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

"How far away is Indianapolis from Ohiopyle, anyways?" I get asked this question at least a few times a week; mostly because I talk about Ohiopyle daily - and most people just think Pennsylvania is REALLY far away. But reality is, its not. You can get from Indianapolis to Ohiopyle in about 6 hours! So this weekend, instead of driving the distance alone I took a few Hoosiers with me to do some East Coast rafting! :)
We had a fantastic time on the Lower Yough Saturday morning. I figured for some first timers, the class 5 whitewater rafting might be a little much so we cruised down with the earliest Wilderness Voyaguers trip that puts on the Lower Yough (class 3) @ 10:00AM.We spent the day in the Laurel Highlands watching first time rafters work through the rapids, the WV guides hustle, swimming and having a great time!

To top off the trip.. this weekend marked the 7th Annual Beer & Gear Fest - which, like it sounds, was a festival of micro brewery beer and outdoor gear. Some of the best parts about this festival is that it was that it only costs $12 to get in AND you get a really awesome pint glass to drink out of and keep as a souvenir. And this years cup was designed by one of Ohiopyle's cool cats Megan (pictured). 

So overall we had a blast! Came back and when we came back I talked about it so much that I am going to be bringing a huge group from work back the weekend of July 26th! And because its Ohiopyle, there is always something going on. This weekend Wizdom will be playing at the Falls City Pub! Always a fun time had by all!

When kayaking on whitewater rivers you’ll end at some point with your head submerged in the river. Weather it’s it from a swim, a roll, or just a big wave blasting you in the head you will get water in your ears. I have a big problem with getting the water out of my ears once it gets in there. For me one of my most important pieces of outdoor gear that I use almost every time I go kayaking is a pair of DOC’S PRO PLUGS. They are easy to put in, they stay in, they are pretty comfortable, I can hear almost was well with or with out them, they only cost $10, and the best part is I do not have to spend hours after a day of boating trying to get the water out of my ears. I use the only ones they sell at Wilderness Voyageurs store (which has other great outdoor gear), the vented ones with a leash. At the store they will custom fit you with the correct size. Size matters in ears. I’ve tried some other ear plugs and I had trouble hearing when using them and they all made my ears ring when using them. With Doc’s vented plugs there is no ringing and very little loss of hearing when using them. Comfort, well it does take a few minuets to yet used to them, but once you start paddling and surfing you’ll soon forget you have them in. $10 at Wilderness Voyageurs store in Ohiopyle PA (800-272-4141), or on line at www.gearfetch.com  but I’d get them at the store where they size them for you.

Last Wednesday, Wilderness Voyageurs' climbing swami, Lou, ran a staff climbing trip to Cooper's Rock in West Virginia off I-68. While our climbing guides are the best in the state, a climbing culture is something that's always been lacking in the rest of the staff. However, this year there is a remarkable amount of interest in the sport.

We headed out of Ohiopyle at 5:00pm and were roping up for climbs by 6:15. Several folks did their very first climb while others learned how to belay and tie the basic knots. We only climbed for a couple of hours, but by the time we packed up we were all plenty tired, having each done 2 or 3 climbs on mostly virgin arms.

Here are some pictures to give you a sense of what Cooper's is like:

This is Roger (of Immersion Research fame) on a cool 5.5. This climb is quite vertical with some big moves, so a great challenge for a beginner-oriented climb.











Here's Callie on the same climb doing a "high-step" move. Way to go Callie!














Finally, a shot of Amanda belaying. Just look at the concentration on her face. She's not gonna let that climber fall, no way, no how.

If this is along the lines of something you'd like to try, give Wilderness Voyageurs a call. We run trips for all ability levels on real, actual rock, and offer a great selection of outdoor gear that will get you up the rock safely and comfortably.

See you at the crag.

Can I just give a shout out to my partner in crime...the baby Burn.  This kayak has done me real good over the past few years.  Through the generosity of my closest friends at graduation, she became mine.  Since then we've experienced many soaring boofs on rivers like the Upper Yough, Blackwater and Otter; carved out beautiful surfs on the Loop, Pigeon, Big Sandy; and sailed over huge waves on the Cheat and Gauley. 



The Burn allows me to be more aggressive on rivers where making the move really matters.  I use the planar hull and carving edges to make crisper, cleaner moves through different river features.  Sometimes it seems like she just knows where I want her to be.  I also find that I have a sharper roll, using the edges as leverage, rather than relying so much on my paddle stroke. 


When surfing, these edges aid in carving back and forth, as well as transitioning when spinning.  If I close my eyes, sometimes I feel like I'm ripping through powder on my snowboard, moving smoothly from edge to edge with each turn. 

Even off the rivers, my Baby Burn makes my life easier.  When hiking through the woods to and from the river I never fail to be grateful for the handle in my bow that allows weight to be distributed between my arm, upper back and shoulder rather than solely on my shoulder.  This also lets me carry more easily on my left shoulder, something I would never have thought to be comfortable. 



I have never had so much love for a piece of outdoor gear before now.  I can teach kayak lessons, play on every river and even take it to the next level with my best friend, the Baby Burn.

What an awesome start to the day: a bike ride / commute to work. An early spring morning -  with buds starting to turn, daffodils everywhere, birds chirping and layers needed to take off the chill. My favorite biking weather. I started road biking about 2 years ago and I am hooked, especially since riding in the Laurel Highlands is spectacular! The rides seem endless with the perfect combination of hills to climb and cruiser roads. You have to be a tad careful since "share the lane" isn't all that well know in these parts. On some roads, the shoulder is non-existent and cars tend to speed along the backroads. But at the same time, there isn't a lot of traffic. 
 
A lot of great rides start straight out of Ohiopyle. Get ready though - a good climb will greet you in any direction. Rt 381 is a Scenic Byway running through the Laurel Highlands. If you ride south out of Ohiopyle, you can stay on RT 381 all the way to Wharton Furnace road. Turn right until you come to Fayette Springs Road. Turn right again and you'll ride past Christian Clay Winery. Cross RT 40, hop on the Ohiopyle Chalk Hill Road and enjoy a mostly downhill cruise back to Ohiopyle. It's not a super long route, maybe 30 miles or so, but a nice cruise. That's just one of many options. Stop by Wilderness Voyageurs in Ohiopyle for other ideas. Not just road biking, Mountain Biking, hiking and just general information. It's also a great place to pick up biking gear and general outdoor gear. There is usually a bike mechanic on duty. You can try mapmyride for biking ideas as well.

Rock climbing is one of Wilderness Voyageurs' primary outdoor activities, and several members of our staff are truly devoted to the sport. I was lucky enough to get a week's vacation to Red River Gorge in eastern Kentucky, where the climbing is just fabulous. Dozens of crags dot the landscape, all containing classic routes on mostly overhung, pocketed faces. Here is a picture of me belaying my friend Ned on a 5.10b sport climb. Truth be told, most of us, including Ned, were climbing strong in the super-human 5.12 range. I was able to toprope a 5.12a with a single rest (which surprised the heck out of me!); the rest of the week I stayed in the 5.8 to 5.11 range and had a blast.

Our finest moment of high adventure involved a Tyrolean traverse across a river. Someone had to wade to the other side and fix a rope so the rest of us could zip-line across. Stetson volunteered and immediately started undoing his pants. Some witty fellow remarked, "Hey, Stetson, why do all your plans start by taking your pants off?" Well, the traverse was brilliant fun. Here's a photo for your enjoyment:


Now, don't think you have to go all the way to Kentucky to enjoy excellent rock climbing. There's plenty of it right here in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern PA. Wilderness Voyageurs boasts the best rock climbing instructors in the state; we make a perfect outfitter for Pennsylvania family trips to the crag! Already a climber? The Wilderness Voyageurs outfitter store carries a selection of basic outdoor climbing gear and is currently expanding its offerings in that category.

Bottom line? If you want to climb in a place as awesome as this:Southwestern PA is a great place to start!

Lou

Hey gang,

Nothing snazzes up a blog post like images. Anyone who's posted to any of the blogspot blogs like this one has a passing familiarity with getting images into a post. But this interface is a little different. Since I had a little trouble -- and let's face it, I'm brilliant -- I figured a mini clinic on images couldn't hurt. Let's say I want to post a pic of myself kayaking Drake's Run up in Confluence.

1. Click the button for Insert Image (looks like a painting of a summer's day) to open the image wizard.

2. If your pic is out there on the web, type the link for it. Otherwise, you'll have to upload it. Find it on your computer and click upload.

3. Now size it to fit your post. Don't type the actual dimensions of the image, but rather the dimensions you want to use. My image is 1024x768, but I used 320x240 (notice I kept the same ratio of 4:3 to avoid stretching or scrunching).

4. Now you can play with the other options. At some point you'll probably want to create a link so that clicking on the small image opens the full size one. For that, copy the hyperlink for your image, under "image url," and place it in the link box at the bottom. I like to check Open in New Window, but that's personal preference.


Wow, I don't use any of that gear any more. Okay, this picture is old. Anyway, this is the approach to Ignorant Rapid, one of the coolest rapids in the whole Yough Watershed. First you get to ride some turns like you're in the Kayak Luge, and then there's a huge slide that drops you onto a launch ramp and shoots you into a pool. A thrilling ride everytime.


Well, there you go. Hope that was helpful.

Lou

A lot of people think of Ohiopyle as a summer destination, but there really is a lot to do here in the winter time. Let's check out the list of sweet outdoor activities:

1. Ice climbing. There are pitches scattered all over the Laurel Highlands, and many of them are here in the park. Good ice forms consistently on Meadow Run, Cucumber falls, and in the Lost Quarry up by the Ramcat putin. For the absolute best resource on local climbing, including condition reports and directions, check out Tim Anderson's climbing page. This link is broken sometimes, so contact the store at Wilderness Voyageurs as a backup.

2. Snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Don't let conditions in the tiny town of Ohiopyle fool you. There is usually a lot more snow up on Sugarloaf, and loads of great trails too. This time of year the visitors center is unmanned, so stop into the store, and we'll gladly give you a tour of the state park map.

3. Running and hiking. Even the trails down in and around town are still good for the hardcore trail runner or dayhiker with the right outdoor gear. Best thing about the cold: no crowds and no sweat. The two pictures up top are from my run up Great Gorge Trail this evening with the ever-lovable Sandy Psycho Pants.

4. Winter Boating. Yes, some of us are crazy enough to kayak this time of year. Actually, water levels are consistently excellent through the winter, and as long as it's mid 20s or warmer, there are people on the water. Click here for my favorite gauge to check. Just be mindful of recent weather trends; you don't want to come around that bend and find that your must-make eddy is covered in an inch of ice.

Did I leave anything out? Just click that comments button to tell me what I missed.

Lou