. unfortunately, she remained unable to walk. in midapril, it became clear that she was suff ering from liver failure and aft er attempts to improve her condition failed, she died peacefully. “Fly well in blue skies winged one,” wrote trac on their Facebook page. eagles and other birds in the area continue to thrive, however.

a new female bald eagle had been sighted “mating and taking up” with a male eagle, which close observers believe is whitey. “Th ere are still 2 eagles at Brooks island and surrounding area,” writes wendy Perrone. “it will be interesting to see how they behave in the coming months.” —Th e editors

Robbie the Barred Owl

5447 Maple Lane, Fayetteville 258405447 Maple Lane, Fayetteville 25840304-574-6900

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digging deep

How do you prepare your kids to step up to life’s challenges? let nature help.


By Katie Johnson


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Gwhat do You want for your kids? top of the list for my kids is for them to enjoy a long life of health and happiness. There are other things i want for them, too, like college scholarships, a good work ethic, and a crash-proof car. i’m sure you have your own list, but we all know these things aren’t really our choices to make, are they? My husband and i have recently entered the unflattering roll as parents of teens. The transition into King and Queen of dorkdom has been like sinking into a hot tub. it stings at first, then you get used to it and even though your mind goes fuzzy it’s definitely better then standing out in the cold. i was in the car when i first noticed that i was losing my “almighty one” control. someone had taught my children that there are more radio stations than nPr. when they first turned to that pop dial i was peeved. “i will not listen that crap in my car!” we battled for a few weeks and eventually i weakened. now i don't even blink an eye when the next new hit comes on for the third time in an hour. i have relented because the songs my kids listen to are not the choices i most care about. when these teens were little, we gave them choices all of the time, tricking them because the wrong choice was not an offered option. “would you like sweet potatoes or carrots? should we go biking or paddling today?” now that the kids are older and making decisions for themselves we can't hide the other tempting options like cookies or the XBox…or bad music. our hope is that when they see all of the options laid out in front of them, they understand who they are, and which ones they need to accomplish their goals. when our kids were little, we took them outside and taught them as much as we could about having fun there. This is because we loved to be outside. and it was a bonus that nearly all the choices out there were healthy ones. at one point i realized that there was another big benefit: the challenges that naturally arose when we were playing outside. a trip we took with our 5 and 7 year old children made me realize this. we packed the truck with our bikes and drove to the highest point in west Virginia, spruce Knob. here we set up base camp. in the morning we took off biking along the headwaters of seneca creek. The grassy singletrack strail sloped downhill and we rode it almost effortlessly, smiling the whole way with the dog loping along beside us. we picnicked at a spring and then left the bikes to explore the cold creek, swimming and hiking another mile. when it was time to go back to camp,

we started back up the trail. The kids were instantly in tears. it dawned on me too late: the trail we’d happily coasted down now angled steeply uphill for miles. we’d been fooled by gravity and this was going to take forever. we had no other choice but to start trudging up the hill. They were able to ride their bikes a little, but mostly the uphill grade was so steep the kids had to push their bikes. and then somewhere just past absolute fatigue something happened to my exhausted, beyond-tears boy. he climbed onto his bike, put his head down and pedaled himself all of the way up that

mountain. i was stunned. This is the first time i noticed what i now privately refer to as “The reserve,” a hidden ability in my otherwise mellow son to dig deep. a couple of weeks later he was tested by the school psychologist to get into the gifted program. his iQ was very high, but the psychologist told me that although he learned easily, my son seemed to have a barrier that stopped him when things got difficult. he suggested that we try to push on that barrier as much as we could and teach him how to dig deep. our camping trip had been a perfect primer, for i knew just how to do it. now, as a teenager, my son knows that a great reserve dwells inside him. he reaches into that place often whether it’s in his honors classes or on the soccer field. he knows that whatever he wants to do, he can do. he knows that it may not be easy but

that he can dig deep and find what it takes to achieve his goals. all kids are different. My daughter was always the first one out of the house when it snowed. as soon as she could get dressed by herself she would traipse around in the freshly fallen snow at the crack of dawn. since she was barely two, i had to be quick and get outside before she could get herself into any trouble. when she was four she learned to ski. we took her to winterplace where the snow blowers blow fake snow as much as possible. These blowers are brutal. They blast you with an ice-like mixture of stuff that sticks to your goggles and clothes and a wind veers you off course. when you pass you have to turn your face and make yourself small to minimize the fury. But not my girl. she would steer her little body as close as she could to the blowers, chin up, facing the forces with her shoulders thrown back as if saying “bring it on.” This courage and tenacity came naturally to her, but i am glad she’s had ample opportunities to practice it outdoors, for now that she’s a teen i see it all the time whether she’s paddling through the biggest waves or singing a solo in front of hundreds of people. she still gets nervous, but she is also quick to accept challenges and has taught herself to focus. Throughout my children’s youth, my husband and i set work aside as much as we could and did memorable, rewarding, interesting, and exciting things together as a family. we shared these things with other families. we rode in rafts and ski lifts together, and hiked trails. we picnicked and swam and chased little foam boats down steep creeks. we got tired and dirty, learned to face challenges, and we had great fun, everyone of us, no matter our age. The adventures that we shared back then (and still do) prepared our kids for life much more than we could have if we’d stuck inside. These adventures taught our children to face challenges, find focus, and dig deep, even when the trail goes steeply uphill. our kids aren’t superkids. They just happen to be born to parents who think that playing outside is great fun, that it is important to our relationship as a family and to our development as people. deep down even back then we knew that one day our kids would seek their independence. we knew that they would fly the coop. what we hope now is that when they do take off, they will want to fly back to visit and include us in an adventure or two.

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Beginner

Need some motivat ion for the young people in your life? Read our 30-item tick list to your kids. Better yet, give it to them to read.

By Amanda Ashley

Th urmond Triathlon open to anyone age 7 and above, this family-friendly triathlon tours the town of Th urmond via bike, ducky

and foot: 2 miles bike, 1.5 mile fl atwater paddle, 2 miles run). Th urmondWV.org

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Send the Small Wall Th e small wall hosts a 5-star lineup of routes rated from 5.4

to 5.7 plus easy access from Fayette station road and easy to set up for toprope climbing. hard rock climbing (304-574-0735, hardrockclimbing.com) off ers a basic rock climbing clinic for ages 6 and up; new river Mountain Guides (800-732-5462, newriverclimbing.com) holds kids rock-climbing camp in June.

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Learn to Cast Fish don’t care how big the fi sherman is. aotG (adventurewestvirginia.com, 855-379-

8738), ace (aceraft .com, ), and Pro river outfi tters (profi shwv.comoutfi tters (profi shwv.comoutfi tters ( , 304-575-5252) off er family-friendly fi shing trips.

Adena Loop without Stoppingride your fi rst mountain bike singletrack on a straight, level trail like the southside

or Mary ingles trails. once you are ready for real singletrack, tackle the 1.1-mile clovis trail, the easiest of the arrowhead stacked loop trail system. ride it enough and you’ll fi nd your feet never touch the ground. downloadable map at nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm.

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Stand Up Paddleboard start on your knees, get your balance, and slowly rise to your feet. Keep your head up and eyes

focused on the horizon line, then start paddling. For lessons go to adventurewestvirginia.com (855-379-8738); for rentals, aceadventuregear.com.

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Kayak/Ducky the Upper New Th e shoals and small rapids of the upper new are exciting enough to keep you thinking

and relaxed enough for loads of swimming and fun. Th e new river Gorge cVB (800-927-0263; newrivergorgecvb.com/seeanddo/riverraft ing) newrivergorgecvb.com/seeanddo/riverraft ing) newrivergorgecvb.com/seeanddo/riverraft inghas a full list of outfi tters.

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Name that Leaf, Part I learn how to identify poison ivy and you’ll be a hero some day. oft en shiny and green, usually with

notched leaves, it always has 3 leaves.

Intermediate

the under-18 tick listdo these before you are old enough to vote.

Set Up Your Own Tent it takes a little bit of patience and a whole lot of belief in yourself.

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Full Moon Hike, no fl ashlight Become a nocturnal animal for a few hours.

You’ll be surprised at how much you can see. nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/hiking.htm

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Burnwood Interp Trail a 1-mile loop through rhododenron groves and

hardwood forest. Th e trail accommodates strollers and is bordered by fun boulders, large huggable trees, and good times for all ages.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/fayetteville_trails.htm

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Fern Creek Falls hiking and scrambling over rocks to the Falls is a full-on adventure. You’ll navigate rock

corridors, ladders, boulders and steep terrain. For directions, see Hiking and Biking in the New River Gorge, found at most local outdoor stores.

11Captain of Fayette StationFayette station rapid, easily accessible from Fayette station road, is a good fi rst

“big” rapid because at summer river levels the bottom eddy is large enough to catch you, should you get separated from your ship. whether in a raft , ducky, or kayak, the directions are the same: avoid the big hole at the top and ride the wave train to the take-out.

Go Clipless clipless pedals are a whole new level of commitment for your feet. transitioning from regular pedals

to clipless on your mountain bike gives you more power and control. Bonus: you’ll no longer look like a rookie.

Change a Flat Tire Th e diff erence between a 20-minute thrilling ride and a 1-hour walk-your-bike is whether or not

you have this skill.

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Learn How to Read

Whitewatereddies, downstream V’s, eddy lines, waves, holes, pourovers…it’s all Greek until you know how to spot the features of a river and understand what they do to boats. try reading the late william nealy's Kayak: the Animated Manual of Intermediate and Advanced Whitewater Technique. even if you never want to sit in a kayak, it is full of wonderful illustrations of just what is going on in that white water.

First Aid and CPR Certifi cation You can get certifi ed as young as 10. Being able to help out in times of need is an essential developmental skill for all outdoor enthusiasts.

Learn to Eskimo Roll Getting your eskimo roll is a huge turning point for any kayaker (pun intended). You’ve got to feel where your paddle goes because you can’t see (your head is too busy

kissing your boat deck). Th e crux: keep your composure while upside down in the water. adventures on the Gorge (855-379-8738, adventurewestvirginia.com) and ace adventure center (800-787-3982, aceraft .com) off er kayak clinics and roll instruction.

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Tie a Figure 8 and a Bowline

Th ese knots, a must for all aspiring rock climbers, are pretty handy in the mortal world as well when you’re hanging a hammock or building a rope swing.

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Advanced

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1.304.574.1150

www.wildblueadventurecompany.com

Join Up!Fly the Gorge

BIPLANE RIDES« « « « « « « « « «

Dial in your Mountain Biking Skills learn proper braking technique, body position for

downhills and uphills, how to shift gears on uphills, how to navigate rocky sections, and the essential bunny hop. with each new skill you’ll be a better rider. new river Bikes (304-574 2453, newriverbikes.com) off ers tours with coaching to help you up your level.

19 Name that Leaf, Part II now that you know the most important plant (see “name that leaf, Part

i”), learn to identify a dozen more of the bright green co-habitants of the new river Gorge area. some suggestions for your tree identifi cation work: ☐ red oak ☐ white oak ☐ american beech ☐ rhododendron ☐ Birch ☐ Mountain laurel ☐ Magnolia ☐ hemlock ☐ white pine ☐ locust ☐ Poplar ☐ sycamore

Make a Fire without Matches learn to start a fi re without matches or a lighter using friction,

lenses, a bow drill, or a fl int and steel, and you will be one step closer to the amazing action hero you always knew you could be. Fire Skills: 50 Methods for Starting Fires Without Matches by Boy scout leader dave aman is a good place to start.

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Spot at Least 3 Native Species in the Wild Great Blue heron, yep. Box turtle and

hellbender, check. Th is is fun. start at nps.gov/neri/naturescience/animals.htm. next, go on a hike and keep your eyes wide open.

Geocache using coordinates and hints written in code makes geocaching a modern treasure hunt.

Th e new river Gorge has more than 100 hidden stashes to fi nd from easy to diffi cult. start at geocache.com.

Ride the Dalton TrailFeaturing narrow singletrack and loop variations of up to 10.4

miles, the dalton trail has ridge lines, steep drops, rocky sections and banked turns. Find a map at nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/bicycling.htm.

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B Y C H O I C E H O T E L SUS Rt 19 • Fayetteville, WV

304-574-3443QUALITYINNNEWRIVERGORGE.COM

The New River Gorge’s Closest & Most Complete Budget Motel

• All Rooms Newly Renovated• One Stop Convenience • Bar & Grill• Gift Shop ~ Dairy Queen ~ Sunoco• Deluxe Accomodations• Lighted Tennis,

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NNavigate with a Map and Compass Few people know how

to navigate in our digital world. learn how to identify key features on maps, follow compass bearings, and plan a route. You won’t be reliant on battery power to know where you are. Th e nPs off ers orienteering as part of their rangers-in-training program for 14-17 year olds (nps.gov/neri/forkids/rangersintraining.htm).

Outsmart a Trout catching anything on a fl yrod is an accom-plishment. if it’s trout you’re

aft er, plan on outsmarting them. aotG (adventurewestvirginia.com, 855-379-8738) and Pro river outfi tters (profi shwv.comPro river outfi tters (profi shwv.comPro river outfi tters ( , 304-575-5252) off er fl y fi shing trips and angling lessons.

Kayak the Lower New with 8 miles of class ii-iV whitewater, the lower new is serious business for

intermediate to advanced kayakers who will need a solid combat eskimo roll. work your way up to this with many miles of other milder runs. adventures on the Gorge (855-379-8738, adventurewestvirginia.com) and ace adventure center (800-787-3982, aceraft .com) off er kayak clinics and roll instruction.

Lead Climb lead climbing requires a lot of mental and physical

toughness. start on easy climbs and work with a trusted teacher to practice falling. hard rock climbing (304-574-0735, hardrockclimbing.com) off ers a sport climbing clinics and other instruction based on skill level; new river Mountain Guides (800-732-5462, newriverclimbing.com) holds a teen rock camp.

Learn How to Belay under-standing rope systems and being able to belay your partner safely is

an integral part of becoming a competent rock climber. hard rock climbing (304-574-0735, hardrockclimbing.com) and new river Mountain Guides (800-732-5462, newriverclimbing.com) off er rock climbing instruction.

Go on a Climbing or Camping or Boating Trip with Friends if you spend a lot of time outdoors

honing your skills and learning (and re-specting) the safety rules, you’ll be ready go on a real adventure with your friends, sans a guide or parents. Plan it yourself, gather your gear and load it yourself. Be safe and have a blast.

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Born FroM necessitY, this is a classic multisport adventure perfect for kayakers who can’t find help running a lower new shuttle. if you’re doing it for the cross training, it’s also a convenient matchup: the kayaking will work your core, shoulders and back while the run or bike will work your gluteous maximus and legs.

Prep Prep for option a, kayak & running, is pretty simple: pack your running clothes and shoes in a drybag and take them with you downriver. option B, kayak & biking, will need a little more set-up. stash your bike

and dryland gear at the Fayette station private boaters parking lot. Be sure to safely lock your bike to a tree or other structure.

Play by PlayThe first leg of kayaking the class iii-iV whitewater of the lower new river requires a bomber roll and plenty of whitewater experience. Put in at cunard access point and head downstream 6.5 miles, through Upper and Lower Railroad rapids, the awesome Keeney’s Creek rapids, and technical Double Z. takeout on river left, Fayette station. From there, lock up your kayak, don your running shoes or mount your bike, and begin to head uphill as follows:

Option A: Paddle & RunFrom Fayette station, take Fayette station road uphill to chicken wire turn, where you’ll find the trailhead for the Mary ingles trail. The Mary ingles will take you to the Kaymoor Mine. From there, continue upstream on the cunard to Kaymoor trail, an old service road. This trail ends at cunard.

Option B: Paddle & BikeBecause this route links so many different trails, a map is definitely recommended (grab one at new river Bikes or Marathon in Fayetteville). Bike up Fayette station road to the town of Fayetteville, and make your way to the town Park. From there take the town Park trail to the wolf creek trail. Get on the timber ridge trail, cross over the long Point trail to Kaymoor top, and then follow the service road to cunard.

ix it pM U

By Amanda Ashley

Cross-training Adventures that Combine your Favorite Sports

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5Multi-sport adventures may take extra planning, and they definitely take more time. They will also take your fitness and enjoyment of the outdoors to a whole new level. read on for five 2-sport combinations that tap into the unique routes, runs, and trails the new river Gorge area has to offer.

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Kayak & Run or Bike Cunard to Fayette Station and BackKayak: 6.5 miles class iii-iv whitewaterrun: 8 miles or Bike: 20 miles

A kayaker paddles the Lower New

uPstreaM oF the FaMed endless wall sits Beauty Mountain, a place known by locals for spectacular views and by climbers for a mile-long section of high quality routes: splitter cracks, superb sport routes, and boulders, sport and traditional routes of every grade. conveniently located downhill of the climbing area are national Park service-maintained trails that go to and around the nuttallburg Mine, formerly operated by henry Ford, restored by the nPs in 2011, and now one of the most complete examples of an entire mining operation in appalachia.

PrepTh row your running shoes in with your climbing gear.

Play by PlayTh e latest guidebook, New River Rock, volume 1 by Mike williams, has rock climbs for Beauty Mountain. it is available at water stone outdoors in Fayetteville. once your arms are toast, put on running shoes and access the trails to nuttallburg from the Beauty Mountain main parking area. take the Gravel road past the super Mario Boulder and descend into the Gorge. Th is road leads you to the nuttallburg headhouse. From there, a well-marked gravel trail with informative signs weaves around the remnants of the mine and foundations of former structures. Past the old tipple, there is a trail that switchbacks to the banks of the new river.

Climbing and RunningBeauty Mountain to Nuttallburgclimb: 5.9 to 5.14 routesrun: up to 7 miles of dirt road, gravel paths, and singletrack

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Mill Creek CabinsBeautiful and luxurious cabins in a peaceful

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→ NEAR THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER

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Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.Information on rates and services can be found

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Mike Williams climbs Coaltrain (5.14), Beauty Mountain


Th is multisport combination off ers complementary mild whitewater and scenic singletrack mountain biking on the way back. Th e new river section of Th urmond to cunard has 9.5 miles of class i-iii whitewater with peaceful stretches of fl atwater in between where bald eagles and other birds of prey are oft en spotted. Th e abandoned town of Th urmond is across the river from the road to the put-in and worth a stop. in its heyday, it was a wild and bustling coal town and had the longest running poker game in the world. times have changed, but the town is still there, along with the ubiquitous coal tipple —this one is beautiful in an industrial-era sort of way.

Prepdrop your bike and biking gear at cunard access point and

securely lock them to a tree or other structure.

Play by PlayTh e put-in for the upper new is a national Park service maintained access point 1 mile upstream of Th urmond called stonecliff . From stonecliff beach paddle through Dimmock Shoals, Fire creek Pool, and Surpise rapid to cunard (river left ).take out there and secure your kayaking gear with the same lock used for your bike. For the bike ride back to your car, locate the river access road just upstream of the professional outfi tter area at cunard. take this road, which follows the river on a gentle uphill gradient. Th e road soon turns into a wide trail (an old railroad bed) called the southside Junction trail, which eventually shrinks into a splendid, tree-lined singletrack all the way back to Th urmond. Th e fi nal mile to stonecliff is on paved road.

Being outside makes you feel energized and alive and nowhere in the Gorge is that more true than at long Point. Th is classic trail places you on a series of fl atish rocks perfect for asanas and vinyasas with breathtaking views of the new river, the Gorge, and the Bridge. doing yoga outside gives you a clearer, more focused mindset.

Prepno special preparation needed. Th e nuttall sandstone shelfs at the end of long Point trail off er excellent friction for downward dogs and other stances. You may have to deal with some dirt and bugs, but that is what yoga is about: accepting what is and letting go.

Play by PlayFrom the long Point trail parking lot on newton road follow the signs to long Point

Kayak & Mountain BikeThurmond to Cunard and backKayak: 9.5 miles class i-iii upper new rivermountain Bike: 9.5 miles service road and singletrack

trail. Th e trail is easy to moderate until you reach the Point: be careful, as the trail’s climax takes you over cliff outcroppings with no rails. Find a fl at spot in the center and get your yoga on.

along with the ubiquitous coal

Keep your eyes peeled for hawks soaring and gliding through the Gorge. long Point is an out and back trail: return the way you came.

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Hike or Run Long Point & YogaLong Point TrailHike or run: 3.2 miles round tripyoga: as much as desired

Riders on the Southside Trail

Yoga at Long Point

Walk beneath the New River Gorge Bridge, 851’ above the New River, on the 24” wide catwalk.

304 574-1300 bridgewalk.com

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278 Summersville Lake Road(RT 129W off of US 19)

Mount Nebo, WV 26679888.872.5580

summersvillelakeretreat.comGPS Coordinates N 38.19950 W -80.8660

stand up Paddle boarding, suP for short, is the most exciting watercraft sport recently invented. suPs are giant surfb oards that you stand on while using a long, single-bladed paddle to propel yourself through the water. suP combines balance and strength while taking you on a water tour. summersville lake is 28,000 acres large and has 60 miles of shoreline containing spectacular rock walls, many of them with ledges and features enough to climb.

PrepBring your own suP, or rent one (304-574-1900, aceadventuregear.com.). climbing shoes don’t work well when wet, so plan on climbing barefoot.

SUP & Water BoulderingSummersville Lakesup: Flatwater paddling 100 yards to 5 milesBouldering: assorted difficulty

Play by PlayBoat access points for summersville lake include Battle run campground and Beach, salmon run, and the summersville lake Marina. we recommend starting at salmon run put-in. climbable cliff s can be found to the right and to the left . Paddle up to the cliff and begin your pump fest. down climb or drop into the lake when you are done climbing.

Editors Note: cliff Jumping is banned at summersville lake. water boulderers report that they have been tolerated when they stay down close to the water, face the rock wall, and refrain from hurling themselves off the tops of the cliff s.

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SUP paddling on Summersville Lake


Small but Mighty

Bluestone Lake, Summers County, WV

The state parks surrounding the new river Gorge national river have a lot to offer. You could almost think of them as the specialized ninja warriors of recreation areas. herewith, some of our favorite things to do at these small but mighty places.

Get Your Game OnPipestem Resort and State Park

if you are someone who likes to do something while enjoying nature rather than just walk in the woods, try disc golf in a wooded area, like the 3,900-foot to 4,761-foot course at Pipestem. it is surrounded by woods, moderately hilly, and has 18 holes. alternatively, the state park has a remote-control race track, bicycle rentals, golf, a nature center with a different activity almost daily, and a busy amphitheater. pipestemresort.com

8 adventures in 8 state parks

Pedal Miles and MilesGreenbrier River Trail

The Greenbrier river trail is a remote 78-mile-long path that follows the Greenbrier river for most of its way. even more welcoming, the trail gradient doesn’t veer far from 1%—so you can get in the miles and the scenery at the same time. The wide rail-to-trail butts up against the Monongahela national Forest and cuts through some of the most remote areas of the state. cross country skiing, backpacking, and horseback riding are also good things to do. greenbrierrailtrail statepark.com

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Spot Wildlife Babcock State Park

at remote Babcock, which abuts a northeastern section of the new river Gorge national river, you’ve got a good chance of spotting wildlife like this downy woodpecker. Th e best places are somewhere on the 20 miles of hiking trails. babcocksp.com

Take a Boat RideHawks Nest State Park

a custom-built 21-foot covered jetboat can power up the currents of the new river and provide you with a great view from downstream of the 876-foot-high new river Gorge Bridge. hawksnestsp.com

Get FitLittle Beaver State Park

Th e singletrack at little Beaver sP is well known for its technical diffi culty and as the location for the annual chainring challenge. Th e 18 trails there are also fantastic for hiking and running. littlebeaverstatepark.com

Replay HistoryCarnifex Ferry Battlefi eld SP

september 10, 1861: union troops forced confederate soldiers to evacuate their position and retreat across the Gauley river here. reenact-ments every two years. carnifexferry battlefi eldstatepark.com

Check Out for a WhilePlum Orchard Lake

Wildlife Management Areatwo mountains rise 700 and 900 feet above stunning Plum orchard lake, keeping it pristine and shutting out the rest of the world. plumorchardlakewma.com

Go FishBluestone State Park

don’t come here without a line and a lure or bait. Th e west Virginia state record for striped bass was caught at Bluestone lake: 40.88 inches and 29.56 pounds. bluestonesp.com

Immerse Yourself in the Gorge

www.nrgorgeguide.comhas

• what’s happening • calendar of events • blogs • trail info • stories about all the

fun things to do here •


i used to hate hiKinG with MY wiFe. You see, i have come to believe that there are many diff erent styles of hikers, and she and i are two very diff erent kinds. she is a strider. she has long legs, which she uses to ruthlessly get herself from Point a to Point B. she hikes for the exercise. she is an “i will come back and get you if you can’t keep up” kind of hiker. i am a—well, not that kind of hiker. i am an anything but that kind of hiker. i wander off the trail (she hates to follow me when i do this). i stop in midstride and lay down on the ground to get a better look at a fl ower or insect or at the back of my eyelids. on the trail she journeys from Point a to Point B and Back and i journey to all the points in between. Th ere are the Fast walkers, who are “just out for some exercise” and have to be back in time to get to the store. and there are the strollers. strollers have a place they are aiming for. Th ey will stop to look at something wonderful along the way, but they can still be relied on to make their destination. Th ey would really like to see that view from long Point! and then there are the wanderers. if you are a wanderer, you may not even know where the trail you are on is going. You don’t know this because it doesn’t matter. You are just happy to be outdoors soaking it in. closely related to the wanderers are the Meanderers. Kids intuitively meander. Th ey drift off the trail and wonder what this is or that is (or was). if you are not in a hurry or dead-set on a destination, kids are the best guides you could ask for. Th ey bring spontaneity, surprise, and joy to a hike. Kids understand that it is a good thing to get sidetracked and forget why you came in the fi rst place. Th e woods are a patient place, slow and constant. Kids will understand this if you do not get in their way. “life is a journey, not a destination.” (Th is famous remark is over-quoted, but i bet few know who wrote it without fi rst looking it up. answer: ralph waldo emerson). Kids know this in their souls! Th e trail means nothing except that it has a place to park your car. aft er that, whims are followed. rules are broken and exploration begins. ahh, the unknown. You could be the fi rst person to ever put a foot down right here. Th is type of adventure comes with a price. sometimes you get sort of lost. You may have to cross a creek and get muddy and wet. Th ese

hikes always take a lot longer to fi nd your way back to the car so you are late for dinner with friends and they are worried about you. But when you get there who has the best story to tell? You do. some trails are better for some styles of hikers. i like the wide fl at train grades from an old train track, without the tracks or cross ties of course. we have a lot of these in the new river Gorge and they lead to some amazing places. You don’t have to be on a steep single track to fi nd your self oohhing and aahhing along the way. My other preference is an ill-defi ned deer trail heading off into the wilderness. oft en these lead to a dry fl at rock with a sunny spot so i can stretch out and study cloud formations. i also like loop trails. Th ey tend to be longer than the out-and-backs. on the loop you may have to go all the way around, depending on who you are with and what type of hiker you are that day. Th e out-and-back type of trail is deceiving. it will look like two diff erent trails each direction you head. and—Fast walkers with some place to be, take note—you can just head back at any point. You do not have to be prepared to enjoy a hike. i know my grandfather is squirming in his boy scout uniform as i write this, but let’s face it: we do not always carry water, fi rst aid, sunblock, matches, fl ashlight, and map. sometimes we are just out for some quick exercise down the road from our home. and maybe we did not have a “proper pair of hiking

wandererthere is more to hiking than hiking

By Geoff heeter

Family Travel

shoes” in the car. Most of the train grades, wide and relatively fl at, are okay for tennis shoes. and some hikes are perfectly appropriate for fl ip-fl ops. Maybe this is more of the slow, quiet meander with a close friend who needs to talk. sometimes you have to go with what you’ve got and look where you are stepping. My dress shoes are muddy. however, attention wanderers and Meanderers: there is a really good reason to wear high top lightweight hikers or high top tennis shoes on many hikes: ankle support. Th e trail is not the mall. we are in the woods and on sometimes very uneven ground. if you can, boot up. which brings me back to my wife, the Point a to B strider. i have fi gured out how to slow her down. i found an anchor that she cannot pull and the best part is she does not even know she is dragging it: a camera. she has always been a great photographer, even made her living doing it. But going for a walk did not mix with taking pictures until she recently began bringing a small camera along. now she has introduced me to another kind of hiker: the Photographer. she will stop on a dime to gather all her skill and creativity and focus it through the lens. Th is allows the rest of us Meanderers time to catch up and even pass her at times. it is possible to change, and really cool stuff happens when you do.

Geoff Heeter designed and built their family owned and operated Opossum Creek Retreat with the family vacation in mind. (www.opossumcreek.com, 8005820256)

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WYOMING

McDOWELLMERCER

MONROE

RALEIGH

SUMMERS

GREENBRIER

FAYETTE

NICHOLAS

GAULEY RIVERNATIONAL

RECREATION AREA

77

64

77

CAMP CREEKSTATE PARK & FOREST

BLUESTONESTATE PARK

BLUESTONEWMA

PIPESTEMRESORTSTATE PARK

BABCOCKSTATE PARK

CARNIFEX FERRYBATTLEFIELDSTATE PARK

HAWKS NESTSTATE PARK

TWIN FALLSRESORTSTATE PARK

Greenbrier River

Bluestone River

NEW RIVER GORGENATIONAL RIVER

SUMMERSVILLE LAKE WMA

LITTLE BEAVERSTATE PARK

wvstateparks.com

None finer!A glimpse of the West Virginia state park areas found along the New River.

Hawks Nest State Park 31-room lodge • restaurant • aerial tram 304-658-5212 • hawksnestsp.com

Babcock State Park 28 vintage cabins • 52-site campgroundGlade Creek Grist Mill 304-438-3004 • babcocksp.com

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park Battle of 1861 • hiking • picnicking Reenactment on September 13-14, 2014 304-872-0825 • carnifexferrybattlefieldstatepark.com

Little Beaver State Park 46-site campground • lake • fishing 304-763-2494 • littlebeaverstatepark.com

Pipestem Resort State Park 113-room McKeever Lodge30-room Mountain Creek Lodge 26 vacation cabins • 82-site campground two golf courses • restaurants • disc golfswimming • horseback ridingnaturalist programs and activities 304-466-1800 • pipestemresort.com

Bluestone State Park 123-site campground • 26 vacation cabins • marina 304-466-2805 • bluestonesp.com

And a wee bit west of the New River area Twin Falls Resort State Park 47-room lodge • 14 vacation cabins50-site campground • restaurant • swimminghiking • Pioneer Farm 304-294-4000 • twinfallssp.com

Discover the rest on wvstateparks.com Find a Park

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Babcock State Park

Carnifex FerryBattlefield State Park

Little Beaver State Park

Pipestem ResortState Park

Bluestone State Park

Th e view from not in a hurry. Photograph by Kyle Heeter.

WYOMING

MERCER

MONROE

RALEIGH

SUMMERS

GREENBRIER

FAYETTE

NICHOLAS

GAULEY RIVERNATIONAL

RECREATION AREA

77

64

77

CAMP CREEKSTATE PARK & FOREST

BLUESTONESTATE PARK

BLUESTONEWMA

PIPESTEMRESORTSTATE PARK

BABCOCKSTATE PARK

CARNIFEX FERRYBATTLEFIELDSTATE PARK

HAWKS NESTSTATE PARK

TWIN FALLSRESORTSTATE PARK

Greenbrier River

Bluestone River


SUMMERSVILLE LAKE WMA

LITTLE BEAVERSTATE PARK

WEST VIRGINIA STATE PARKS

wvstateparks.comwvstateparks.com

None finer!A glimpse of the West Virginia state park areas found along the New River.A glimpse of the West Virginia state park areas found along the New River.

Hawks Nest State Park 31-room lodge • restaurant • aerial tram 304-658-5212 • hawksnestsp.com

Babcock State Park 28 vintage cabins • 52-site campgroundGlade Creek Grist Mill 304-438-3004 • babcocksp.com

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park Battle of 1861 • hiking • picnicking Reenactment on September 13-14, 2014 304-872-0825 • carnifexferrybattlefieldstatepark.com

Little Beaver State Park 46-site campground • lake • fishing 304-763-2494 • littlebeaverstatepark.com

Pipestem Resort State Park 113-room McKeever Lodge30-room Mountain Creek Lodge 26 vacation cabins • 82-site campground two golf courses • restaurants • disc golfswimming • horseback ridingnaturalist programs and activities 304-466-1800 • pipestemresort.com

Bluestone State Park 123-site campground • 26 vacation cabins • marina 304-466-2805 • bluestonesp.com

And a wee bit west of the New River area Twin Falls Resort State Park 47-room lodge • 14 vacation cabins50-site campground • restaurant • swimminghiking • Pioneer Farm 304-294-4000 • twinfallssp.com

Discover the rest on wvstateparks.com Find a Park

Haw

ks N

est S

tate

Par

k

Babcock State Park

Little Beaver State Park46-site campground • lake • fishing304-763-2494 • littlebeaverstatepark.com

Carnifex FerryBattlefield State Park


Pipestem ResortState Park

47-room lodge • 14 vacation cabins50-site campground • restaurant • swimminghiking • Pioneer Farm

State Park



water = life By levi rose

“For many of us, water simply flows from a faucet, and we think little about it beyond this point of contact. we have lost a sense of respect for the wild river, for the complex workings of a wetland, for the intricate web of life that water supports.” —sandra Postel, director and founder

of the Global water Policy Project

sandra Postel hit the nail on the head. how many people can say they know where their water comes from, and to a greater extent, how many people know what is “in” their water? west Virginia residents got an unfortunate water safety wakeup call last January when charleston, west Virginia-based Freedom industries spilled an estimated 7,500-10,000 gallons of toxic chemicals MchM and PPh into a freshwater river, contaminating the water supply of 9 west Virginia counties and the water of up to 300,000 people (see “water wiser,” page 9). in the wake of the disaster, lingering questions remain about the safety of the water. one thing is certain: the trust and reliability of west Virginia’s leadership has been diminished. Many in west Virginia didn’t realize how much they depend on safe drinking water until it was gone. on some level, we all take water for granted. we bathe with it, we use it to wash

our dishes, and we rely on it every day to sustain life processes. luckily for new river Gorge area residents, businesses, and visitors, the 5 counties surrounding new river Gorge national river—Fayette, nicholas, Greenbrier, raleigh, and summers—are located upstream of the accident, and thus our tap water was not effected (see map). in the aftermath of the chemical spill, where our tap water comes from has been a topic of renewed importance. west Virginia american water operates

the new river regional water treatment Plant that provides water to Fayetteville customers and other communities in the region. The new river Plant is designed to treat 4 million gallons per day and source water is taken from the new river near the hawks nest dam. The system went online in september of 2000 and provides service to over 27,000 customers in the region. what is “in” the water? in accordance with the federal clean water act, the west Virginia department of environmental Protection (deP) is required to complete a comprehensive biennial report summarizing the quality of the state’s water. how do we know the water is safe? water treatment processes at the new river Plant include coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and chlorination. a computerized monitoring system, called a supervisory control and data acquisition (scada) system, continually monitors water quality

Environment

at the new river Plant and reports its findings to operators in the control room. water samples are analyzed in the plant’s on-site laboratory every two hours. But as we learned with the Freedom industries spill, not all pollutants or contaminants are monitored or can they be treated. That is why it is important to have a source water Protection Plan, in case an emergency occurs and source water is contaminated. luckily for those on the new river regional system, a source water Protection Plan was finalized in February of 2011, but the plan still needs a protection team to help oversee and implement the plan. west Virginia is rewarded with healthy annual rainfalls that keep our streams, rivers and lakes filled with fresh water supplies. Portions of southern west Virginia are classified as temperate rain forests, and in these areas, orographic precipitation (rain shadow effect) causes weather systems coming from the west and from the Gulf of Mexico to drop more precipitation than in surrounding areas. west Virginia is very fortunate to have an abundance of fresh water compared to other locations, like arizona or third world countries that struggle to find clean, safe drinking water. Yet despite this, our state leadership has a long history of using this water wastefully and is well known for its lax environmental regulations. according to the “2012 Final west Virginia integrated water Quality Monitoring and assessment report,” approximately 10,337-30,627 stream miles in west Virginia do not support public water use and are listed as impaired.

Levi Rose is Plateau Action Network’s Watershed Coordinator and is a graduate student in the Department of Geography and Planning at Appalachian State University.

a GarGantuan woodPecKer the size of a crow chiseling away at a tree is sure to grab the eye. People who work in the natural sciences regularly get calls and e-mails from people who are startled and fascinated by their fi rst encounter with a pileated woodpecker (pronunciation: Pie-lee-ate-id). can’t blame ‘em —everything about these jumbo log-choppers is over the top. Th ere are seven regularly occurring species of woodpeckers in west Virginia, most of which visit feeders and are familiar to backyard birders. Th e most frequent of the bunch is the downy woodpecker, a small black and white bird that oft en visits suet feeders. it would take about eleven downy woodpeckers to equal the mass of one pileated woodpecker. Pileated woodpeckers are unmistakable. no other woodpecker in west Virginia—or the united states—comes close in size. Th e only one that did was the now extinct ivory-billed woodpecker. Pileateds are mostly coal-black with prominent white stripes on the neck

nature’s Jackhammerthe noisy, beautiful pileated woodpecker By Jim mccormac

Natureand head, and white patches in the wings. a distinctive feature is their bold red crest: red all the way to the bill in males; females have a black forehead. Males are further distinguished by their red “moustache.” Th eir loud, laughing, maniacal calls carry long distances, oft en revealing the woodpecker’s presence long before it is seen. Th e listener is oft en surprised to learn that it’s a woodpecker that is creating these wild sounds. another surefi re sign of their presence are large, oval-shaped holes, created as nest cavities and also as bore-holes into beetle- and ant-infested trees. For the most part pileateds shun feeders, preferring to stick to natural foods, although sometimes suet feeders lure them in. Th ey are carpenter ant specialists, adeptly locating ant colonies within trees. when a woodpecker detects ants, it uses its massive chisel-like bill to pry away large slivers of wood and expose the ant galleries. woodpeckers are equipped with barbed tongues, and they are extremely eff ective at lapping lots of ants from their chambers. Pileated woodpeckers are birds of mature woodlands, and they are very common in heavily forested west Virginia. anyone who spends time hiking around Fayetteville or raft ing the new river is sure to hear, if not see, these enormous hammerheads. having lots of pileated woodpeckers is important

for multiple reasons. Th ey are agents of control for various insect tree pests. Pileateds are also what biologists term a “keystone” species, because many other animals benefi t from the woodpecker’s work. Th eir large nest cavities are oft en later used by everything from fl ying squirrels, screech-owls, wood ducks, to black rat snakes. Feeding sites are oft en raided by other woodpeckers, wrens, and various species that otherwise could not get at the food exposed by the big woodpeckers. Finally, pileateds are exciting to us: without doubt one of our grandest birds. everyone from veteran birders to people who know nothing about birds is stopped in their tracks by the sight of one. Th ese huge woodpeckers greatly enrich west Virginia’s woodlands and we are fortunate to have them around.

Jim McCormac is an Ohiobased naturalist, author of three books on wildlife, and frequent blogger at jimmccormac.blogspot.com.

Pear Tree Arts & GardenDove’s Outlet Village, Rt 19 and Hinkle Rd.

Fayetteville, WV 304-575-3730

OPEN: Tues-Sat 10-4Locally handcrafted items

Pottery classes Custom stepping stones Paint your own ceramics

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Ocean’s Massage Therapy

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304-923-8489 by appointment only

Quaint & QuietGarden Ground Mountain Cabins

Mount Hope, WVWithin New River Gorge National Park

→ Close to the Summit Boy Scout Reserve

www.GardenGroundCabins.com304-253-1083

Heather M. Terrio

2978 Robert C. Byrd Dr. Beckley, WV 25801

(304) 255-2664

Event Calendar

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may■ May 3Fayette County Farmers Market Opensoffi cial opening of the FcFM season at the new Farmers Market pavilion on Virginia street in oak hill. Beginning May 10, the farmers market will be on saturdays off court street in Fayetteville 7:30-11:30am and at the pavilion in oak hill on tuesdays , 4-7pm.

■ May 9-18Manny and Moomoolively community Th eater production at the historic Fayette Th eater (304-574-4655, historicfayettetheatre.com) in this play about winning the lottery.

■ May 106 Hours of Arrowheadsix hours around and around a 10-mile loop that is 90% groomed singletrack. regi-ster at bikereg.com.

■ May 10Migration CelebrationBirds of prey educational programs, nature hikes, and family activities at little Beaver state Park, 9am to 5pm. tracwv.org

■ May 11Th e Boatmen at TamarackTh e constantly evolving band inspired by rock, folk, motown, bluegrass and country. tamarackwv.com

■ May 17-18ACA Swift water Rescue Trainingan intermediate swift water rescue workshop that covers how to stay out of danger in whitewater environments, self rescue, and rescue techniques. nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/programs.htm

■ May 24Bluestone National Scenic River Walks Begin at 10:00 am every saturday from May 24 through october 11, 2014. Be sure to give yourself an extra 15 to 20 minutes for the tram ride down. nps.gov/blue/planyourvisit/rangerprograms.htm

■ May 31Appalachain Music & Arts Festivaleight hours of live music from blues to string bands, artist demonstrations, and treats at tamarack (304-256-6843, tamarackwv.com).

June■ June 6-7Mountain Music Festivala high-end lineup at the fi rst-ever Mountain Music Festival including the fabulous wood Brothers, Keller williams, and larry Keel and natural Bridge. at aceadventure resort, aceraft .com/mountainmusicfestival

■ June 7Market Day Farmers Market, artisans Market, and Flea Market converge on court street, downtown Fayetteville.visitfayettevillewv.com

■ June 7Bluestone Turnpike Hike a remote and beautiful 9.5 miles along the Bluestone river to Bluestone state Park, a hike not otherwise doable without arranging your own shuttle. Prereg required. 304-466-0417, nps.gov/blue/planyourvisit/rangerprograms.htm

■ June 7White Oak Rail Trail Expo

Vendors booths set up along the scenic white oak rail trail near downtown oak hill. newrivergorgecvb.com

■ June 17-19Science Youth Nature Campa day camp featuring science in the outdoors from the national Park service specifi cally for 5th and 6th graders. nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/scienceyouthnaturecamp.htm

1 million people visit the New River Gorge

National River every year. Some come to look at the Bridge. Some to paddle whitewater or climb the

rocks. And others come to commune with the barred owls. All of them want to

know about your business. To advertise, contact

[email protected] or 304-573-8113.

www.NRGorgeGuide.com

Offering an array of professional publishing

and writing services

304.573.8113RavenCreativeWV.com

[email protected]

Raven Creative

from the publishers of the New River Gorge Adventure Guide

• Publishing • Marketing Materials • • Content • Newsletters •

• Rack Cards • Email Marketing •• Design & Layout • Editing •


■ June 19-22Ansted Mountain Heritage Festivalcrafts, food, parade, and rides in ansted, wV. newrivergorgecvb.com

■ June 22Little Sparrow at Tamaracka haunting and humorous duo that combines original well-crafted material with traditional songs. tamarackwv.com

July■ July 4-54th of July Celebrationold-fashioned 4th of July in downtown Fayetteville including the John Kemper Band at historic Fayette Theater and fireworks at the town Park. visitfayettevillewv.com

■ July 5Bluestone Turnpike Hike a remote and beautiful 9.5 miles along the Bluestone river to Bluestone state Park, a hike not otherwise doable without arranging your own shuttle. sandstone Visitor center (304-466-0417, nps.gov/blue/planyourvisit/rangerprograms.htm)

■ July 5-64th of July Weekend CelebrationsFireworks and carnival at adventures on the Gorge (adventurewestvirginia.com), Big air Blob contest at ace adventure resort (aceraft.com).

■ July 5Market Day Farmers Market, artisans Market, and Flea Market converge on court street, Fayetteville. visitfayettevillewv.com

■ July 11-27The Contrite Spiritlively community Theater production at the historic Fayette Theater with a play about a ghost-haunted comic book writer. 304-574-4655, historicfayettetheatre.com

■ July 13Scenic Mountain Triathlona traditional swim, bike,

run triathlon in one of the most beautiful areas of west Virginia. a 0.5- mile swim, 17.1-mile bike, 6.2-mile run in the cranberry Glades area. scenicmountaintriathlon.com

■ July 18-20Climbing and Yoga Weekend Retreatalternate nrG climbing sessions with yoga sessions, catered meals, and relaxation. newrivermountainguides.com

■ July 19 Wheels of Hope Ride choose between 4 rides: 112 miles to 18 miles long. all the routes are through the lush and rolling-hill countryside of the Greenbrier river Valley. Proceeds benefit the

Event Calendar

leukemia and lymphoma society and local residents fighting cancer. wheelsofhopewv.com

■ July 26Zephyr Lightning BoltsBluegrass and old-time music at the Pipestem ampitheater. pipestemresort.com/special.html

■ July 27Little Beaver Chainring Challengelocally famous for its technically demanding trails, the little Beaver singletrack hosts a 7, 14, or 21-mile mountain bike race. littlebeaverstatepark.com/events.html

■ July 30–August 3Appalachian String Band Festivala five-day gathering of stringed instruments, the musicians who play them, and the people who love to hear them at camp washington carver, clifftop, wV. wvculture.org/stringband


a recent studY indicates that a week sleeping outside, unplugged from the distractions and electric light of society, can reset your body clock. Known as your circadian rhythm, this internal clock regulates your sleep cycle. researchers looked at melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate our sleep and wake cycles. our bodies produce melatonin as a response to darkness. levels stay high while we are asleep, then taper off just before we wake up. Their results, published in the journal current Biology’s august, 2013, issue, showed that after spending an extended amount of time outside, “the body clocks of eight volunteers synchronized with sunrise and sunset.” while the eight volunteers in this study were at home, they tended to stay up until after midnight and wake around 8 a.m. although they were achieving the recommended average of eight hours of sleep, their melatonin levels remained high for several hours after they woke up, indicating that they were out of synch with their natural sleep/wake cycles. after camping for a week without flashlights and electronics, each participant’s sleep cycle shifted to an earlier time, more in accordance with sunrise and sunset. Their melatonin levels shifted as well. interestingly, those that were night owls experienced the greatest shift in melatonin levels. according to the practices of ayurveda, the traditional medical system in india, there are periods of the day that we should wake and sleep in order to maintain good health. These times of the day correspond with earth energy, a slower time of the day that allows us to make the transition to and from sleep. ayurveda dictates awaking before 6am, and going to bed before 10pm. (ayurveda also guides us to eat at least two to three hours before going to bed, allowing our body time to restore and repair cells following the

Be well By Erin Larsen

last meal of the day.) Melatonin has been associated with many aspects of our health from our immune system to libido to memory. i can attest to the powerful effect of a natural sleep cycle: For the last few years i have slept in a yurt directly under a dome skylight. when i built this yurt i carefully chose appliances that have no lights on them, not even small dots, as they emit a surprising amount of light. My radio has a button that allows me to completely dim the face clock. since moving into my yurt, i’ve slept like a baby. when the sun rises, so do i. some mornings, my alarm wakes me first, but on most mornings i beat it and wake as the rooster down in the holler is crowing and the birds begin chirping outside. not everyone can stay completely in tune

with sunrise and sunset; some have certain jobs that require nighttime hours, and winter cuts us short, not to mention the disruption caused by daylight savings time. however, you can be more aware of your exposure to external distractions that

throw circadian rhythms out of whack. see if you can adjust the light emitted from your appliances, especially if they are in your bedroom. turn off your television and computer at least one hour before you plan to sleep so that your brain and melatonin levels can start to make the transition to sleep time. if you tend to stay awake until midnight, try going to bed 15 minutes earlier every night until you approach the optimal 10 p.m. bedtime. sleep with the curtain or window open if you can, particularly if there are few artificial lights surrounding your dwelling. upon awaking, avoid turning on your electronics. try doing a few stretches or taking a short walk. You may find that you have more energy during the day, and your body’s natural rhythms start to find balance as well. our metabolism, digestion, and elimination are all affected by our sleep cycles. honoring the cycles of nature can help our bodies return to normal patterns.

Erin Larsen is a Health Coach and Yoga Instructor at Kula Community Yoga Studio in Fayetteville, WV. She has been guiding clients to find balance with nature for more than a decade. For help finding balance in your life, contact Erin at [email protected], www.eelyoga.com or 3046407320.

Health

sleeping under the stars

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The New River Gorge Learning Co-op

strives to: • Encourage children's natural desire to learn

• Teach students respect for each other and for

our world• Challenge each student at his/her individual level

Fayette County has a

Montessori-based education option for preschool and elementary-aged

children.

The Montessori-based educational model has been shown to increase

creativity, social adeptness, and problem solving

abilities

Learn Moreat NRGLC.org.Donate

at NRGLC.org.

New River Gorge Challenge Weekend

Pedal. Paddle. Run.

August 2-3, 2014

THURMONDWV.ORG

rd

Beginner friendly fun for the whole family!

BIKE 2 MILESRUN 2 MILESPADDLE 1.5 MILES

3

Duckies provided by ACE Adventure Resort with pre-registration.

Easy

Extreme

Sunday, August CAPTAIN THURMOND'S

Saturday, August 2

ExtremeSaturday, August 2Saturday, August 2

Easy

www.CaptainThurmonds.com

Event Calendar

August■ August 2New River Gorge Captain Th urmond's Challenge a 15–mile mountain bike, 7-mile kayak down the lower new river Gorge, and 6.5-mile run back up to the top. starting and ending in downtown Fayetteville, wV. CaptainTh urmonds.com

■ August 2Market Day Farmers Market, artisans Market, and Flea Market converge on court street, Fayetteville.visitfayettevillewv.com

■ August 3Bluestone Turnpike Hike a remote and beautiful 9.5 miles along the Bluestone river to Bluestone state Park. sandstone Visitor center (304-466-0417, nps.

gov/blue/planyourvisit/rangerprograms.htm)

■ August 3Th urmond Triathlon it’s a perfect length for a fi rst triathlon: 2-mile bike, 1.5-mile paddle, 2-mile run. Kids as young as 7 can enter, and adults and kids can pair up in double infl atable kayaks, free with preregistration. thurmondwv.org

■ August 20-31Oak Leaf FestivalMusic, craft s, wine & cheese tasting, and infl atables for the kids in downtown oak hill, wV. newrivergorgecvb.com

■ August 23New River Gorge-ous Trail Run & Hikea 5-mile walk, 7.5-mile run, or 13.2-mile run on mountain roads and singletrack trails at ace adventure resort. Th e route is rolling, following ridgelines through deep, hardwood forests and

past Gorge views. aceraft .com/trail

■ August 23-24Mountain Mama RegattaTh e 3rd annual regatta on summersville lake to benefi t hospice of southern west Virginia. seven’ to 26’ divisions and an opportunity to watch the race up close enough to hear the crews holler. Good food and kids activities including a rain gutter race. soapysails.webs.com

■ August 30Wings of Wonder, Birds of Preylearn about the owls, hawks and eagles that are native to west Virginia at Pipestem resort state Park. pipestemresort.com/special.html


Local Hospitals & Urgent Care

Bridgeview Urgent Care5447 Maple lane, Fayetteville 25840

(304) 574-6900

Plateau Medical Center430 Main St.

oak hill, wV 25901(304) 469-8600

Raleigh General Hospital1710 Harper Rd.

Beckley, wV 25801(304) 256-4100

Summersville Memorial Hospital400 Fairview Heights Rd. summersville, wV 26651

(304) 872-2891

Safety

Mother nature, hoMe to a sPlendid array of wonders, also hosts dangers in the form of difficult terrain and potentially dangerous encounters with animals that reside in the eastern woodlands. recognizing potential emergencies, how to avoid or mitigate them, and understanding how to respond to different scenarios will help you to enjoy your endeavors with confidence. Below are three situations that can occur for outdoor adventurers in the new river Gorge during the summer months.

Snake Bite

Scenario: after enjoying the beautiful and popular walk along the long Point trail, you emerge from the rhododendron grove onto the narrow approach to the overlook when you catch a glimpse of movement to your right. a large copperhead is shuffling away from you through the pine straw.

What To DoThe best method to care for a snake bite is to avoid it altogether by maintaining awareness while on a hike. The following steps will help you to provide care until reaching medical personnel.

1. Keep the victim calm.

2. clean the area with water to remove any remaining venom.

3. Keep the bitten area below the level of the heart and immobilize it if possible.

4. remove any jewelry or restrictive clothing.

5. transport to a local hospital. Most hospitals in the area carry a stock of antivenin. call ahead to inquire about availability while in transport.

Tip: There are some persisting myths regarding snake bite treatment. do not: cut or suck the wound, capture the snake, or apply a tourniquet or ice to the site of the bite.

Falls (Sprains, Strains,

and broken bones)

Scenario: after climbing all day at Bubba city, you and your friends begin the walk out to the parking lot. Your friend is pulling himself up the rope ladder when he loses his footing on the rock and slides four feet to the muddy bottom. after quickly standing to get out of the mud, your friend says he “turned” his ankle on impact and complains of pain.

What To Do1. no matter the area of injury, sit down and assess. is the area tender or painful?

2. if it is an ankle or knee injury, can the injured hiker stand and bear weight?

3. Think rice: rest, ice, compression, and elevate.

4. if the injury is serious, get help.

Tip: a fall can yield injuries along a wide spectrum from a minor ankle turn to a compound fracture of a femur. assess the severity of the injury. if it is a slight sprain, follow the rice acronym. For more severe injuries, splints and trained medical evacuation may be needed.

Wounds, Cuts, and Abrasions

Scenario: You and your friends are emerging from the new after a great day on the river. as you pull your boat to shore, your buddy slips on a submerged rock. he pulls his leg from the water and he has a large cut to the outside of his calf.

What To Do1. assess the wound. if it is bleeding profusely, find the cleanest material (bandage, t-shirt, handkerchief), place it on the wound, elevate the wound, and apply firm, direct pressure. if you are unable to stop the bleeding using this method and the person is in danger of bleeding to death, consider application of a tourniquet and evacuation.

2.if the wound is minor, clean the wound using water, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover with a sterile dressing.

Tip: The best way to clean a wound is to use a forceful spray of water. a small hole in the bottom of a sandwich bag works well to direct a small forceful stream to the area needing irrigation.

+

An adult copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

+

+

when things Go wrong By Bryan simon


Restaurant Address Fare Meals

The Burrito Bar at Breeze Hill304-574-2750

Oscar White Rd. Lansing

“Mexican fusion” lunch & dinner

Cathedral Café304-574-0202

134 South Court St.Fayetteville

American breakfast & lunch

Chetty’s Pub888-650-1932

219 Chestnutburg Rd.Lansing

American lunch & dinner

Country Thai Restaurant304-900-1188

464 Ames Heights Rd. Lansing, WV 25862

Thai lunch & dinnerclosed Mon., Tues.

Diogi’s 304-574-3647

312 North Court St.Fayetteville

Latin American lunch & dinner

Gumbo’s Cajun Restaurant304-574-4704

South Court St.Fayetteville

Cajun & Americanlunch, dinner, Sun brunch; closed Mondays

Los Vaqueros304-469-6505

2027 East Main St.Oak Hill Mexican lunch & dinner

Pies and Pints Pizzeria304-574-2200

219 West Maple Ave.Fayetteville

Gourmet pizza lunch & dinner

Rio Grande Restaurant304-465-5434

571 Mall Rd.Oak Hill

Mexican lunch & dinner

Secret Sandwich Society304-574-4777

1031/2 Keller Ave.Fayetteville

Sandwiches, burgers and salads

lunch & dinner; closed Tuesdays

Smokies on the Gorge888-650-1932

219 Chestnutburg Rd Lansing

Gourmet buffet breakfast & dinner

Wild Flour Bakery304-574-0001

105 West MapleFayetteville

Bakerybreakfast & lunch; closed Sun., Mon.

Gorge Guide Restaurant Guide

Photos, top to bottom: the chocolate peanut butter brownie terrine at Pies & Pints, BBQ at adventures on the Gorge, the deck at secret sandwich society, hawaiian sea bass with local squash at Gumbo’s, and a fancy drink at diogi’s

Canyon Rim Visitor Center

SandstoneVisitor Center

Thurmond Historic District

Grandview

41

41

20

20

26

3

20 12

20

41

82

82

16

16

61

61

25

61

41

41

31

41

16

16

41

3

16

3

9

19

39

16

16

39

60

60

19

19

19

60

19

19

19

60

107

307

612

307

129

129

64

77

64

64

64

79

64

7764

6477

6477

81

5

7

HawksNestDam

SummersvilleDam

Bluestone Dam

Meadow

Hominy Creek

Pete

rs C

reek

River

SummersvilleLake

Plum Orchard Lake

Wolf

Creek

Manns Creek

Meadow

River

Dunloup Creek

Little B

luestone River

BLUESTON

E LAKE

Creek Piney

Pine

y C

re

ek

Laurel Creek

Mea

dow Creek

Madam Creek

Lick Creek

Gla

de C

reek

Mill C re

ek

Laure

l

Dowdy

Creek Cr

Little BeaverLake

Glade CreekReservoir

Flat TopLake

Greenbrier River

Indian

Cre

ek

Gauley

River

Gauley

Rive

r

Kana

wha

Ri

ver

New River

GAULEY RIVERNATIONAL RECREATION AREA


BLUESTONENATIONAL

SCENIC RIVER

Belva

Dixie

GauleyBridge

Cotton Hill

Jodie

Swiss

Victor

Mount Nebo

AmesHeights

Lansing

Minden

Thayer

Terry

Danese

Cunard

Cli�top

Thurmond

Hico

Edmond

Winona

Lookout

Glen Jean

Whipple

PrinceQuinnimont

MeadowCreek

Sandstone

Green SulphurSpring

Bellepoint

Pipestem

Brooks

Meadow Bridge

BeaverDaniels

Shady Spring

Ghent

ANSTED

FAYETTEVILLE

OAK HILL

BECKLEY

RAINELLE

HINTON

North

0

0

5 Miles

5 KilometersRanger station

Campground

Public river access

Primitive campsite

Rapids

The degree of di�cultywill vary from rapid torapid and with water level.River users should consultwith an experienced riverrunner or ranger beforeattempting river running.

Picnic area

Unpaved roadNational ParkService area

Much of the land withinthe National Park Serviceareas remains privateproperty; please respectthe owners’ rights.

16

1518

28

23

24

10← 22to Charleston

3

7

8

96

11

14

31

34

28

122

35

31

Babcock State Park

Hawks Nest State Park


Carnifex Ferry State Park


Restaurants, Adventure, Cabins/Hotels, Retail & ServicesWHERE TO FIND THEM

13

417

19

2120

26 25

32

33

29

Fayetteville

Restaurants15. El Rio Grande16. Gino's Pizza and Spaghetti House17. Gumbo’s18. Los Vaqueros Restaurante19. Pies and Pints20. Secret Sandwich Society21. Tudor’s Biscuit World

Retail22. Budget Tapes & Records23. Crossroads Mall24. Elevation Sports25. Marathon Bicycle Company26. New River Bikes27. Pear Tree Arts and Garden28. Tamarack29. Water Stone Outdoors

Services30. Action Printing31. Bridgeview Urgent Care32. Canyon Massage & Bodywork

& Kula Community Yoga Studio33. Fayetteville, WV CVB34. New River Gorge CVB35. Ocean's Massage Therapy

Adventure1. Ace Adventure Resort2. Adventures on the Gorge3. Bridge Walk4. Hard Rock Climbing5. Mountain Rail Adventures6. New River Jetboats7. Thurmond Triathlon8. Wild Blue Adventure

Cabins & Hotels9. Country Road Cabins10. Garden Ground Cabins11. Mill Creek Cabins12. Opossum Creek Retreat13. Quality Inn14. Summersville Lake Retreat

Plum Orchard Wildlife Management Area


Classi� eds

BIKE RENTALS REPAIRS ACCESSORIES & GIFTS

MARATHON BICYCLE CO.

304-574-2337

BIKE RENTALS REPAIRS ACCESSORIES & GIFTS

MARATHON BICYCLE CO.

304-574-2337

Real Estate Recreation

Services

Praxis Electrical, Inc.Christopher G. DanzLicensed ElectricianElectrical Contractor#WV048491

(304) [email protected]

Action Printing813 Main Street, Oak Hill, WV

• PRINTING • LAMINATING •• PHOTO RESTORATION • TYPING •

• LAMINATING • DESKTOP PUBLISHING •304-465-1407 phone

[email protected]

Erin Larsen Holistic Health Coach & Yoga Instructor

Personal and Group Yoga Instruction and Individualized

Health Coaching304-640-7320

[email protected]

WV LMT # 2006-2249

Ocean’s Massage TherapyHealing Body, Mind, & Spirit

Heather M. Terrio

304-923-8489 by appointment only

OceansMassageTherapyWV.com

• Swedish • Deep Tissue • Pregnancy • • Hot Stone • Acupressure •

• Couples Massages •

A HOLISTIC TREATMENT

PERFORMED BY A LICENSED

PROFESSIONAL

Dry Needling

10% off fi rst appointment

304-465-3654

Advertise in the Gorge Guide Classifieds. services real estate recreation For sale announcements

Why? It's Inexpensive, for one. And our readers are an active demographic with disposable income.

On shelves for 3 whole months.next issue: august 1, 2014. ads due by July 9.

contact: [email protected], 304-573-8113.

Services

Offering an array of professional publishing and

writing services

304.573.8113RavenCreativeWV.com

[email protected]

Raven Creative

from the publishers of the New River Gorge Adventure Guide

• Publishing •• Email Marketing •

• Copywriting • Rack Cards • • Sales Letters • Newsletters • • Press Releases • Brochures •

• Articles • Publications • • Design & Layout • Editing •

• Web Content •

Photo by Gabor eszes

Gallery

to submit a photograph for the Gallery, email a jpeg to [email protected].

local photographer Molly wolff was shooting at stone cliff Beach and Thurmond, west Virginia, early one morning. she snapped shots of the new river and the bridge into Thurmond, but had been unlucky in meeting a train, one of her favorite subjects. Just after she loaded her equipment into her car to leave, she heard the low rumble of a train on its way. “Frantically i jumped out of the car,” she explained in an email to nrGaG, “ran with my gear, popped up the tripod, locked down my settings and barely caught the train before it was gone.”

Photograph by Molly Wolff

GRAVITYZip Lines

LetLetLetyourselfyourselfGO.

The East’s largest selection of

A E R I A L A D V E N T U R E S !

Nearly fi ve miles of out-of-this world aerial

adventures. Season passes available. Trips

leave daily May through October.

TREETOPSCanopy Tour

TIMBERTREKAerial Park

L e a d i n g t h e w o r l d o u t d o o r s

BUFFLER’SBBQ & Pizza

The height of

C U L I N A R Y A D V E N T U R E !

Experience our irresistible, mouthwatering

dining options where the views will take your

breath away. New River Gorge, WV.

SMOKEY’S on the Gorge

CHETTY’SPub

N E W R I V E R G O R G E G E T A W A Y . C O M 8 8 8 . 3 8 3 . 9 9 3 3

L e a d i n g t h e w o r l d o u t d o o r s

DINEonDINEonondifferent.

A M E R I C A ’ S P R E M I E R A D V E N T U R E R E S O R T

14-ATG-8825 Gorge Guide Spring Ad_vf.indd 1 4/8/2014 9:17:02 AM

New River Gorge Guide Spring/Summer 2014

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Transcript of New River Gorge Guide Spring/Summer 2014