ACE Adventure Blog

It’s just about time to raft the Gauley River, folks, and I was just looking at the ACE activity lists today.  Even as the start of school approaches, folks are still vacationing.  Which is cool.

The numbers show that the Zipline Canopy Tour here at our New River Gorge headquarters is our most popular off-river activity.  I can understand why. For me, this trip was a major factor in conquering my fear of heights. I think it’s the same way for everybody, to an extent; it allows guests to do something out of their comfort zones.

As this summer’s Canopy Update blogger, I am going to use this post to clarify the new zips and let you know what to expect.

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Well, I’m back to work after a great weekend at Snowshoe for their Blues, Brews & BBQ’s event.  ACE sponsored a ducky race on Shaver Lake and I got to attend (a ducky’s just an inflatable kayak, y’all.)

Despite some challenges from Mother Nature, Cat Mitchell and I had a great time.  To quote raft guide extraordinaire Tim Gunn, we “made it work.”  I had never been to Snowshoe before – shame on me – and it is like a different world.

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ACE Adventure Resort is happy to announce that Bridgewalk “For the Walk of Your Life” is almost ready.

That’s right.  Benji Simpson and his team are on the last leg of construction on the exciting venture we call Bridgewalk. After three years of blood, sweat and tears, their efforts are finally paying off with an exciting activity unlike anything in the Northern Hemisphere.  Benji has persevered with this project through many challenges and is finally seeing his efforts come to fruition.

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I met Josh Sapio, the Climbing and Canopy Manager, on Monday and we went to check out the progress of our Zip Line Canopy Tour. It may seem like this is taking a while, but let me reassure you, it will be worth the wait.

Josh really wanted me to see some of the highlights, so we hiked down to several of the lines. As previously reported, the A-frame structures at each launch and dismount are complete. The team from Beanstalk Journeys is now making progress on all of the decks attached to each A-frame. Josh was quick to point out that these decks are designed by engineers and adhere to ACE Adventure Resort’s safety standards.

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I can tell you how good we are until I am blue in the face.  However, it is important to hear from actual guests who have had amazing experiences with us too.

Three generations of the Weinstocks visited us in May for a “boys' weekend.” They rendezvoused in Charleston from all over the East Coast and then made the rest of the trek to ACE.  After planning a botched snorkeling trip in Belize, Michael Weinstock arranged a trip to ACE with high hopes.

Here is the story that Dr. Weinstock wrote for a local paper in Boca Raton, Florida.  Dr. Weinstock was also adamant that I give Julia a special mention for being such a great guide.

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When I went rafting the other day, as we were on the bus heading to the river, all I could think about was who was going to be on my raft with us.

I think it is safe to say I have a big personality. And one of my oldest friends, Rett, was with me. He is 6 feet, 6 inches tall with the personality to match. I was nervous. Sometimes, we can be too much. Too loud. Too everything. As a staff member, though, I am always on my best behavior on trips. I even make sure all of the other guests have eaten lunch before I dig in.

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The first time I went whitewater rafting was in 1986. Boy, things sure have changed. I know I sound like the crazy old man in your neighborhood who tells stories of walking to school uphill both ways in 5 feet of snow. But ACE’s advancement in the industry is amazing.

I rafted with a friend and there was an elderly couple in our raft named Dick and June. They were a fun, retired couple who traveled year-round and were up for anything.

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