What’s the Difference Between CO and WV Rafting

Posted on November 30, 2012 by

 

Whitewater Rafting West Virginia

New River White Water Rafting

Colorado and West Virginia are two of America’s best known rafting destinations. No matter which place you go you are going to have an amazing time. However there are some minor differences between the two. Colorado’s rivers are more numerous and certainly a bit colder, and West Virginia’s rivers are a bit more remote and wooly. With years of experience under my belt, here are some additional differences I have noticed that may be of interest to you:

Water Temperature. You really, really, really don’t want to fall out of your boat in Colorado. That water comes from snow off the Colorado mountains. You’ve heard the slogan, “Cold as the Rockies,” right? Yeah, that water is. In West Virginia, the water temperature in the spring is fairly cold too, but the water is usually at least ten degrees warmer than the water in Colorado. And as the season progresses the water gets really warm.

Wildlife. You probably should be looking at the next big wave or rapid coming up rather than the sky, but there are some pretty amazing birds to see in the skies while you are white water rafting in West Virginia. You can see great blue herons, peregrine falcons, and even America’s national bird – the majestic bald eagle. In comparison, the birds you see while rafting in Colorado include golden eagles, ravens, and red-tailed hawks.

In Colorado you can see bighorn sheep, which are the state mammal of Colorado. Who knew state mammals even existed?  In West Virginia you may see a black bear on occasion if you look carefully. West Virginia also has an interesting opportunity to see another form of wildlife:  on Bridge Day in October you can see base jumpers soar overhead while you are rafting!

Landscape. Colorado is full of rivers, over 158 of them, with 17 having a drainage basin of 10,000 square kilometers or more. West Virginia only has 46 named rivers. With rivers all over the place, the landscape while Colorado river rafting is pretty varied and pretty much covers everything. Colorado has canyons, some of the highest mountains in the lower 48, deserts, peaks, valleys, cliffs, and forests. In West Virginia, the landscape takes a more intimate approach. It’s common to hear people say in WV that they live in the mountains, not look up to them. West Virginia is green with vast deciduous forests, abundant with abandoned coal mining communities rich with history and steep cliffs making up some of the world’s best rock climbing. Not to mention, West Virginia is one of the best places on the planet to see the beautiful fall foliage.

River Rafting Companies. In Colorado, there are still numerous small outfitters simply offering 1/2 day and full day rafting trips to their guests. However in West Virginia, most of the companies have merged to create comprehensive resorts offering one-stop vacation destinations with lodging, shops, meals and tons of activities from which their guests can choose.

Ultimately, you should have both a Colorado and West Virginia white water rafting experience at some point in your life. After all, these two states wouldn’t reign as the most popular rafting destinations without due reason. Whether you are new to the sport, or an experienced pro, each state offers a new experience to remember!

Arkansas River Rafting

Arkansas River Rafting

About the Author: Mike Kissack is an expert in rafting.  Mike owns and operates American Adventure Expeditions a leading Colorado whitewater rafting company.

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Lessons Learned from Holiday Vacations:

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Heidi

Stand Up Paddleboarding

SUPing in the Mangroves

My husband and I have unofficially started a yearly migration to the beach for our Thanksgiving weekend. We’ve never really discussed it, but like clockwork we both find our feet itching to get back in the sand at this time of year. So this year when we got an invite to spend a week in the Florida Keys for free, it was a no-brainer. Beach here we come!

Our vacation was wonderful. I spent most of it on a stand up paddleboard exploring various islands with my sister-n-law. However, there were a few things I learned from this vacation:

  1. The holiday traffic snafu is not a myth. As a newbie to the East Coast, I am still shocked every time I end up stuck on 1-95. It makes me laugh at myself for complaining about the four stoplights on my 15-minute commute to work in West Virginia. We ended up in stop and go traffic for 2 hours while crossing from Georgia to South Carolina. But hey, I’m the last person to tell anyone to stay home for a four-day weekend. Vacation is like gold to me. Take advantage of it if you are lucky enough to have it. My life mantra is all about traveling, adventure and experiences. I’d never want to let a little traffic to keep me from exploring.
  2. Logistics, logistics and more logistics! I had almost forgotten how vacations could become logistical nightmares. This is especially true if you are vacationing with 6 adults with varying budgets and personal agendas. In the end, I found myself thinking about work (this is perhaps, way too normal). I started thinking about how ACE Adventure Resort is a wonderfully easy logistical family vacation. Once you arrive, your adventure is ready and waiting. There is definitely something to be said about that.
  3. There is power in numbers. For example in the Florida Keys, for six of us to pay for a 2-hour snorkeling tour it was more than the price for the six of us to rent our own boat for the entire day. At ACE, if you have a group you are likely to find cost savings in everything from activities to lodging. Also more people make it more fun. So recruit your friends and family and enjoy the benefits.
  4. Divide and conquer. It’s OK to not stay together as a group for the entire vacation. Some of our best dinner conversations came from individual tales of the daily adventures. Moral of the story: Not everyone wants to stand up paddleboard all day every day (although it was the highlight of my trip).
  5. You can’t depend on Mother Nature. Upon arrival to “sunny Florida”, we didn’t even see the sun. In fact our first day was incredibly cloudy and windy. Wind is great for sailing, but can be a deal breaker for snorkeling, motor boating or stand up paddle boarding. Forecast for the rest of our trip- wind, and lots of it. It was hard not to let the forecast put a damper on things. But working in the outdoor industry for so long, I knew to think outside the box. On vacation you may not get the bluebird powder day or the high-water spring whitewater run on an 80+ degree day, but savvy travelers don’t let that get them down. We ended up finding a place where we could stand up paddleboard through a Mangrove forest protected by the wind. In outdoor adventures, remember weather sometimes makes the trip more interesting. For example, when on a whitewater rafting vacation it makes no difference if it’s raining. You are going to get wet any which way! It’s the experience that counts.
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Bob’s Story: First Time On The Gauley River

Posted on November 22, 2012 by Heidi

 

Gauley River

Bob's first time on the Gauley River, WV

Have you ever wondered how it feels after your first Gauley River trip? Below are direct quotes from a first-time ACE guest- Bob H. of Rhode Island. Bob visited ACE on the last Gauley day of the year (October 21st in 2012) . Historically this is one of our favorite (and FUN) weekends. From reading his customer survey, I think it’s safe to say Bob had a blast. In fact, Bob was spotted at the year-end party boogying late into the night with his newly found river family. And did I mention Bob is a young 72 years old?

Here’s what Bob had to say:

“My guides on the New (Friday) and the Zip Line (Saturday) were very friendly and professional, just a joy to be with. My guide for the Gauley marathon was Tug. He was super, the best guide I have ever had. His explanation of every rapid and how we were going to do it was excellent. It made a 72 year old feel comfortable and safe. When I got tossed out at the hole in Pure Screaming Hell, he was right where he said he would be and directed me to the safety of another ACE raft. It was a trip I will always remember.”

*(Yes, rapids often have non-pc and intimidating names.)

“Bartenders Jim and Lesley made me feel at home. Pig roast was out of this world.”

“It was one of the best weekends of my life. I came by myself, but left with at least 200 new friends. As I talk to staff members (receptionist, bartenders, security, food staff, etc) it became very clear to me that they love what they do, love working at ACE, and enjoy providing the best possible experience for your customers. Although, I did not feel like a customer, the staff made me feel like I was one of them. Thank you for a great experience.”

I’m thinking we should be the ones thanking Bob. Thank you Bob for really getting it. We do love what we do, and we love it even more when our guests fall in love with it. Welcome to our prestigious club:  a new inductee into the Gauley River whitewater team! We know this is the beginning of a great friendship.

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5 Things Hurricane Sandy Taught West Virginia

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Heidi

Winter in the New River Gorge

The New River Gorge


  1. Most Americans will leave 2012 remembering the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and the huge impact on WV.  However for most West Virginians, the word Derecho rings up memories of the ultimate in unusual natural disasters. And its important to note, it received only a fraction of the media exposure.
  2. You never know when having some country skills will come in handy. Things like cooking all meals on a propane stove or grill or owning and operating a chainsaw to help a friend out of their driveway, these are the skills West Virginian’s put to the test during this storm.
  3. Seeing the New River Gorge covered with a thick blanket of snow is a truly magical sight. So few WV tourists get to see the Gorge this way. Yet if you live here, you know its quite a sight.
  4. Although we often times love hurricane season because it makes the New River’s water volume increase, this hurricane armed with its vast power outages were not loved by even the burliest of winter paddlers (at least none I know).
  5. Simply put, there is nothing more important in this world than having good friends and family. During this storm, there were countless times where I saw our community come together and overcome the obstacles Mother Nature threw at us. Thanks WV for making us proud by overcoming the challenges that come with living in these mountains we know as home.
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The Day the Gauley River Rained a Rainbow of Leaves

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Heidi

Sunday I had a “moment of being” while paddling on the Gauley River. You know, one of those moments where all your senses are engaged and you just feel completely “in” the moment.  You’re probably thinking this was triggered by one of the world famous rapids on the mighty Gauley River, but this moment had nothing to do with whitewater.

First, you must know this was a sunny 70+ degree day on the Gauley. Not only was the weather perfect but also the leaves were approaching their peak colors. This was truly one of those perfect Gauley Season days.

Somewhere after Sweet’s Falls, as the sun shined bright through the array of colors the fall foliage provided, a wind gust blew through.  And suddenly, the sky was filled with a cornucopia of leaves above the river. Quite literally it was raining leaves for about two minutes. As my husband and I smiled in awe of the beauty, I remembered someone once telling me that if you caught a leaf in your hand as it was blowing above a river it was good luck. I told my husband this fable and we both scurried around the raft trying to catch a leaf.  We were living perfectly in the moment with the kind of joy kids posses so readily.

I was lucky enough to catch a large leaf as a kayaker paddled past us. We made eye contact and without speaking, she too, was in the moment.  It was like we were sitting inside of our own Gauley River-style snow globe. Later that evening as a group of paddlers met up for some post-river grub, it seemed the feeling was mutual. We all had experienced the day the Gauley River rained a rainbow of leaves.

The next time you see a leaf falling and you find yourself trying to catch it, remember that somewhere, someone may be on a river doing the same. And some fables are made just to make you smile and remember to stop and really enjoy that moment of being.

 

 

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Top 6 Things I Love About Gauley Season

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Heidi

 

Gauley Animal Race, Gauley River, WV

Gauley Animal Race 2012

 

1. Pillow Rapid-

I mean really? Could there possibly be a more fun rapid in the entire universe? Sure maybe there could be, but I don’t think I’ve seen it. After last year’s regularly scheduled flow on the Gauley River being increased to drain Summersville Lake, in 2012 it’s been so nice to have Pillow Rapid back to the way we all know and love. 2,800 cfs at Pillow is pretty much whitewater heaven.

2. Hawaii 5-0-

Second drop of Lost Paddle Rapid is a thought that instantly brings a smile to most boaters’ faces. To me, when you hit it just perfect, it feels like being on the last cart of an old wooden roller coaster right as it crests its first major drop. Simply put it’s my favorite “hit” on the river. Always has been, always will be.

3. The Video Boater’s Challenge Awards (VBC)-

When I first put this one on the list I thought it must just be because I was still coming off last night’s thrill of laughing so hard I almost peed my pants. But then I really thought about it: Every Gauley Season I have ever been lucky enough to be a part of, the VBC is consistently a standout event. Guides and boaters from all over come together, and for one night it’s just about making fun of ourselves and laughing. And I mean really laughing!  Random side note: ACE video boaters really are the force behind this Gauley River tradition. They have become legends in our river community and we are very proud of them.

4. The “Cool-aids”-

I don’t want to be the defining author of what a “Cool-aid” is, but the short version is anyone who is normally a western boater who comes out for the six week Gauley Season in West Virginia. Most “Cool-aids” are from Colorado, but they can also be from anywhere out west. I am a “Cool-aid” at heart. The core of my river miles came from the West. So for me, when they come, it’s like a small piece of my old home visiting my new one. And let’s face it; some of my favorite people in the world are “Cool-aids”.

5. Cotton Underwear-

Anyone who has boated with me and been with me at the end of a trip knows I love to sing a little song about how excited I am to put on my cotton undies. I know, dead sexy right? Well, if you’ve worked on rivers most of your adult life, you know that there is no better feeling than putting on DRY cotton underwear after a day on the river. It is kind of like being Mr. Rodgers when he changes his sweater and shoes at the end of his day. Just in my world, it means I’ve just had another great day on one of the world’s best rivers.

6. The Gauley Animal Race-

My true competitive nature comes out! I love to race. And I really love to race in the Animal Race, because it is the one time of the year that I get to boat with some of my favorite (and the best) female guides I have ever known. It’s an old NARR tradition (where my WV rafting roots started) and no matter where we work or live, the animal race always brings us back together. I love you girls and I’m proud to boat with such strong, beautiful women. I just couldn’t leave this one out, because I love it that much.

 

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Night Zip Line Tours w/ ACE Adventure Resort

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Heidi

Night Zip Line ToursSo I have to admit something that is a wee bit embarrassing.  I’m a little bit scared of heights. I mean nothing over the top or anything, but you probably won’t see me jumping off many rocks or signing up for a skydiving tour. As I’ve gotten older, I have let the cat out of the bag on my fears. I guess I am just a bit more confident or maybe I’m getting over the whole “looking cool” thing. I was never that good at it anyway.

So to my delight (seriously, no sarcasm here), I was asked to go on a Night Zip Line Tour at ACE Adventure Resort to scope it out. My mission- report back what it’s really like to the team and to attempt to write a blog about it (and just to clarify- this was a volunteer project).

So here is the super short skinny on ACE’s newest activity.

  1. Having an activity to do at night is awesome (kudos to the folks that made it happen), especially knowing that whole fall back thing (daylight savings) is right around the corner.
  2. For those of us that are scared of heights, doing the Zip Line Tour in the dark basically takes that edge away = bonus points for the getting-older lady!
  3. Don’t think that point #2 makes the Zip Line Tour less fun or intense. Sure, the heights aren’t as noticeable, BUT stepping off the platform into the dark unknown is pretty exhilarating. I loved it and definitely felt a rush, making me even more excited for the next zip.
  4. The Zip Line guides are SO MUCH FUN! I was so pleased to have two of ACE’s finest guides… we laughed and laughed and smiled so much our cheeks hurt. I love that about our guide staff. If smiling is a cure, then going out on ACE’s Zip Line Tour is the perfect vessel.

Another confession: I’m not a video expert either. But I did shoot a couple of quick videos from that night. Check out one of the guides showing us that having a little fun in the dark is truly a perfect way to spend an evening at ACE.

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No Artificial Thrills Needed – Whipple Blog

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Molly Wolff

Vist the Haunted History Tour to learn the story behind this casket go to www.whipplecompanystore.com

Everyday I drive past the old weathered building in Scarbro. Owning more than a century of history it stands tall by day, a centerpiece of a coal-centric town, once the heartbeat of the community. But at night while waiting on the front steps ready to explore within, the 18,000 square foot building towered dark and heavy in the foggy West Virginia night air.

That night was my first time inside the large building. My husband and I joined a handful of other ACE Adventure Resort staff members for the Haunted History Tour at the Whipple Company Store. Joy and her husband Chuck, the proprietors, were our hosts for the evening. Joy introduced our tour with a disclaimer, that what we would see and hear was not your average daytime history tour. We would be indulging in the less savory, more frightening, rebellious, sometimes violent and truly haunted past of the building and its community. Several years ago there was a push to turn the Whipple Company Store tour into a Haunted House complete with mummies, zombies, witches and ghosts. I can imagine a slew of sticky fingered kids running around, jumping out at each other, and screaming at the pop-up monsters. Joy and Chuck were not convinced that the experience needed to be enhanced like this. Fortunately in the end there was no need to bring in the props, the history there is real. I learned about the day-to-day difficulties the coal miners faced and the equally daunting tasks their wives and mothers lived. I heard the haunting explanations behind the permanent bloodstains on the floor, the presence that lingers in the elevator, and the shadow that passes in the upper front room.

As each authentic story unfolded that night I felt a sense of gratitude for the preservation of something real. With a history so rich there is no need to change it, you just have to be brave enough to look into it.

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5 things I’ll Never Forget About My First Day On The Gauley

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Heidi

Jason Swan, Gauley River, WV

Jason after a successful Sweet's Falls run on the Upper Gauley

I remember my first Gauley trip- as I think most boaters do. A NARR veteran- Jason Swan was my “trainer”. Within minutes of being on the Upper Gauley with a boat full of experienced guides (yet all new to the Gauley), Jason asks, “Who wants to guide?” At the time I was in my eighth year guiding and was no rookie to how the game works. If you want trips, you better step up before someone else does. So, with confidence in my voice I said, “I do”. I couldn’t tell you much about our lines that day, but I can tell you I remember a few key things about my first day on the Gauley River:

  1. WHITEWATER with big, splashy waves was such a treat after years of western boating (of course spring is great out West, but after June it generally gets really low and becomes more about technical rock dodging than wave crashing).
  2. I had picked the right company to work for in WV. The NARR family was tight and it showed on the water. This means a lot once you start guiding bigger, more challenging whitewater. It’s good to be with people who watch your back and know how each other boat.
  3. “The Show” at Sweet’s Falls was incredible. 100+ people cheering and clapping- in all my years around whitewater- I’ve never seen such a whitewater audience. It’s an energetic place and hard to ever forget.
  4. The western style whitewater swim position of lying on your back with your feet downstream was out! On the Gauley if you fall out of the raft, you swim back. Practical use of common sense, I like this place.
  5. Pillow Rapid is without a doubt one of the most FUN rapids on Earth!

My list continues on, but I will keep it short. Really the point is the Gauley River has a lot of hype- it really does. BUT, the Gauley doesn’t disappoint anyone that really gets whitewater. It’s a respected river and fully deserves all the respect it gets, but the Gauley has a vibe and fun quality few class V rivers posses. It’s hard to argue that it may not be the most fun class V whitewater on the planet!

Posted in Gauley River Rafting | Tagged | 10 Comments

5 Things I’ll Never Forget About My First Gauley River Trip

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Heidi

Jason Swan, Gauley River, WV
Jason after a successful Sweet’s Falls run on the Upper Gauley

I remember my first Gauley trip- as I think most boaters do. A NARR veteran- Jason Swan was my “trainer”. Within minutes of being on the Upper Gauley with a boat full of experienced guides (yet all new to the Gauley), Jason asks, “Who wants to guide?” At the time I was in my eighth year guiding and was no rookie to how the game works. If you want trips, you better step up before someone else does. So, with confidence in my voice I said, “I do”. I couldn’t tell you much about our lines that day, but I can tell you I remember a few key things about my first day on the Gauley River:

  1. WHITEWATER with big, splashy waves was such a treat after years of western boating (of course spring is great out West, but after June it generally gets really low and becomes more about technical rock dodging than wave crashing).
  2. I had picked the right company to work for in WV. The NARR family was tight and it showed on the water. This means a lot once you start guiding bigger, more challenging whitewater. It’s good to be with people who watch your back and know how each other boat.
  3. “The Show” at Sweet’s Falls was incredible. 100+ people cheering and clapping- in all my years around whitewater- I’ve never seen such a whitewater audience. It’s an energetic place and hard to ever forget.
  4. The western style whitewater swim position of lying on your back with your feet downstream was out! On the Gauley if you fall out of the raft, you swim back. Practical use of common sense, I like this place.
  5. Pillow Rapid is without a doubt one of the most FUN rapids on Earth!

My list continues on, but I will keep it short. Really the point is the Gauley River has a lot of hype- it really does. BUT, the Gauley doesn’t disappoint anyone that really gets whitewater. It’s a respected river and fully deserves all the respect it gets, but the Gauley has a vibe and fun quality few class V rivers posses. It’s hard to argue that it may not be the most fun class V whitewater on the planet!

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