There was a fatality on the Upper Meadow in Central West Virginia on Monday 10/3. A very skilled small group: an R-2 and a kayak, were running the river at 2700 cfs, a high level. The raft pinned in a rapid below Natural Weir, dumping both paddlers out. Mike Edwards, a very experienced guide on the Gauley and elsewhere, did not resurface. A search recovered his body the next day10/4. Thanks Dave Bassage for the report. Any additions or corrections please message me.
On Oct. 3rd, 2022, Mike, Justin, and Chris put on the upper meadow in the late afternoon approximately 3/4pm. Mike and Justin were R2-ing and Chris was kayaking. Toward the end of what was until then a smooth run, Justin and Mike failed to make a right to left move in one of the last significant rapids. They were shoved against the root end of a large log that was angled upward and upstream facing, jutting out of a nasty undercut. Despite a quick hyside, the low side tube of the boat was sucked under the log, pinning the boat and causing both paddlers to swim. By pure luck, Justin successfully swam through the strainer/sieve but Mike did not. Mike never surfaced, and his body was recovered the next day.
