Well, let me start off by saying, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You guys at ACE truely know how to

make a city girl want to become a country gal! I didn't want to leave, I wanted to stay and get to know

the Mountains better, the Rivers better, the caves, trails, all the guides, and employees better.

Because, everything and everyone was just so wonderfully incredible!

My dad organized this trip for us a couple of months ago for Friday August 5-Sunday the 7th. There

were 7 of us, My dad, sister, nephew, his father, and step mom, a friend, and me! I dont think any of

us really knew what we were getting into, but whatever it was, we were ready. We got in around 5pm

on friday, unpacked and headed straight for the lake. That was so much fun! We were in stiches

watching eachother try and run across walkways between the trampolines....If we only had water

proof video cameras....

The next day was our big rafting trip on the Upper Gauley. Man, when we found out that we weren't

riding in a big raft and were going in Ducky's to be in control of our own destiny's....well, lets just say

that we were all just a BIT nervous. But you know what? Our guides ROCKED! They could make you

feel comfortable if you were walking on hot lava.

The River was beautiful and scarey, peaceful, and determined, and I'm happy to say, my sister and I

only swam twice! But in our group we had a real trooper....Lauren, my nephews step-mom, broke the

record # of swims! 14 times!!!!! I tell you, our guides were in for a workout with all of us. The Gauley is

so important in bringing people together, making you feel like a warrior for a day, putting you in your

place, making you laugh and cry, and remembering that there is still so much beauty in this world to

behold.

I especially want to thank all of the guides on the Upper Gauley rafting trip we took on the 6th. Our

guide, Elisa was inspiration perfected. She was extremely easy to get to know and talk to, had us in

stiches the whole way there, and also had a deep understanding of the history surounding that area.

I could have listened to her talk for hours. Also a big thanks to J.P., Kirk, Josh, and the rest for giving

us all memories to last a life time. And for saving all of our butts more times than I thought

possible...they're not guides, they're super heros! Another special thanks for Tommy the Gun, video

man! He's good....He's REAL good. Thanks to him, we are now able to show everyone else how

much fun it is to laugh at yourself.

So, again, Thank you, for all and everything you've given us. We are planning on making this an

anual trip every Summer, but I have a feeling it's going to be more like every Fall and Summer,

starting this Fall, cause next Summere is just too far away.

Yours Truely, a new white water junkie,

Carey B H.