Somehow after swimming the last three times that I was on the Upper New River, Matt and I were talked into increasing our experience on a new run. (OK, cabin fever had hit and I was desperate for a run.) The day was warm and sunny, perfect for kayaking and getting out of the "cabin".

The level of the Cherry was 11.1-11.0, Craigsville gauge. This was supposed to be a class II/III run, but was only to be a class II at this water level. (OK, this is a Matt & MJ adventure, what do you really think?)

At the motel parking lot there was just enough time to hear Susan tell about her first run on the Cherry where she went underneath a tree strainer in her kayak upside down! This just followed Hunt emphasizing that I was to lean downstream. Always. Evermore. And only if I didn't heed him would I get in (BIG) trouble. (Big trouble, I thought this was a class II, you know, a warm-up for the season, run.) Think I have pre-river anxiety? After all this encouragement? Besides I have noticed this little factor that on the way to a put-in, every rest stop along the way is stopped at. I cannot verify this, but I'm fairly certain virtually everyone avails themselves of the facilities. Lots of people have admitted that they get, got, or still get pre-river anxiety. But being on the river is worth it. At least, I still think so, Matt sometimes needs some convincing. Although he doesn't have the pre-river anxiety that I do.

There were enough people to split into 3 groups. Apparently several other people also suffered from cabin fever. Dan Nolte took the first group. Hunt took custody of Matt and I. And Mike McClanahan took the sweep group. It seemed that each group had a couple of beginners, a good leader and a couple of qualified sweep people. Tom and Paul were our sweep people. Teresa rounded out our group of six.

Still, I was distinctly unhappy after the first two sets of rapids. Although the water was low, it was a lot of work going around, over and (felt like) though the rocks. A LOT of work! And you may remember that I have had a 'special affinity' to rocks the last couple of times I was out. At either the first or the second set, I was utterly convinced that I was choking in my drysuit. (Now that I am safely off the river, I am certain that the gasket must have been turned and that there is no way that my anxiety level, had anything to do with my desire to get off and walk, 100 yards from the put in!)

The vast majority of the trip was easy (not) class I/II rock gardens. However, Hunt did an excellent job of keeping me on track through the 'bone bed'. Hunt made it look so easy. I would pick a line 5 to 10 feet ahead of Hunt. Usually he would go through where I picked. The (MAJOR) difference was he would just sort of float toward it and then kinda stick his paddle in at the last moment and he would be through. I, on the other hand, would have to paddle hard to line up and paddle hard to stay in and THEN paddle hard backwards to not run over Hunt. Meanwhile Matt was usually following me. He could not see the lines (said something about me being all over the river and obscuring his view) and he would find the vast majority of the rocks that I worked so hard to hit. (You may remember from my last kayaking trip that even little rocks are a chance to swim, because of the current behind them.) Anyway both of us got a ot of practice leaning into rocks. Matt got teased about his unorthodox bracing techniques, but he remained upright for the entire trip. (OK, he didn't roll over completely, but I personnaly have never quite mastered that brace 'til your helmet's wet --on the offside!--trick.)

There were two points that both of us thought were class III water. The first should have been an easy (right!) shot to river left. However, one of the members from the first group went over and the boat was broadside on a tree strainer. Hunt (wisely) decided to take us river right through a rather technical class III. It was a squashed Z turn between two rocks with a broadside overflow (NOT) on the downriver side. When Hunt made the first 290 degree turn, I remember thinking, "I cannot believe he expects me to do that!" But there was that huge keeper rock on the downstream side and I leaned forward and paddled to beat the band. 15 feet ahead, we had to make the opposite turn to the left. I don't know how, but I went through perfectly. Matt kinda broached on that downstream rock. This was his first unorthodox brace and somehow off the rock and around maneuver. But we survived. (Hunt did admit later that he thought Matt was "toast".) After we heard that this was the worst rapid of the run (Junkyard), our spirits were lifted. We helped rescue the swimmer, rested and were off again.

The second class III came out of nowhere for me. (I'm sure everyone else saw it coming.) Churning, boiling stopper holes every bit as big as the Quinnamont hole, threatened to keep me. A voice from that very first group run down Quintamont said "lean forward! Paddle hard!" so, I did and no problems at all. (That voice was Hunt's from almost a year ago.) Matt did fine here also, but did say that the wave was high enough to hit his glasses with solid water. I keep telling him that is one of the benefits of leaving your glasses in the truck, but he is convinced that it is better to see the water. I'm not so sure.

So that was the worst of the rapids and we had a great day, right? Well, yes we had a great day, but I still managed to swim. There was a boulder in the channel with the river running left along it. After this huge rock, there was an eddy line. I was thinking that it should be there (eddy lines are another of my weaknesses), but the next thing I knew, I was upsidedown. It happened so fast that I didn't even know which side I went over on. I tried to tuck and roll, but the water pushed against me and the tuck was bad, so the set up was bad, so the roll was unsuccessful. So, I swam. Stayed with my boat and paddle (success in the eyes of a novice kayaker) and Hunt and three others were right there. (Hunt said my set up was rushed, but I know he was wrong, because I was under for an eternity.) The dry suit was dry and trapped air to provide even more buoyancy. My feet got wet and cold, but not a bad swim (if you have to swim). But could somebody explain to me why I always manage to go over when I don't have the nose plugs on? I mean, I wear them every time I think I might roll! So, where are they when I need them?

Somewhere in here was a 2 foot (according to Hunt, but I'm certain it was really a 3+ foot) ledge drop. This was one of the things that had moderately scared me when I read it in the book and I had decided that I really didn't have to run. Seems that Hunt forgot to tell me that it was ahead until we could see it. (You know 20 feet and rushing!) Lean forward, paddle hard and it was over. No big deal! In an email to my friends I forgot about the ledge drop. Seemed like it was nothing comparatively speaking. (OK, in fairness (yeah, right!) to Hunt, I didn't ask if there was a ledge and I didn't tell him that I didn't want to do it. And even if I had, he would have been right in convincing me to go.)

Shortly after this, with wet, cold feet, my attitude waned, but seemed to return after a few rapids. But as soon my willingness to continue returned, my body started failing. I was really tired. Matt started complaining. I thought at first, he was doing it for my sake, but he was a wouped pup also. (It took two days to have all the feeling back in both feet from being braced in the kayak so long without a rest break. Seems he also re-sprained his knee wedging himself in and working around the rocks.) Besides he said he had to work harder to get off all those rocks that I ran him into. (Again, why were the rocks MY fault?) I don't know that either of us had fun for the last three rapids. Hunt's credibility was failing as he kept saying after each and every rapid, "just a little farther". (I swear one was 3/4 of a mile long!) I don't know about anyone else, but I was very happy to see the bridge where we had left one of the cars in case we got tired. (Thank you, Hunt, for thinking we might need that!)

All in all we did about 5 miles of the 9 mile run in about 3.25 hours. What a workout! If you ask me, those rocks make kayaking difficult! Hunt, Teresa, Matt and I all hauled out, shuttled vehicles, drove for the dry clothes, changed at the roadside, and went into town for dinner. After all of this, we passed the rest of the group at the later takeout. No regrets, it was a great river day. Swimming in a dry suit is not a big deal and we got some great experience. Really pushed the limits on what we can do. I'm glad we went. (Matt is really sore, don't ask him about the trip for at least a week!)

Even though Matt and I stopped at the halfway point. I was exhausted. Matt was pretty much there also. Hunt and Teresa were amiable to stopping on a good note. I think that my limits were severely pushed for stamina at very least. (I learned that regardless of the water level "its only a class II at this level" PAY ATTENTION to the trip rating. New River may be a class III but it is a LOT easier than Cherry River! I was so glad for all that lake work! And the fishing bobber/lure retrieval exercises for boat control. Yeah, I did swim, but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. I REALLY like my dry suit! Makes swimming so enjoyable! .... OK, makes swimming not bad. (Besides, my legs needed that swimming break!)

Oh, yeah! You wouldn't believe the great group of folks that we run the river with! In addition to Hunt and Teresa, Turner and Susan made sure that we knew that they were happy to see us progressing on the river. John and Linda made sure to get a few digs in about the aborted New Year's day New River trip. (We turned around in Charleston.) John did admit that he was sick for two weeks after the run and Linda did go all the way to the river put in and then not do the run. Dan Nolte was the overall trip leader and made sure that everyone was there and that we had rescuers for every newbie. I suspect that the median age is over 40 for our group. (You know, people old enough that we really should know better.) I have paid to go on trips that have not been as well organized or that we were cared about. And for the record, I do like and very much trust Hunt (on the river, at least) and if it hadn't been for him answering a WVWW board post, I would still be stuck doing flatwater. Spring 2000 Cherry River trip is already a wonderful memory! Thanks to all who help make this and all the trips happen! SYOTR apprehensive, but there again! MJ:)

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MJ Wixsom, DVM, MS, MBA guardiananimal@worldnet.att.net Kentucky (USA)

It doesn't matter what you have done. It doesn't matter what you are going to do. It only matters what you are doing now. -- MJW

There is no try! Do ... or do not. -- Yoda