Various rumors have been “floating” along with debris from Saturday night’s rain. In the interest of accuracy American Whitewater is offering the following from Liz Garland of Fayetteville.
On behalf of Fayetteville– Don’t give up on the New! Yes, we were hit by record flash floods Sunday morning. Many communities of the Gorge may be considered disaster areas. But, paddling is not impossible in the area.
First, The Gauley has been running and may continue to because of hydro testing (call 304 872-5809 after 8am any morning).
Second, Some access to the gorge is still feasible: Thurmond is accessible as a put-in. Alternatives exist for take-outs, and the paddling community is exploring the best options for private boaters (Mill Ck./Hawks Nest or Teays Landing are possibilities). I’ll e-mail updates as soon as we have specifics…
In the meantime, note that the south side of Fayette Station access and Cunard access will not be available for an extended time frame. Additional put-in options are being explored along with take-outs.
Boaters who have familiarity with the creek tributaries of the Gorge (Mann’s, Wolf, Laurel etc) should expect their next trip to be a scouting trip. Boulders and trees have moved. In places the traditional rapids and lines may be dramatically different and some sliding has occurred. Local boaters have scouted much of the creeks and based on reports the only run I’d recommend avoiding (water levels permitting) for the time being is Laurel Creek because it has acquired part of Rt 16 and affected some homes.
Although, respect for members of the community that have suffered from flood damage is appreciated, the New River Gorge community welcomes boaters and expects to be able to accommodate the usual summer visitors. Just remember to plan for a longer than usual trip (both shuttle and on the river… like the old days!). Anyone wishing/able to assist with flood relief may contact the Red Cross.Many people who were considering coming to South/Central West Virginia for this weekend to boat may wish to consider contacting the American Red Cross in Oak Hill, West Virginia at 304-469-4636 to assist people in desperate need of help. You can still enjoy wild and wonderful West Virginia while helping residents who have suffered from this flooding rebuild their communities. Your help would be greatly appreciated.