What's The Best Rapid On The Lower New River?
Posted by: Big Wave Dave in Whitewater Rafting, River Guides, New River Gorge, Memories, Lower New River on Aug 26, 2009
Of all the rapids on the Lower New River, I think I love Miller's Folly the best.
As a raft guide, I like to ask my guests which rapid they liked the best several times during their trip and see if it changes throughout the day. Interestingly enough, it is not always the class V rapids people like the most.
For me, Miller's Folly (class IV) has it all. Big waves, some maneuvering needed, it is long, and has the surprises at the bottom with hidden big hits, Invisible Rock, and of course, the fun Bloody Nose surf hole.
At higher levels when the surf hole is washed out, the wave train at the bottom right just keeps going and going.
I like to find unique "non-standard" ways to run some of the different rapids and I include Miller's Folly in the “unique” group.
Thinking back to years ago when we first came rafting, I realized the first few trips I was so intent on paddling correctly, getting in sync with everyone else, and staying in the boat, I may have missed some of the sensation of just being in a raft as it rollercoastered down the different drops.
I like to have my guests paddle hard as we approach the first part of the rapid to build up some good speed, then just hang on and experience the thrill of sitting in a boat and going thru the drops at the top and the wave train just below without paddling at all. Then, we may need some crew strokes to get where we want for the bottom section and big hits down there.
What’s the best single rapid on the Lower New River? Miller's Folly gets my vote. But maybe not yours.
I’m curious: What is your favorite rapid on the Lower New River?
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by Rick1, August 26, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Big Wave Dave, August 26, 2009
Yes many people like Lower Keeneys, Double Z, or even the Surprise Rapid at the right water levels, but I enjoy Millers Folly at every water level from low like 1,000 cfs upwards of 24000! It never disappoints. Some people call Bonsai the twisting hit at the top center "The Cloud Chamber" (because it feels like you are falling from the clouds into a puff of white) and the big waves below it Colgate and Dentyne (because they will clean your teeth!). Those other rapids are great too though. Its hard to choose, but I just like Millers! I wish I was there and running it right now!
-
- +0
-
-
written by Brianna, August 27, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Big Wave Dave, August 27, 2009
Most of the ACE guides call that rapid "Thread the Needle" because the adventure route takes you in between those 2 big rocks down there. If you look at the first big rock (we nicknamed it Prudential-like the life insurance company symbol) one can see a hump in the water if you look at the water that is right up against its face. This hump indicates that it is not undercut because of the way the water builds up and billows around the sides of that big rock. When we swim up to the face of the rock, suddenly the water "billowing" around the side is what pushes us sideways and around instead of pushing us all the way up against it. Seems like a natural reflex to want to swim away from it, especially as it gets closer and closer and bigger and bigger! Have you ever caught the little whirlpool just around the corner of the big rock? It can twirl a swimmer around and around for a couple of spins before you go past the second rock. It's a great choice of rapid with fun features. Good post!
-
- +0
-
-
written by Alyson, August 27, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Big Wave Dave, August 27, 2009
I was not that big a fan of URR after swimming it a few times, but this past summer I came to enjoy it. Oddly enough not as much as the hole in itself, I enjoyed deciding what to do with Chicago and Detroit after the big URR hit. They make for some interesting hits of their own at the right levels. To split them or not...rock spin? And there is that fun wave train below that has some good hits on the way under the bridge to choose from too.
-
- +0
-
-
written by Big Wave Dave, August 27, 2009
I have a sister blog coming out soon-What's your favorite rapid on the Upper Gauley. I'm looking forward to hearing what yours is. Stay tuned!
-
- +0
-
-
written by Rick1, August 31, 2009
-
- +0
-
-
written by Big Wave Dave, August 31, 2009
I sent the Gauley blog in a few weeks ago. It looks like it will publish on the 7th. I addressed 3 of the big Vs in particular. Hmmm-good idea about excluding. Maybe you can work on that one...I am going to have to put some extra deep thought into that idea. I have seen people jump off of Prudential, but never done it myself. Brianna should definitely try the Halls of Karma swim! I remember when we did it the first time. I went under and came up under the raft, then caught the second whirlpool too. It was great. This past summer that was one thing that we missed doing since the water stayed high so long (but it was good to have big water during the summer again!).
Brianna-You should try the Halls of Karma swim Rick1 wrote about-it is just below Lower Keeneys on the left side. It is different from the Thread the Needle swim though. There is a whirlpool that forms off of the right side of the rock (similar to the one at Thread the Needle) that can pull you underwater for a couple seconds...when you know it is coming, it's big fun! It's only available at lower levels from like 1' down or so. Give it a try!
-
- +0
-
-
written by Big Wave Dave, August 31, 2009
I didn't tell you how it was different-instead of swimming all the way up to the Halls of Karma Rock like you do at Thread the Needle, you want to swim about an arms length (maybe 2.5/3 feet) away from the right front corner. when you feel yourself being pulled down the drop, hold your breath. If you time it just right, it will pull you down for a couple of seconds. If you get too far away from the rock, you will miss the whirlpool completely. It is also fun at low levels to stop above and get out of the boat on the rock, walk out to the end, then jump into the whirlpool from above. Very cool and very fun!
-
- +0
-
-
