Blog Entries for Julia

Talk Like A Raft Guide Day, Take Two

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Summer’s here! It’s almost a full month into summer, with the smell of sunscreen permeating the air, blackberries ripening on the bushes and screams, groans and applause echoing from the Big Top tent every day from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Why, you ask? Because that’s where everybody goes to watch their rafting vide [...]

Celebrating ACE Military Veterans On July 4th

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0100

It’s time for cookouts, bonfires and sparklers!

Yes, July 4th is around the corner, and here at ACE, we’re all amped up for a great weekend on the river. But, before the weekend arrives, I’d like to dedicate this blog as a giant “thank you” to all those who’ve served our country, making it possible for us to en [...]

Common Q&A With ACE's Julia

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Most people find West Virginia and its wilderness to be foreign territory, and have loads of questions about the area and the river. Some are justifiably curious, with others I have a hard time keeping a straight face. Here are some of the most common questions a guide fields on a daily basis:

1) [...]

How To Talk Like An ACE Guide

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Hanging around ACE, especially at the Lost Paddle or the Big Top Video Tent, there’s a secret language that permeates the air, incomprehensible to most.

It’s not Elvish or Klingon, but it’s still just as mysterious; it’s all the slang the guides throw around, describing their gear, the riv [...]

ACE: Fun For All Ages! Even Grandpa

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 +0100

See the picture above? My grandfather is the second one back on the left-hand side, my mom’s the third one back on the right side of the picture and that’s Anna taking them down the river! Isn’t that awesome?

My grandfather is legally blind and 83 years young, but that didn’t stop him from taking on the Class I-III rapids [...]

Kids' Camp Time Approaches At ACE

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Kids. They're loud and act like they've knocked back seven of those five-hour energy shots, but an upside to little ones is they let me maintain my dignity and credibility when we play Candy Land.

I'm actually older than I look, so I'm at that point in life when all of my friends are getting married and having kids. I keep telling them they need to come out on vacation to ACE to see me, but [...]

Team Building At ACE In 5 Different Ways

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Every season, nearly 40,000 people come to ACE just to go rafting. Some are families, some are nonprofit groups, some come for fun, some come to work. Work? Yes, work! Many companies come to work on their communication skills, leadership skills, trust in the group and other such dynamics.

Team Building retreats and activities have progressed from the basic "Trust Fal [...]

An ACE Raft Guide's Day Off

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

During the summer, days off come around as often as a blue moon. A guide who isn't scheduled on the river that day will talk to a manager and try to pick up an extra trip, a canopy tour or some hours helping repair rafts in the boat building. There's always something to keep you busy at ACE.

Normally, I sleep later than the ACE breakfast buffet's open hours, s [...]

Julia's ACE Soundtrack To The River

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

One of the best parts of any river day is coming back to the Big Top and watching rafting videos. Once you start rafting, watching rafting clips becomes addictive. With TV being a novelty for guides, highlight reels will attract more of a crowd than the first weekend of March Madness.

Besides great hits, thrills and spills, the songs the video boaters use on their masterpieces add to the amazing atmosp [...]

ACE guide trades sorority life for Gorge life

julia.blanford@aceraft.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

There's one thing I want to get straight, and I'm just going to say it - I was in a sorority in college. Yes, I proudly wore Greek letters emblazoned across my T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and sweatpants at Indiana University. It begs the question everyone wonders about, "What are you doing in the middle of West Virginia?" It all started years ago, [...]