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 :)

Have you ever wanted to have a one of a kind experience, while at the same time acquiring a new passion? Are you looking for an adventure that will expose you to a fun and exciting sport? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Wilderness Voyageurs has what you are looking for: Kayaking Instructions! Spend a thrilling day, or two, with our expert staff, learning the ins and outs of this extremely popular, and very addicting, whitewater sport. We also offer an exciting experience for scouts through our whitewater merit badge program ( learn more about this at www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/whitewater_merit_badge.htm ). Our staff works side by side with you, making sure that you learn a great sport in a fun and safe atmosphere!

Among our highly trained and expert staff,  Losh Lawrey is seen here teaching future kayakers about the water. To learn more about him, and our other guides, head on over to this link: www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/staff.htm

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:

High water on the Yough again today brought out many rafters....and snakes!  While taking photos this morning at Cucumber Rapid, I had the pleasure of hanging out with this little cutie :)

On Wednesday night we got a crazy amount of rain, taking the Yough River levels from 1.6 to 10.3 overnight!!  Totally insane for such a short amount of time!  Due to the high water yesterday, the Yough was closed to commercial rafters for safety reasons.  Our Lower Yough trips were relocated to the Casselman River, so that everyone could still have an awesome day rafting. 

There are some days in a river guide's life when hopping in a raft and paddling down a river becomes a bit mundane and redundant. Sometimes, leaping off of a boulder, flying through the air, and landing into thrashing whitewater can be the only thing that satisfies the need to break free of the everyday routine. Check out the height and the middair muscle flexing of this dude!

 

Water levels are still on the high side here at the Yough River. That means more fun and excitement for the rafters and whitewater enthusiasts out there! Now is the time to take the thought of a great whitewater adventure and turn it into a reality.

After many rainy days here in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, the sun made an appearance once again today.  Temperatures in the 80's and high water from all that rain,  made for perfect rafting conditions today on the Yough River.  Below are the lucky ones who got to take part.

The Lower Yough peaked at around 3 feet today, making for some thrilling white water rafting. Though it was not the sunniest of days, the higher water levels made up for it by giving some unexpecting rafters a ride they won't soon forget. Check out some of the action below:

Even with all this rain, the water is starting to clear up.  No more muddy water on the Yough!  Now if it would just warm up.  Although, colder temperatures didn't keep anyone from having fun!

Earlier today, a van pulled out of the Wilderness Voyageurs parking lot carrying eager fly fisherman to the Middle Yough for an exciting and relaxing day of fly fishing. The water was slightly colored this morning, and green drakes and sulphur flies were sighted. The first fly of the day was an olive wooly bugger with a crystal hackle. Check out what flies are hatching at www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/flyfish_hatches.html and also get some information about water conditions and a few tips for fishing on the Yough.

May 29th, 2009   Youghiogheny River, Pennsylvania Fishing report

Water Conditions: The tributaries are running at a good level with a slight bit of color. Water temps are around 62 degress on most mornings. The Yough is also at a good wading level with a bit of color as well. With a dry weekend forecast, fishing conditions should be
excellent.

Tip of the week The green drake hatch is going well. Large numbers of drakes have been sighted each night this week at dark. During the day we are doing well March Browns and Yellow Sallies. Make the switch to drake nymphs and emergers at early evening.
 

Stop in at our new shop in Friendsville (301-746-5335) ; open Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays, or Ohiopyle (1-800-272-4141) which is open daily. Call for up-to-the-minute stream conditions any time that rain is in the forecast.

www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/flyfish_hatches.html

The rain seems to like Ohiopyle, and today was another rainy day on the Yough.  With the river at 4 feet, the river became more adventuresome, and plenty of fun was had by our trips today!  Roeper Middle School traveled all the way from Michigan to go down the Lower Yough, and all this rain made their river experience a HUGE one!  Who says you can't have fun on a rainy day? 

Roeper Middle School Enjoys The Rain

Memorial Day weekend is coming to an end, and many people came here to Pennsylvania for their family trip.  Today, I was lucky enough to take photos of the rafters going down the Middle Yough.  The Middle Yough is perfect for family trips, it's exciting yet relaxing, and the scenery is amazing.  Even the bus ride to Confluence, where the put-in is located, offers breath taking views of farmlands in the Laurel Highlands.  The Middle Yough is 9 miles of class I and II rapids, making a great day of fun for both adults and kids. 


Kids listen to the pre-trip talk up over Memorial Day Weekend

Everyone knows that the temperatures around this time of year tend to rise to the overly unbearably hot range during the hours when the sun is high in the sky. Hmmm, what can I do to beat this sweltering heat, one might ask oneself. Well, one could take the easy way out and retreat into the confines of one's home and sit in the breeze of a household fan. Or, one might consider filling up a tall glass of ice cold water and sitting in the shade of one's awning that hangs above one's porch. However satisfying these options may seem, the best way to beat the heat is, by far,  paddling down the rapids at the Yough River. Cool water splashing all around, wonderful winds blowing down the river, and tons of summertime fun are just a few of the things to look forward to when you take a trip down the Youghigheny. So, if you're sweating up a storm and want to get out of the house, call up Wilderness Voyageurs to have fun/cool off!

Memorial Day in Ohiopyle Pennsylvania and we have got Green Drakes hatching in small clouds!  While fishing during this hatch, your best bet is to fish an emerger,  I know very tempting to use a big chunky dry fly, but you are going to talk to alot more fish if you are patient and stay subsurface.   closely following the end of The Green Drakes will be the Slate Drake, those  will continue to be a fishable pattern until September.  Come on out to the best Big Water Trout fishing in Western pennsylvania
Rob Walters guide extraordanaire

www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/flyfish.htm

Hello, everyone! Well, I had another perfect day taking pictures of Wilderness Voyageurs rafters on the Lower Yough in Ohiopyle. I was able to witness some smoooothe runs through Cucumber Rapid, as well as some great carnage! I even saw a raft guide from another company step on a snake--and luckily--he didn't get bitten. It seemed as if it was all in slow motion. Very cool. I hope to see you on the river, again, soon! Take care and happy trails!

Gabby

Now is the perfect time of year to visit Ohiopyle and enjoy the many activities that the trail has to offer.  The leaves are out, the flowers are blooming, and the big crowds have not yet arrived...all which makes for a nice relaxing day or a high adventure day, whatever floats your boat.  Here at Wilderness Voyageurs, we offer shuttle services, bike rentals, instructional bike trips, and a wide variety of biking gear at our Outfitter Store.  Click on the pic below to connect to our Bike Tour and info page, and we'll see you on the trail!

When I found out that I could be involved with White Water Rafting while completing my Internship my heart dropped to the floor.  Being able to be outdoors everyday and greet the public in the Laurel Highlands gives me the ability to see the Recreating Public in and around the Ohiopyle Region.  I started White Water Guide Training with Wilderness Voyageurs in mid April and so far its been a great adventure.  This season of East Coast Rafting/Kayaking has just begun and I cannot wait to see the rest of White Watering Sport World.  

Good Times With Great People 

Intern Zane  

This weekend the Freshman class of Delaware County Christian School made their way to the lovely Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania for 2 days of outdoor fun, yesterday they had a high water rafting trip on the Lower Youghiogheny,  Today was  fly fishing instruction on the Yough.  The guides, Bill, Dave and Robert, started the class off with a casting session up on the hill.  Then everyone made their way down to the river to try things out for real.  Below, the class is learning how to cast. 


                                                                                                    


now it is time to head for the water