Gauley Season Week 1, 9/4/2014
I drove to Battle Run Campground on Lake Summersville on Wednesday 9/3 am and set up one campsite for the Keelhauler Canoe Club. I set up my new Coleman canopy over the picnic table, pitched my tent, & unloaded extra gear and boats and headed to Fayette Station to meet Carolyn for a late pm run of the New Gorge. The water and weather were warm. A real summer paddle. Margaret had arrived and pitched her tent while I was on the river and we made plans for our shuttle for the low 1800cfs "prerelease" for Thursday. We ran into Paul and Karen while running our shuttle and we were able to go a great Upper Gauley run but the water was very cold. On Friday we did a full 2800cfs run of the Upper Gauley. On Saturday the 4 of us ran a marathon of both the Upper and Lower Gauley joined by Jim, Thorsten, Jackie, Eric, and Glen. The Saturday weather turned stormy with a severe thunderstorm and fog and this made for a very long day on the river but everyone did well. On Sunday I ran the Upper with Thorsten and Jim and we efficiently made it off the river about 1pm. There were 30+ total Keelhaulers camping and paddling in various groups. What a wonderful long weekend!! Can't wait for the next 5 weekends a the Gauley!!! /hugh
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