Piney River

At about 8 feet, this river has some

rapids that are class V and last for

lengths of a football field or more. At

this level, there are a couple drops that

get what I would consider possible

terminal holes. What's more, these

nasty drops are in the middle of pure

screaming hair, often giving paddlers

the choice of one eddy before them.

Having paddled this at that level, I

would not recommend this level for

anyone who doesn't know the run fairly

well. We didn't know what was around

some corners and were lucky enough

to stop before we met a few huge

holes. In addition, this is not for the

faint of heart, as its possible you will

bomb down a series of huge

haystacks playing slalom with holes

that want to make swimmers, with no

forseeable end to the rapid in site.

Portages lead up through thick forests

and over huge chunks of sandstone. At

this level, it would compare to running

Pillow Rock on Gauley blind without

the nice pool at the bottom, plus with

bigger, nastier holes. I'd do it again at

this level, but I know quite a few who

would not, and they are probably better

men because of that.