Published: August 24, 2008 12:40 am      

Gauley River season begins Sept. 5

CHARLESTON — Some West Virginia whitewater outfitters anticipate an influx of rafters from southern states for this year’s Gauley River season because of drought conditions elsewhere.

The boost would help offset an anticipated decline in the overall number of rafters.

The annual Gauley season begins Sept. 5 as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins to release water from the base of the Summersville Dam to drain Summersville Lake to its winter pool levels.

Dave Arnold, managing partner of Class VI River Runners, said about 40,000 rafters and thousands of private boaters are expected to ride the Gauley this year during a 23-day release in September and October.

Last year, 46,767 rafters made the trip with professional outfitters.

“All the signs are pointing to a bit of a ‘down’ season, maybe 6 (percent) or 7 percent fewer clients than usual,” Arnold said.

Water levels are low on two of the South’s more popular rivers, Tennessee’s Pigeon River and the Chattooga in Georgia, making them difficult for rafting companies to navigate.

“When the southern ski resorts close because there’s too little snow, southern skiers head for Snowshoe and Winterplace in West Virginia,” Arnold said. “We think they might do the same thing now.”

Controlled releases from Summersville Dam won’t make water levels an issue on the Gauley. The releases occur every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday beginning Sept. 5 through Oct. 6 and again on Oct. 11, 12 and 19. The last weekend coincides with the annual Bridge Day celebration on the nearby New River, set for Oct. 18.

Arnold said gas prices that are close to $4 a gallon shouldn’t put a big damper on the whitewater industry because the Gauley is within a day’s drive of heavily populated areas.

“Fuel costs are more a factor for western outfitters, who run on rivers that require long drives or flights to get to,” Arnold said.

Arnold expects a lower turnout among long-time devotees whose knees and backs might not stand up to the rough ride.

“Let’s face it, the Gauley is a river for ’hammerheads,”’ Arnold said. “It’s physically tough on paddlers. As folks get a little older, some of them get a little leery about doing the Upper Gauley. We still get groups of older folks running the river. In fact, we have one that calls itself ’Geezers on the Gauley’ that comes every year.

“But, by and large, the river is mostly for younger folks and, for some reason, not as many young folks are coming out to play.”

If they do, they’ll be greeted by rapids with names like Lost Paddle, Pure Screaming Hell and Insignificant.

The river drops more than 668 feet along 28 miles and features more than 100 rapids, which are classified by difficulty of navigation, from Class I (least difficult) to Class V (most difficult).

More than twice as many visitors sign up for the more difficult upper Gauley trip than the lower Gauley.

The first Class V rapid on the upper Gauley is Insignificant, which got its name when a 1968 exploratory rafting party completed the trip at a lower-than-normal flow rate and reported “no significant rapids” upstream of Pillow Rock.