Level: 1000 cfs (Saturday and Sunday)
September 2 and 3, 2000
Paddlers: September 1 (Friday evening at 250 cfs): John Wiggins, David (DAxOB) Lohr, Jerry Engnes, and Chuck Givens
September 2 (First Saturday run): K-1: John Wiggins, Sally Naas, Jody Park, Mike McClanahan, Harry Tucker, David Jett, Bill Trotter, Rodney Kickel, Chuck Givens, Jack Nall, Steve As-toria, Jerry Engnes and DaxOB; OC-1: Woody Naas; IK: Wayne (Wormy) Smith
September 2 (Second Saturday run): K-1: Amy and, Petr Sindler, Barney (nice shirt) Lilley, Joseph Simmons, Keith Jarrell, Kathleen Simpson, Mike Gilzow, Jon and Jeff Beyer, Chuck and Nancy Brabec, Jody Park, Judy and Warren Peascoe, Steve Astoria, Jack Nall, Jerry Engnes, Bill Trotter, Rodney Kickel, Rob Smith, Joel and Becky from Canada, DaxOB, Linda Weaver, Mike McClanahan, Chuck Givens, Sally Naas, Jim Navy, Marsha Shore, John and Linda Wiggins; OC-2: Don and Jo Beyer; OC-1: Woody Naas
September 3 (Sunday run): K-1: Jerry Engnes, Inflatable Amy, Turner Sharp, Susan Klimas, Keith Jarrell, Judy Peascoe, Mike McClanahan, Bill Trotter, Rodney Kickel, Linda and John Wiggins, Dave Lohr (DaxOB), Linda Weaver, Chuck and Nancy Brabec, Mike Gilzow, Sally Naas, Petr and Amy Sindler; OC-1: Woody Naas, Zeth Zajac

Friday evening, September 1, paddling down to Blue Hole at 250 cfs, laughing and surfing some great waves at Ledges, I remembered why I like this little gem so much. Play, laughter, and user-friendly come to mind. Tomorrow will tell the tale. David Lohr, aka DAOB, aka DaxOB, and I had been giving lawn care tips (forget about mowing your lawn) and lures to put together a good introductory trip to this area for about a month now. At the campfire with myself, the Lindas, DaxOB, Jerry, Inflatable Amy, Woody and Sally, Chuck Givens, Jack, Wormy, and drop-in raft guide Christine, very few truths were told, with one notable exception: Jerry really can cook! - but the giant bonfire, laughter and friends were equally welcome.

Saturday morning, breakfast at Bulls and to the take-out to pick up additional paddlers and set shuttle for the sprint run at 9:30. The run took just under an hour and a half of brisk paddling. No mishaps, no swims. It does seem definite that DaxOB and Chuck Givens have crossed over to the Darkside, as Woody puts it.

At 12:30 pick up new arrivals and set shuttle for the second trip. Where did all those people come from? (uncontrollable giggling.) The 1:00 trip got off to an interesting start. At Blue Hole Linda Wiggins graciously offered to run shuttle again for three take-outs. We finally got this large group broken into three smaller pods and things worked better. It was good to meet and spend time with the new members Amy and Petr Sindler. Rob Smith was so excited on this trip that, twice, his boat wouldn't contain his enthusiasm. After those two cooling swims he could be heard through each rapid. Jeff Beyer seemed to enjoy his K-1 trip down the river with style. The Mineral County Park Service indicated 349 boaters paid user fees this Saturday. Our group of 34 was about 10% of the traffic.

Dinner that evening was great, visiting with old friends and new. More big campfires at the cabins in Barnum. Turner Sharp and Susan Klimas joined in the festivities after paddling the Cheat Canyon. I am not sure if the boater stories were more truthful or more interesting, this night.

Sunday morning and breakfast at Bulls turned into interesting conversations about western rivers, musical instruments and nicknames. Breaking into two groups at the put-in, Turner Sharp and myself leading the groups. Judy Peascoe was insistent on swimming at the hard eddy line at Blue Hole. Inflatable Amy on her first trip ever amazed everyone with only one swim. She now knows to lean away from rocks you meet on the river. Nancy Brabec demonstrated some stylin' surfing at Surfer. Chuck Brabec gave lessons on surfing to those interested and a good time was had by all for a leisurely run. Turner and Susan chose to explore on down river to Keyser but that is another trip report.

The North Branch is a Class II-III run through a scenic valley, fed by releases from the Jennings Randolph Dam. Releases are infrequent but worth catching. These releases are sponsored by Mineral County, WV, which indemnifies the Army Corps of Engineers for any potential liability for the releases. Without that, the ACOE would not release for whitewater. When you're there, please spend money in Mineral County (Keyser) as a way of thanking the community for their support.