Articles

The September/October issue of the AW Journal is our CANOE ISSUE featuring:   *Olympic Dreams *OC RG Compared to GC *Why C-1? *Open Canoe on the Middle Fork Salmon at 4,500 cfs *Southeast Icons: Steve Frazier and Milt Aitken *. . . .plus much more!   Want to read the AW Journal online? You need a current membership and you must be registered with the AW website and have your membership associated with your website user account.   Current members

September 2, 2009 An Open Letter to Gauley River Boaters Dear Boaters, The National Park Service (NPS) looks forward to another great Gauley boating season beginning in a few weeks. The park continues to develop and improve the river access points at Mason’s Branch and Wood’s Ferry for all river users. The management and use of these two launches went well last year and, for the first time in Gauley River National Recreation Area history, boaters enjoyed public put-ins and

Last Friday Bob Center, Pete Arpin, Moira McSweeny and Riley the Dog scouted the upper 1.5 miles of the Drum Powerhouse Reach.  On Monday we scouted the lower 1.5 miles.  In summary, the upper 1.5 miles are Class III-IV, with one log jam.  The lower 1.5 miles are solid Class V, with blind corners, hazardous wood, a log jam, and willows in the channel (We have seen the middle 1.5 miles at only one point, a Class IV-V rapid).  We

Currently, New Belgium Brewing Company is running a contest among water advocacy groups. The top vote recipient is eligible for a $10,000 grant. Please go to their website and vote for American Whitewater: http://www.newbelgium.com/skinnydip   American Whitewater has been a partner with New Belgium Brewing and their Skinny Dip for a Cause Campaign. Skinny Dip For A Cause is New Belgium’s advocacy and awareness initiative for water conservation, clean water, and saving our rivers. The company has directly supported efforts

American Whitewater is asking our members, particularly those living in Oregon to take action to protect the Wild Rogue.  The Rogue River Wilderness and Rogue River Wild and Scenic River represents one of Oregon’s most treasured natural landscapes. Protected as one of the nation’s first Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Rogue is known for it’s salmon runs, rich natural and cultural history, and incredible wilderness-quality recreational opportunities.  While the remote canyons of the Rogue River provide river runners with a

The U.S. Forest Service announced that the agency is requesting public comments on a proposal to permit a Heritage Center and establish a Southern Appalachian Farmstead living history interpretive site on 20 acres in the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River corridor in South Carolina. Read the press release here. The proposed site is on highway 28 "near" the Wild and Scenic Chattooga, see map. Activities being considered in the proposal include the construction and remodeling of historic structures, placement of

Everyone loves to attend the world’s biggest paddling festival: the American Whitewater Gauley Fest presented by Subaru. However, what most people don’t realize is that outside AW’s 8 full-time employees, it’s a completely volunteer run event!  AW sure could use your help. Please sign up for 2 hours (or more) and become a part of the Gauley Fest Volunteer Team! It’s a fun and easy way for you to be a critical part of an amazing festival. For your time

This September 18th, spend a day paddling with Anna Levesque on the Lower Gauley and raise money for AW! If you haven’t heard of the Ladies of the Lower G event it’s an annual event that Anna Levesque of Girls at Play and North American River Runners (NARR) put on around Gauley Fest. All the ladies who sign up spend the day boating down the Lower Gauley with Anna and others for the low, low price of just $40 (which

To get the word out far and wide about the upcoming American Whitewater Gauley Fest presented by Subaru (Sept. 18-20) we’ve added a Facebook event page. You can jump on there and say you’re attending and share it with all your friends. Very cool. In the meantime, if you’re on Facebook, why not become a fan of American Whitewater at http://www.facebook.com/AmericanWhitewater while you’re at it. Plus, if all that isn’t enough, you can join the American Whitewater Cause on Facebook

There will be a whitewater release on the Rock Creek Reach of the Feather river this weekend.  The flows will take place between 11 a.m. Saturday 8/22 and 3 p.m. Sunday 8/23.  The expected water levels are 800 cfs on Saturday, with flows of 700 cfs planned for Sunday.  Come take advantage of some fantastic water!   There is a fire buring in the canyon and we have recieved the following information from the USFS.     Fire Status as

Just a short note to clear up any confusion regarding weekend releases on the Pit River.     The releases will be happening, and they will take place the Weekend of August 29th.   Flows are expected to be 850 cfs.   So, paddlers, get out there and take advantage of a beautiful river.   The release starts ramping up on Friday, but takes a long time to fill the channel.   The river may be boatable by late Friday.   The release

The Tallulah releases will be held this fall on the following dates:  November 7-8, 14-15, 21-22.  Approximately thirty volunteers are needed each weekend.  Volunteers are the only people allowed at the put-in beside boaters and park rangers.  If you are a boater or a volunteer and want someone else to be able to go to the put-in, please have them volunteer.  Shifts are 8 am-noon and 11:00  am-3:00 pm.  An orientation and travel to the volunteer sites are included in

From the events organizer, Justyn Thompson:   "As many of you know, the Ledges Park in Asheville, NC has been a whitewater staple for many years. About 12 years ago, kayak slalom gates were put in with the hopes that people would use them and maintain them. However, after floods and neglect, they have turned into more of a hazard and an eye sore than anything else. On the weekend of August 22 and 23, we are going to do

The 19th annual Feather River Festival (CA) will be held during the scheduled releases on Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, 2009. The fund-raiser event for American Whitewater is hosted by local paddling club, the Chico Paddleheads. The benefit event will be held at "Indian Jim School" campground located two miles upstream from the small town of Tobin and one mile upstream from Tobin Vista. Free camping and ample parking is available.   The event will include a free