The Best Combination: Gauley And Bridge Day
Posted by: Big Wave Dave in Whitewater Rumble, West Virginia, packages, New River Gorge Bridge, Gauley Season, ACE Adventure Resort on Sep 25, 2009
It's September and Gauley Season is here. With all of the local rains we had over the summer, Summersville Lake was full and ready for the big fall release schedule!
If you came out over the summer, the Lower New River had great water levels all summer, the best summer levels in years! Now its time to step it up to next level. The Gauley is waiting for you.
As you plan for when you can come take part in the Gauley celebration, consider what some feel to be the most exciting weekend in the world. The third weekend in October is the date of the 2009 Bridge Day Festival (the 17th).
On the Saturday of Bridge Day, the Summersville Dam does not release its regular Gauley Season flow (2800 cfs), and all the action moves back to the New River for the day.
There are ACE Bridge Day packages which include a full day rafting trip with all the bells and whistles. Then when the trip gets down to the New River Gorge Bridge, we typically pull over to the side of the river, climb out onto a big rock, and watch the B.A.S.E. jumping action. It is truly a spectacle to behold.
While we are watching the action from the river below, guests often ask me if I ever jump from the bridge. It may be hard to believe, since we just went through all the adrenaline-pumping, big-water action, but it is great fun for me to watch — and I emphasize watch (not jump!).
They even have a diving board set up for the jumpers to do flips and spins off of before they pull their parachute!
Then as part some of the of the Bridge Day packages, we board the bus and go back to ACE to watch the trip video, then we have a barbecue. It's a great time followed by great food!
To finish out your weekend, the following day is the last day of the 2009 fall Gauley Season. Everyone is ready to pull out all the stops and go for it, because they know it is the end the season and they realize that it will be another year before it is Gauley Season again!
You can enjoy the best of both rivers in one weekend. Its a win-win situation.
Beat the last-minute crowds by contacting one of our Adventure Consultants today at 1.800.787.3982. You'll be glad you did.
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written by Daniel, October 04, 2009
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written by Big Wave Dave, October 05, 2009
Good to hear you were able to get in touch with Jack and are coming back in. Staying at the guides camp, you will get a good idea of what it is like staying there on mountaintop. Its getting cooler now so the guides aren't as out and about as they are when its warmer. Too bad you missed the anything but clothes costume party that happened when it was warmer. It is always interesting to see what imagination+whitewater costumes come out during that late summer get together. Nights have been cool too-already down to low 40s at night. Cooler than last year at this time, but about the same for a typical average. Highs will be upper 50s to low 60s during the daytime. The water temp-if you go on the Gauley, the water temp will be warmer than it was last time you came in. They release the water from the top of the lake last, so that water has been warmed by the sun all summer. The air temps are cooler, but the water temp is warmer than September-I know that sounds odd, but true. The New river temp is probably about 6-10 degrees cooler than August/September...probably around 65 degreeish or less. Not sure which river(s) you are going to get to do, but its getting to be wetsuit/drysuit weather now. I find out Tuesday if there is work for me this weekend. If there is not enough work, I may not be in until Bridge Day weekend. Check back and I'll post when I find out Tuesday/Wed. afternoon. Looking forward to meeting you.
Go Big!
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written by Daniel, October 08, 2009
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written by Big Wave Dave, October 08, 2009
BWD
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written by Daniel, October 14, 2009
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written by Big Wave Dave, October 15, 2009
Maybe we can have the chance to meet this time. Right now I am on the 8:15 New River run on Saturday and the 9:00 Upper G run on Sunday. You may want to check about Saturday-I am pretty sure there is no Gauley trip on Saturday since it is bridge day. We may still take a trip on the Gauley Saturday, but it is not a scheduled fall flow release day. If you happen to be at the video tent about 3:45-4:15, my Sat video will be playing and we could meet. I will be near the consumables window, then sitting on the picnic tables watching the video from my trip. If you don't make it at that time, no worries. It is a good thing that you are here and have made the connections. Those are the good people that will serve you good for the spring training. I don't know how much you have talked to Jack Lund, but he is one of my favorite people there-he has so many funny stories, jokes, and straight out good advice/knowledge to share...some of it won't hit you right away, but sinks in later when you fully realize what he was saying (the same goes for all the trainers). If we don't get to meet this weekend, stay in touch thru the blogs, and let me know what happens. Do you have a facebook page? A number of us are on Fb, so send me a friend request and keep in touch-check out my introdctory blog. It looks like there is a chance of snow this weekend, so drive safely. You are well on your way to being an ACE guide! Hope to C-ya this weekend.
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written by Daniel, October 15, 2009
I have talked to Jack 3 times on the phone. He was on the way back from somewhere south when I called tonight and was telling me about a car wreck they were passing. He said be at the tent at 7am for an 8am Gauley ride so who knows. I hope it would be on the New River since I have done the Gauley 4 times now, and never have done the New.
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