This is a game similar to "I Spy", or "Where's Waldo". Try to find the smiley face that is on one of the river rocks! If you don't think there is one in the picture, you are wrong. It's in there somewhere! Also, if you manage to find it, do not tell anyone else where it is cause that is cheating my friends. Enjoy :)

There is big water this week down in Friendsville, Maryland, on the Upper Yough River. Water levels are still on the high side, so now is the time to come down and experience the extreme excitement the Upper Yough has to offer. Also, the Upper Yough is very close to the Washington D.C. area, making it a quick trip for anyone who wants to paddle. Check out some of the fun that was captured this week below:

All the recent rain contributed to some fun filled adventure for all our trips this weekend on the raging high waters of the Yough.  With trips on the Upper and Lower Yough today, as well as the Cheat, many customers took advantage of the upside of rain.

                                                          Jill

Want to know when 2009's Beer and Gear is happening? What about our beginner and intermediate group kayak instruction weekends?

You knew we had scheduled kayak lessons for groups, right?

Well, we've got news for you: Wilderness Voyageurs has a complete events calendar for 2009, from our mega extravaganzas like Beer & Gear, to every scheduled Upper Yough release.

So whether you're planning your next High Adventure Outdoor Activity or just like to keep up with the goings on in Ohiopyle, you should contact us to get one of these babies.

Call 800 272 4141 or send an email to rafting@wilderness-voyageurs.com and we'll hook you up!

See you on the water, along the trails, and upon the cliffs,
Lou

The LBS is a natural flow river, wich means that you never know when it will be running!   My first time on the Big Sandy almost a year ago at Cheatfest was a rush in more ways than one.  One of the first obstacles on this river is a 20 foot waterfall called Wonder. 
(Tiffany and myself Shredding Wonder Falls)
Nothing feels better to me than to run a waterfall and stay in the boat!  When the water is at the right level LBS is the perfect mix of fun and challenge.      

Working at Wilderness Voyageurs means that I get to "Live the Dream" everyday, but you can be part of the spontaneous action too!  With all of the river rafting in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to enjoy some class 5 white water rafting.  All you have to do is sign up to be a part of our Adventurer's Club.  Just like the guides here that get a last minute call to run the river, we will shoot you an e-mail or call you up to invite you on an impromptu trip to one of the many  exciting rivers in our area. 


See you on the water!!!
Jen

And then the sun came out........  We had a perfect day for the inaugural Cheat River trip of the year. 

Max  blasting through the first class 4 rapid of the day "Decision"  named for what takes place here.... you deciding whether the Cheat River is for you or not.  The Cheat Canyon is an 11 mile high adventure trip.  You will see six  class 5 rapids  Today the water level was a tad under 4 feet.. a bit of a surprise. 

This is river rafting West Virginia at its rawest!

stay tuned... I heard that this team did not keep the dry side dry  up next are pictures from the class 5 white water rafting of BIG NASTY

Yahooooooo  sums it up!  The day we have all waited for with great anticipation.  Tomorrow we dust off the lonely rafts (they really do miss you)  the other good news for us river rats is that we received over an inch of rain arrived in the last few days.   

The Cheat River, in West Virginia  should be a healthy 3 feet gauranteeing some awesome class 4 and class 5 whitewater rafting.  The Lower Yough will be over 2 feet insuring a fun whitewater level. 

Our first guests of the season are a boy scout high adventure group from the DC area.   These guys work hard to be our earliest rafting trip of the year.  They usuually win.  This year will be the first year in many with out a little snow for their rafting adventure.

The Cheat River, is the beast of the east coast!  The Cheat is the largest undammed river east of the Mississippi, so it is different every time you go rafting.  Due to the changes in water levels, we use 3 different boat sizes, 8 mans, 4-6 mans, and duckies.  The different boat sizes gaurantee that you receive a class 4 class 5 white water rafting experience. 

At high water, it takes every crew member working together to get an 8 man raft over and through waves that can be up to 15 feet high.  In lower water levels, you have to be on top of your game to pilot your duckie through a class 5 maze of white water adventure.

Cheat river trips start in Albright, West Virginia, 45 minutes south of Ohiopyle

www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/cheat_river.htm

We are getting fired up!  The dam release schedule for Deep Creek and the Upper Yough has been finalized!    The first release of the season is Friday April 17th.  A great day to play hookie from work.  Even better, you can go to work for about 2 hours, then head out for that meeting, remember to walk quickly towards the door with your briefcase. Let everyone know how important your "meeting" is, in fact, it will probably be company altering (hee hee)       Friendsville Maryland is an easy 1.5 hours from Pittburgh or an easy 3 hours from Washington DC and the check in time for the Upper Yough is not until 12:00   Plenty of time for a bit of work and a lot of fun.  Join us for the kick off to the Class 5 season






http://www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/upperyough.html

Sorry ski fans: March is here and that means it's Whitewater Season! Wilderness Voyageurs already has a small crew of trip leaders and rafting guides on hand to take you down the rapids!

Want to go tomorrow? No problem. Give us a call (800 272 4141) and then show up with a wet suit and warm-when-wet gloves and socks, and we'll take you out on the river.

Seriously.

(If you don't have those things, they can be rented/bought cheaply from our sweet Outfitter Store.)

Here's a rundown of the trips you might want to think about:

1. The Lower Yough: The ultimate first-time rafting experience. In the spring, this river can pack a major wallop for some serious fun! If everyone in your clan is at least 12, bring 'em all down for great Pennsylvania Family Trips. Great for college rafting trips, whether it's your student club or a group of good friends.

2. The Cheat: For the ultimate River Rafting West Virginia trip, nothing beats the Cheat Canyon in the Spring. This is serious class V and sure to excite and thrill. Flows peter out as spring turns to summer, so catch this gem of the East while it's in.











3. The Upper Yough: "The only thing better than the Upper Yough is the Upper Yough with more water." (aka the Upper Yough in the spring!). I've heard this said numerous times, and it's true. Tight, technical, and steep, the Upper Yough is unlike any class V rafting you will ever do. The first scheduled release is Friday, April 17, but rain events can provide primo levels thru March and early April. Contact us to get put on our Adventurer's Club notification list.

See you on the river,
Lou

For all of those Upper Yough paddlers, few of you probably make it to Friendsville, MD in the winter. Today wasn't the best day for Class 5 White Water Rafting, but maybe for some Class 5 skiing instead and a warm up at Friendsville's local coffee shop "The Friendly Cup." The coffee shop is next door to the Riverside Hotel, which is a great place to stay & relax. It's famous in the summer for fresh bread, salad from the garden and homemade soups. MMMM! Can't wait until their restaurant opens in the spring! For now though, we'll keep enjoying the winter.

 

 

The river was flowing with ice - quite a beautiful scene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A snowy Mason Dixon line...almost half way between Friendsville, MD and Ohiopyle, PA

Last fall a group of Wilderness Voyageur's finest river rafting guide and kayak instruction staff; Bob Petty, Max Cadorette, Dave Fusilli and Susan Hollingsworth, made the trek to the Green River Narrows for the annual Green River Race.  There were halloween costumes involving butternut squash, waffle houses and some amazing creeking.  This year, 2008, only one from the group was able to continue the tradition, even stepping it up with more rivers and a lot more runs on the Green.

Lou, river guide and assistant store manager, and I made the drive south, starting off with a weekend on the Russell Fork in KY/VA at the 1000 cfs release level with local friends Drew and Jeff.  After several months with low water on the Youghiogheny it was so refreshing to see some new rapids; like the boof at Tower and El Horendo, huge hits in Triple Drop and the box at Climax.  Fall foliage in the Laurel Highlands was just beggining to drop off when we headed to this canyon, able to enjoy the colors for another few weeks in warmer weather.  The Russell Fork is known for its plethora of dangerous undercuts, seives and other nasty features which means that your game has to be on, even in some of the littler stuff.  This section of river can also be lapped, we were able to squeeze in 3 runs one day, allowing us to become more familiar with different lines (maybe not at Fist) and explore new features.

Saturday was the big Russell Fork Rendeverous, a big party preceeded by the race.  Lou opted for a second run while I hung out with friends at Climax rapid, the finish line. 

Next stop, Green River Narrows...

Jeff spent the next week or so with us on the Green while Drew took off for a last-minute adventure to Panama.  We might have been jealous but its hard when you are on the Green every day. 

Lou hit up Go Left, one of the "Big 3" rapids on the first day, not even bothering with the sneak.  He also managed to squeeze in several runs down Sunshine, some pretty, some not so pretty.  I finally tempted both with great success as well. Our friend Jeff even got in the spirit and ran Gorilla for his first time, smoothing it of course.  River levels were low, although we couldn't tell. 

To the left is a shot of me at Sunshine.  You can see how the rapid got its name by the intense white-out of the rapid. 






A big highlight was seeing a Shredder, made by Laurel Highland's local Tom Love, going down each of the big 3.  Here is a shot of him at shunshine.  It's really amazing to see how river culture spreads so quickly.  Shredders began right here in Ohiopyle, PA with Tom on the Upper and Lower Youghiogheny and now can be found on rivers all around the world! 



The following saturday was race day on the green, an event worth seeing even if you aren't a kayaker. 

Lou opted for a day on the Cheoa in South Carolina with former Wilderness Voyageur's reservation director and Ohiopyle local Seth Custer.  The run was great, also easy to lap multiple times in one day. 

As for the race, hundreds of people hike in (a short hike that takes forever) to heckle and watch the lunatics in kayaks on one of the most extreme races in the world.  After hiking in last year, I made sure to get on the water in time to make it down in my kayak.  The race is quick, around 5 min, but dangerous.  We saw some bad lines at Gorilla and the slides, but no big injuries (yay!). 

A few other Youghiogheny locals made it out for the race.  Here is Jesse just below Gorilla...so close to the finish line.  He and I will be working together as teachers and coaches for the World Class Kayak Academy starting this spring.  Hopefully we can instill our passion for extreme raceing on the future classes at WCKA. 





The trip was lots of fun; meeting new friends like Chris and his Wrec Center or Robert at NOC, biking out of take-out, trail running with local Danny Mongo-our store's Werner Paddles Rep and of course some of the best whitewater in the south. 

Trips like this just ups the experience and knowledge levels of our staff here at Wilderness Voyageurs; whether that be refining the skills of our kayak instruction staff or increasing the gear connections for our outdoor gear store.  Hopefully this trip will become an annual trek, getting more and more guides to improve thier own skills and enjoy other rivers! 

After months of empty promises, sad UPS visits and distant ship dates Astral Buoyancy is finally able to offer the new Green Rescue Jacket to the public.  After a final struggle with Coast Guard certification for the innovated Class V approved life jacket, the model has made it to the shelves and it is just as cool as they said it would be.

First, neon green is hot. 

Second, the vest has been designed to fit better and perform smoothest when it matters most.  Features include: 

• Knife Park: Quick access lash tab great for a knife or VHF radio
• Flotection: Foam wraps around the sides of your torso and aslo along your spine, further enhanced with a thin piece of plastic
• Tectonic: Separate foam panels for upper and lower torso allow the greatest mobility in any PFD
• Shorter Torso Height to adjust for the ladies as well
• Rope Ready: Pockets designed for Astral's rope system so you can follow the basic rule in creeking, carry a rope
• Towing Rescue: Totally encapsulated pocket designed for easy access to Astral's 6 ft Spectra Web Tow
• Spectra Safety Loop: Integrated to the jacket's internal frame, this loop provides a super strong and easty to find attachment point
• Torso length Adjustment: Customize the torso length wihile simultaneously reducing ride-up with front adjustment straps
• Reinforced Shoulders: Integrate wtih chest harness to provide 1100lbs strength
• Back Band: 7 inch elastic for mid-back comfort

Try on the Green Jacket next time you're in Ohiopyle PA at the Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitter Store, your local source for Outdoor Gear in the Laurel Highlands.  We've got both Red and Black/Lime in stock in every size. 

It's time to upgrade, whether you're class 5 river rafting or kayaking, this vest is the safe and stylish choice no matter what aquatic outdoor activity you're into!

Are you looking for some Class 5 White Water Rafting but think you'd have to travel too far or devote too much time? Well, the Upper Yough in Maryland is the adrenaline fix for you!

About 90 seconds off of I-68 in Friendsville, MD, this East Coast Rafting destination makes a nice day trip, especially from the DC area. Going to Deep Creek for some vacationing fun? No problem, the Upper Yough is on the way there, and only about 25 minutes distant. Better still: recent rainfall has made this already awesome river even meatier and more fun. Check out these pictures of our latest trip:





Bottom line: for High Adventure fun in Maryland, especially when it comes to outdoor activities near Washington DC, you need look no further than Upper Yough river rafting. This river runs into September, so there is still time! Call 800 272 4141 today to reserve your spot on one of our trip because seats fill up fast.

--Lou

Did you know that you can request specific Wilderness Voyageurs staff members on your trips? It's true. If you have a friend who works for us, or you had a really good experience with a particular guide in the past, you can ask for them on your next trip. Whether it's class 5 rafting mania, a gentle float down the East Coast's beautiful Middle Yough, or an adrenaline-pumping day of Mountain Bike instruction, odds are your favorite guide will be able to accompany you.



For more info about our guides, check out our staff page (under construction). Or you can read this post or this other post by Susan to learn even more about the new guides.

How do you do it? Simple: mention the guide's name when you make your reservation and we'll do our absolute best to get that person on your trip. Already have a reservation? Give us a call (800 272 4141) to add that favorite staff member to your adventure.

Cheers
Lou

Every July in western Maryland a different breed of Upper Yough paddlers begins to emerge.  You first notice while hanging out at National to watch carnage when a long boat appears at the crest of triple drop, passes 2 raft trips and continues through National and Tommy's Hole without stopping for a moment.  You then notice more and more of these long boats mixed in with groups of Burns, Jefes, Rockers and other creek boats.  Passing their friends, only to wait in an eddy down below to do it again through the next rapid.  This all means one thing.  The 28th Annual Upper Yough Race.

Switching from a small 8ft creek boat to a nearly 12ft-long race boat is like reading your favorite book with someone else's prescription eyeglasses.  Suddenly those letters you are so familiar with are blurring together in weird ways, forming foreign words.  But eventually things come together bit by bit.  I found myself gaining confidence in a piecemeal fashion.  First it came with the lines through Charlie's Choice and Heinzerling.  Slowly rapids like Triple Drop and Lost Paddle were added into the mix with the race line at National still remaining difficult for me, even during the race.  I came to realize that 2 or 3 practice runs just can't prepare you for connecting these moves together and maintaining enough energy to make it through the flatter stretches to the finish line.  In addition I found that more time is lost in smaller class II/III rapids than the bigger ones, making it even more important to pay attention to the best lines everywhere on the river. 

Race day went smooth for this first-time racer, managing to keep the nerves at bay until just before launch time.  As the first racer sprinted their way toward Gap Falls, it became real.  I realize that will be me momentarily as adrenaline begins to surge through my veins.  The race was mostly a blur.  During the warm-ups I almost couldn't believe that it was finally here and that it would be over before I noticed.  Personally, I had a great run, hitting some lines better than ever before and preventing spinning out too badly throughout the entire run.  But nothing is more satisfying the final 10 seconds of every race followed by the refreshing beverage received upon completion.  At the finish line we talk about our runs, watch other racers come in and just enjoy not using every bit of power to move a kayak forward. 


This year 32 races took on the challenge of descending this class IV/V, 5+ mile creek on Saturday July 28th, 2008.  Boats ranged from small creek boats to sleek and light fiberglass Wildwater kayaks.  For many of the races this year's event was added to decades of previous Upper Yough races, while others were attempting some race lines for the very first time.  Such a variance of experience leads to some amazingly smooth lines and some awesome carnage!  Geoff Calhoun took first overall in his Wildwater boat with a time of 28.52 min.  Peter Lutter came in a close second in his Wavehopper at 29.58 min.  With the ladies, Chara Whittamore held her title with a strong time of 33.55 min using her Wavehopper placing an amazing 10th overall.  WV's own Susan Hollingsworth (yours truly) came in just behind Chara in the Green Boat with a time of 34.23 for second place in the Women's Division.  Check out the race results for other times.  For pictures of racers check out the Private Boater link on playtheriver.com.

Next year should be just as much fun, if not more.  Hopefully Wilderness Voyageurs Purple Pride team can represent!  See you then!

-Zan

This past Saturday, July 26, the town of Friendsville, MD hosted the annual Upper Yough Festival at the community park. The Fest was held in conjunction with the Annual Upper Yough Race and drew a crowd of families and expert boaters alike.

I was working the Wilderness Voyageurs outdoor gear booth on the festival grounds for most of the day; I got to listen to live blue grass music, eat some awesome food from the local vendors, check out a climbing wall, and talk to a lot of cool people. Volunteers ran kayak instruction clinics, white water rafting demos, and even fly fishing lessons.

Here's to the town of Friendsville for putting on a great festival. For those who missed it, come in 2009, the fourth Saturday in July. And for more information on the Upper Yough, our store in Friendsville, climbing, kayaking, rafting, fishing, or what have you, go to www.wilderness-voyageurs.com

See you on the river,
Lou

Nothing beats a day of Upper Yough River Rafting!!  …well, almost nothing, but for the purposes of this discussion at least, we will leave it as nothing. 

 

Yesterday, I was able to experience one of the great joys of being a river guide in the Laurel Highlands, and I S1-ed (pronounced “esse-whund”) the Upper Yough.  On top of this simply being a brilliant way to spend a Monday, it happened to be the first time I have had the chance to do such!  Now I know what some fellow whitewater junkies may be thinking; “Fuzzy, you’re telling me you’ve spent almost four seasons out here boating, and you are just now S1-ing the Upper..?!?”  To this I can only answer, “Yes.  …but not four full seasons…”

 

The day began with a slight miscalculation on my part, when it was pointed out that I had grabbed a 4-man Shredder instead of the typical 2-man variety, but I continued undaunted.  The doubters may not have been considering how much easier those 4-man Shredders ferry across current~  Luckily for me, the skills I’ve learned at Wilderness Voyageurs over the years paid off, and thank the Downer I survived!  It is of course much easier to make it down such a river knowing that Kirby, JRod, Brian, Rich, and Mizzle are there to pull out my mangled body to deliver home to mom in the event I mess up…

 

The Upper Yough is an adventure not suggested for the faint of heart, but for those whom have seen it in all its glory and devastation, not many east coast rafting trips can compare.  All in all, it was certainly the best “sick day” I’ve taken to date!!

 

~Fuzzy

Kayaking for beginners can be pretty overwhelming at times..spinning out when paddling forward, catching an edge when crossing the current, lifting your head at the end of the roll, and so much more.  Luckily, with more time on the water and proper instruction these frustrations begin to fade allowing confidence to increase each day on the river. 

During a beginner lesson one of the most important concepts I like to teach is catching eddies.  Understanding how to enter and exit an eddy allows a beginner kayaker to break apart a rapid in order to better plan out the next move.  Hopping from one eddy to another also allows a kayaker to better ferry across currents, perhaps to avoid an obstruction downstream.  Eddy lines are also great tools when learning to bury the bow and stern for various playboating moves.

When entering an eddy I think of three things: Speed, Angle and Lean (S.A.L.)

SPEED:
    Having momentum when entering an eddy is key.  Speed will carry your entire boat over the unstable eddyline, rather than just your body.  Not having speed will allow the stern to be swept right on top of the eddy line, often ending in a flip.

ANGLE:
    Entering the eddy perpendicularly will allow the boat to cross the eddyline smoother and faster.  This means turning the boat from facing downstream, using a downstream sweep stroke for instance, to square up to the eddy line. 

LEAN:
    When turning into an eddy a kayaker will lean into the turn, similar to leaning into a turn on skis or a snowboard.  This means leaning upstream while crossing over the eddy line to "hook" into the top of the eddy.  Remember to continue to paddle all the way into the eddy as to not get stuck on the eddy line!  Also, you'll want to aim to enter the eddy just behind the obstruction, or at the top of the eddy.  Here, the eddy line is most defined and narrow and where the current is the calmest in the eddy. 

Good luck and keep eddy hopping to improve those whitewater kayaking skills! 

Be sure to check out Wilderness Voyageurs Kayak Instruction where we can personally tailor a day of instruction to meet your needs and improve your kayaking technique whether it be on the Middle Youghiogheny, Lower Youghiogheny or even the excitin Class 5 white water Upper Youghiogheny River!

Hey all you outdoor gear fans!

The rumors are true: Wilderness Voyageurs has opened a new outfitter store at the take out of the Upper Yough in Friendsville, MD, in the old Mountain Surf building. The building reopened on Friday, June 20th and will keep business hours from 10 to 6 on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. We are really excited about the great reception we've gotten from paddlers and Friendsville residents: Thanks for the support!!

Here is a map showing the location of the building (click to open full size in a new window):

And now for answers to some frequently asked questions:
1. YES, kayakers, you can still take out at the bridge! Stop in and see us if you like. We'll have boating videos running and tons of cool stuff to check out.

2. YES, we are offering demos on the Upper Yough. Call 800 272 4141 to talk to our Ohiopyle store so we can make sure we have the boat in Friendsville for you.

3. YES, you are welcome to use our public restrooms.

4. YES, we have grand plans for the building. We're going to open the deck back up as a place to hang out. With any luck, there will be live music during releases! We are also considering a massage parlor for the upstairs.

5. YES, we are investigating the possibility of renting canoes from Friendsville to some point downstream.

6. YES, we are eventually going to offer our standard HUGE selection of outdoor gear, including paddling, clothing, camping, fly fishing and more.

Did I miss a question you had, or did you have a suggestion for us? Leave us a comment because we'd love to hear from you.

See you in Friendsville!
Lou