Gauley River Family Rafting

River Rafting in West Virginia

Archive for August, 2009

Labor Day & Beyond

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Labor Day Weekend is quickly approaching and now we’re all wondering how the summer went by so fast.  But it always does, right?  We were certainly grateful for the high water we were given most of  the summer and happy to share rafting experiences with so many ‘newbies’.  (It’s always a thrill to watch someone paddle through a class V rapid for the first time!)  Now as school resumes, football season begins and temperatures cool, we look forward to the upcoming holiday weekend and invite you to join us for the final hoorah or ‘unofficial end of summer’ celebration.

Traditionally the Sunday before Labor Day is the most popular day to raft over the holiday weekend, since many people enjoy the day off from work on Monday and take this day as a travel day.  But you can choose to raft on Saturday, Sunday or Monday as part of the special Labor Day Package.  So if you’ve always wanted to go rafting or if you want to get back on the New River one more time, plan to celebrate Labor Day with a rafting, camping and BBQ special over the long weekend!

Whitewater Blog or Testimonial? I say, BOTH!

Friday, August 21st, 2009

The following blog was submitted by a recent guest and chosen to be posted!  We welcome your submissions and will consider posting them live on our blog – if selected, you will receive a complimentary photo cd or dvd of your next rafting adventure.  Who likes creative writing now?!? 

I don’t do extreme sports.  It took several months (and a very persistent wife) to get me to agree to go whitewater rafting.  As I stepped into the raft on our River Expeditions run of the Lower New River, I seriously contemplated making a break for the bus or holding onto a tree along the shoreline.  I know others in our group of six felt similarly.  By the end of our trip, we were wondering if we could make time to go again the next day.  Not only was our guide, Tim, incredibly skilled at preparing us for what was coming and keeping the mood in the raft loose and light, he also gave us a history of the river and its people — the deserted river towns dotting the banks and the industries that once fed those towns.  That’s what makes River Expeditions work — there is some part of the trip that works for the thinker and the thrill-seeker.  River Expeditions made our trip educational and exhilarating in equal measure.  We will definitely be back.
Matthew A. Rich 
Cincinnati, OH

Vacation Research & Development

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

It’s always nice to getaway for a couple days, but it’s even better to get back home.  This week we visited some other rafting outfitters in PA, so the trip was technically billed as ‘research and development’.  We like to check out the competition, so to speak, and get new ideas for improvements to our own basecamp and outfitters store.  I’m happy to report that we’re ahead of the curve in most aspects, but may consider carrying more river/hiking/camping gear in our store in the future – feel free to submit your feedback/suggestions for improvement.

 Upon a friend’s recommendation (always a deciding factor in trip planning) we based out of a great property about half an hour from Morgantown, complete with a butler, golf caddy and lots of ‘diamonds’ in their ratings for hospitality/service and food.  (What girl doesn’t like diamonds, right?!)  It was a lovely experience and here we garnered an even greater understanding of guest services.

 When leisure time is so precious, I won’t take chances in sacrificing quality for cost.  This is often what I relate to our own guests who have found a ‘cheaper rate’ for their rafting adventure.  I simply remind them that often you get what you pay for, as the old adage goes.  So, for vacation planning, I recommend to always trust your instincts, consider recommendations of friends/family and get as much information as you can in order to make a fair comparison.  Now, go enjoy the rest of your summer vacation!

Beach Party Blast

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

Lots going on at River Expeditions this weekend.  In addition to the gift of high water in August, we are co- hosting a charity poker run for the United Way of Southern West Virginia at the Red Dog River Saloon on Saturday afternoon, plus featuring one of our favorite themed event weekends – Beach Party Blast.  Former guests of Rivers (one of the companies purchased by River Expeditions in 2008) know this quasi-beach party is all about having fun off the river.  The band that is playing is called “Da Boatmon” they are a combination of Old School Abbey and The Mike-n-Rob Experience – both local favorites.  You can win cool prizes in the bikini contest and the limbo contest.  We promise as much fun (if not more) on the river and in the saloon than if you were at the beach this weekend.

Special friends from Kentucky coming in this weekend also who haven’t been rafting in a while.  Travel safely – we’ll see you on the river Saturday!

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