New, |
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| Name | Range | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| New at Fayette Station | -2.00 - 12.00 ft | 01h46m | 2.3358 ft (rc= 0.3 ) |
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| This is the Fayette Station gauge based on Thurmond's reading. | |||
| Name | Range | Updated | Level | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New at Fayette Station | |||||||||
| virtual-6362 | -2.00 - 12.00 ft | 01h46m | 2.3358 ft (rc= 0.3 ) | ||||||
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This is the Fayette Station gauge based on Thurmond's reading. |
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| NEW RIVER AT THURMOND | |||||||||
| hads-THMW2 | n/a | 6d12h43m | 7.06 ft | ||||||
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Alternate Gauge at the head of the gorge. The gauge reads feet at Thurmond. |
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| NEW RIVER AT THURMOND, WV | |||||||||
| usgs-03185400 | n/a | 01h43m | 5100 cfs | ||||||
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CFS Gauge for Thurmond |
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Cunard Putin |  | |
| 0.3 | Pinball | III | |
| 0.5 | Upper Railroad | III |  |
| 1.0 | Lower Railroad | III |   |
| 1.5 | Swimmers | II | |
| 1.8 | Strippers | III | |
| 2.0 | Ender Waves | III | |
| 3.0 | Upper Keeney | III | |
| 3.1 | Middle Keeney | IV |  |
| 3.2 | Lower Keeney | IV | |
| 3.3 | Lollygag | II+ | |
| 3.8 | Duddley's Dip | III | |
| 4.0 | Double Z | IV+ | |
| 4.5 | Halls of Karma | II | |
| 5.0 | Hook 99 | III | |
| 5.2 | Greyhound Bus Stopper | IV | |
| 5.5 | Upper Kaymoor | III+ | |
| 5.6 | Lower Kaymoor | III+ | |
| 6.0 | Miller's Folly | IV | |
| 6.3 | Thread the Needle | ||
| 6.5 | Fayette Station | IV |  |
Just after the wave train after Lower Kenney there will be 2 holes, one on each side of the river. The river left hole is not for surfing. The river right hole can produce dynamic, but enjoyable surfs! If you don't want to surf just follow the large tounge between the holes.
This rapid is marked by the large rock that looks like an upside down canoe from up stream. This rock is undercut but easy to avoid. Start right of center and work left. This will set you up for the "Dip". Just stay to the right to clear it.
After Dudleys you will end up in a huge slow moving pool. If you look down stream on the right hand bank, you will see a rock that looks just like a pyramid. This tells you that you are in the pool above Double Z. This is the most technical rapid on the New, and one you also must run. There is no easy portage.
After floating or practicing flat water tricks thru the pool you will see a rock that looks like a thumb sticking out of the water about 50 ft from the right bank. This is called "Thumb Rock".
You will start your run just to the left of this rock. Go around the rock and head to the right bank. There is a pourover that you are tring to miss with this move. Once to the bank you must then ferry behind the hole to the middle of the river.
Then turn downstream and paddle HARD with right hand boat angle, you will need to punch a large and powerful curling wavehole. If you punch this then you are home free. Paddle down thru the confused water making sure you stay away from the downsteam rocks as they are undercut, and you WILL go underneath them, boat and all. (Don't ask why I know) This is the "double z" move.
If you did not punch you hole you have more work to do. You need to roll as fast as you can because you are headed for Table Rock, and that forms Chair Hole. Roll and head to the right bank.
FYI: Another name for this rapid is "Sunset". During the summer and fall months at sunset, the sun is perfectly framed in the mountains and river downstream. I recomend everyone to see it. It is breath taking!
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - New 14. New River Gorge: Cunard to Fayette Station (mobile)
User Comments
I ran the New River (in a 13 1/2 foot NRS) at 15 feet from Cunard to Fayette Station take out. By
the time we got to Fayette Station the level had risen to 16 1/2 feet. Trees are under water on
both banks and any swim will be long and hazardous. Eddie walls on both side become very strong.
First rapid of major consequence is Ender Waves and a hole on the left side of the rapid called Pig
Farmers, that must be avoided at all costs. Next major hole to avoid is in the Kinneys it is called
Whale hole you run to the right of this hole and then ferry left behind it. After you run the
middle and lower Kinneys beware of a hole on the river right that only comes out in big water. The
next rapid with consequence is Double Z with a hole called Berry's. Do not run this hole it feeds
to undercut rocks on river left. After Double Z is a rapid called Seldom Seen and it will have the
biggest waves of the day. You can run these waves on the left side. I remember feeling about ten
feet in the air dropping of the back left. The final rapid of the day is Fayette Station and you
must start moving left immediate after dropping into this rapid to make the take out. Do not hit
waves on right side or you will have no chance to make the take out. There are big waves trains in
most rapids though they are washed out somewhat. There are other holes that I did not mention
because they are easily avoided. The trip takes about 40 minutes to do the 6.5 miles. Doing speeds
up to 15+ mph in some rapids. Have fun! Edit
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though, while you enjoy a deep swim through the Halls of Karma downstream. Swim right to avoid the
Halls and retrieve your ducky after the rapid, wherever it may have ended up. I'm a raft guide in
WV and have duckied at levels as high as 8ft. above normal. Hook 99 is brutal at low levels, but
the only real danger is Turtle Rock, easily recognized by the memorial plaque on the downstream
side. Your real danger at low levels is Lower Railroad. There is a nasty clamshell rock about 50
feet off the left bank. Unless you know the Lower New really well, take the far right creek line;
don't follow the rafts & more experienced kayakers down the left or the middle. It should be
noted that the plaque that is mentioned above is on the down-stream side of the rock and is not
visible from upstream. Edit
Tohickon (up to 1200 cfs) and this was mostdef a step up. Newbs to big water be warned it is very
different water, lots or lines and most rapids are 3-3+ but looong. Most can be scouted on the fly.
Lots of grabby holes, especially I recall on Hook 99, stay left. Lower Kenney at this level is IMO
is Class 4 (+ to be safe) and the most dangerous. Large rooster pushes into washup rock. Undercut.
As description states it req. early left to right move to avoid. Bit too much for us at that time.
Upon souting we portaged river left. Straining. A nice couple in bucket boat w/ dog showed us
Bloody Nose (left line on Millers Folly). Big hole/wave. Paddle hard or it will keep. Overall it
was wonderful. The wave train Fayette Station rapid is the best end to a day I've had. Edit