Nov 14, 2008
Water conditions: Recent rains have raised water levels on the Yough tributaries. The delay harvest stretches of these streams are holding fish. The Yough continues to fish well from Confluence to Ohiopyle.
Call the shop for up-to-the-minute river levels and info 800-272-4141.

Hatches
Baetis size 16-22
Brown Caddis size 14-16
Midges size 22-26

Also try these:
Slate Drake Nymph size 10-12
Wet Ants 16-18
Stonefly nymphs 8-10
BH Soft Tackly Pheasant tail 12-26
Copper John 12-16
Caddis Larvae 14-16
BH Prince Nymph 14-16

No, it's not one of those uber-closeups where you guess what you're looking at (liver cells, circuits, bubbles, etc.) These are t-grips from the ends of our whitewater rafting paddles -- our very own version of fall colors.

Because we're STILL RUNNING TRIPS. It's true. But even if you don't want to raft the yough, there's still plenty of traditional fall colors to come check out here in the Laurel Highlands. Rent a bike, go for a hike, or just drive around. Whatever you choose, the staff at Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitters (by the train tracks on the north edge of Ohiopyle) will get you going in the right direction.

Our family enjoyed the Lower Yough this past August.  It was a great trip and wonderful eperience.  We also stayed at the Trillium Lodge for a night and I would highly recommended it to any one.

Enjoy this picture of our family and fun.

You had a great trip down the river, in fact it was one of the funnest and action-packed days of the whole year.  Don't let that memory fade away as the leaves begin to fall and the blustery weather rolls into town.  Just think of how your co-workers will be so envious of you when they see your wallpaper computer screen with a shot of the massive splashes and big smiles of you in your raft during your day on the water with Wilderness Voyageurs on the Youghiogheny River.

Pictures can be viewed using our Shutteryfly account.  Click here for the link to our website and simply scroll down to find the link, separated by month, at the bottom of the main page. 






Order multiple sized prints, t-shirts, mugs, postcards, and so much more.  Makes a great gift.  There is nothing better to remind you of next season's adventure possibilities for some of the best east coast rafting and high adventure trips, all closer to home than you think!

We had an awesome trip on the Lower Yough. Here are my pictures. The water level was almost 4'. So it was one fast wild trip.


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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

 Hi there and thanks for checking out our blog! This page is hosted by Wilderness Voyageurs, the oldest whitewater rafting outfitter east of the Mississippi and an outdoor fixture since 1964.

Our home page (see link above) has tons of information about the various activities we offer, while this blog is an organized "compended" list of articles written by our staff and customers. Feel free to browse the various categories, post comments, or even write your own blog entry.

What's that you ask? How do I write my own blog entry? Well, that's really rather simple. First, click here (opens new window). Type in...
Username: raft
password: paddle
Go ahead and compose your blog entry. When you're done, click submit. Once an administrator approves your post, it will be up on the blog!

To get the most out of your blogging experience, try incorporating one or more of the following keywords/phrases: East Coast White Water Rafting, West Virginia Adventures, Kayak Lessons, Laurel Highlands,Outdoor Activities, Fishing, Mountain Biking, Yough River

Thanks for reading and especially for blogging. Have fun!
Lou

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

Yough River Rafting - is there a better way to build camaraderie in within a company? After this weekend of East Coast Rafting, I don't think so.

And this past weekend the Compendium Blogware team gave the Lower Youghiogheny a try. The team building began on the 6 1/2 hour ride from Indianapolis to Ohiopyle; we traveled in-style aboard a 40 ft Entertaining RV. Saturday morning Wilderness Voyageurs set up a breakfast buffet and then we embarked on a day of high adventure. Team work on the river is a must - too many chiefs and no Indians will always fail - but without any trouble, we divided up into teams and successfully navigated through the rapids. Beyond just rafting - we stopped at dimple rock rapid to watch the excitement of rafts maneuvering through the rocks, swam through Swimmers Rapid and jumped off of Jump Rock. Although all but two people fell out and a raft completely flipped over in Double Hydraulics - EVERYONE had a great time.
After the trip we reminisced about the day over a great meal catered by The Firefly Grill and a few beers. Finally,  we made our way to the Falls City Pub to listen to the musical delights of Wizdom, a reggae band from Pittsburgh.

Needless-to-say, our team is buzzing today with excitement of the weekend - telling and retelling stories of their experiences. You can feel a rejuvenated vibe in our office and a real sense of team. Everyone is already planning the next company outting - maybe we can include some kayak instruction next time?       
                                 

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

k    There is almost no reason for anyone to be scared on one of our white water rafting trips on the Youghiogheny river.  With one of the best guide training programs in the area and a large senior guide staff, our river guides are trained and well-practiced to keep you safe and having fun on the water. 

    For example, Amanda Love has been a guide with Wilderness Voyageurs for the past 6 years and continues to provide smooth and safe river trips for all her guests.  While only an official river guide since 2002, Amanda has grown up on the water and brings many more years of experience to the table.  She is well-known for her superior sweep rafting skills and is often providing support and guidance to new staff who wish to one day be as good as Amanda. 

    Just look at her rescue that swimmer!  She'll do whatever it takes to get you back in that raft!
   
    Stop on by Wilderness Voyageurs to meet Amanda and the rest of our excellent guide staff!

    So maybe you've tried white water rafting, maybe you've even done it here in Ohiopyle on the Lower Youghiogheny, however, you haven't fully experienced the river until you've tried a ducky or a shredder.  These whitewater crafts are designed to give you a different and incredibly exciting experience on the water. 

    A shredder is a type of inflatable raft that is designed to be more maneuverable in the white water.  This means sharper turns, bigger hits and one wild ride.  You'll find this boat to be much more responsive to few paddle strokes, allowing you to move it where you want it so you can hit all those waves and avoid all those rocks.  These boats have exploded in popularity since local Ohiopylian Tom Love, the creator, made the first one back in the late 80's.  Now you can spot thse crafts on some of the toughest whitewater rivers all across the states and even abroad. 


   
    If the shredder doesn't do it for you, there is always the ducky!  This inflatable kayak is meant for one or two people (double duck) and puts you even closer to the action.  Using a double bladed paddle you are faced with maneuvering the rapids all on your own.  This experience is often more intense (which really means more exciting) than being in a raft with 5 other people.  And if it tips over...no big deal!  You can just crawl right back on top, even in the middle of a rapid. 





    So remember there is always a new adventure for you here at Wilderness Voyageurs.  Just when you think you've done it all, we've got plenty more action-packed high adventure trips for you and the family! 

    Wilderness Voyageur's Beer and Gear Fest gets better every year.  This summer's gathering included the first annual 5K Vasque Trail Run to kick off the festivities.  About 20 runners came out for the event, all excited to see the course and get over the finish line.  After receiving race numbers the group headed over to the Ferncliff Peninsula, an area of land surrounded by the Loop section of the Lower Youghiogheny and well known for being an ecological hotspot of the area.  The course included two laps on Ferncliff and Oakwoods trail with several tight turns, large mud pits, gradual inclines and lots of roots, stumps, rocks and dirt! 

    Racers included local Ohiopylians, visiting kayakers, gear reps and running fanatics.  Everyone finished and recieved a pair of Darn Tough socks for entering.  The winners received a free pair of Vasque Trail Running shoes...over $100 value!!!  Everyone had a great time, especially knowing that the physical exertion was over and the beer drinking just beginning! 









Come out next year where we hope to have more participants which means more prizes from our awesome reps! 

So I finally had the chance to paddle the Fuse from Wavesport. I am 5'11" and weigh around 160, so I set out in the Fuse 56 (on the Loop section of the Lower Yough).



Now, I paddle an EZG 50 for my playboat. It's a slicy boat so I am able to do all the slicy boat tricks: stern squirts, cartwheels, wave wheels, and so forth. These tricks were still, by and large, possible in the Fuse, albeit a bit harder. But when I buried the bow in a hole, the pop back up out of the water was huge. A skilled boater could throw some serious loops and other aerial maneuvres in this machine.

Since I've been paddling the Loop regularly for several years now, I've developed a sequence of funky lines that I like to run. I found that the Fuse held a line and made all my usual funky downriver moves with grace and ease. So I think it would make a great boat for beginner entry-level kayakers as well.

Wilderness Voyageurs has a full selection of Fuses for demo (sizes 35, 48, 56 or 64). Surf over to the Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitters store page for more info.

See you on the river,
Lou

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

While many people are drawn to Ohiopyle State Park for the awesome adventure sports -- Whitewater rafting, mountain biking, kayaking, and so forth -- there is much to see and do here that doesn't involve a near-death experience or attaining your maximum heart rate.

One such attraction: the numerous overlooks and vistas speckled throughout the park. Notice the photo icons on this downloadable map of the park. The key thing to remember here is that when Ohiopyle State Park puts a photo icon on the map, they are not messing around. Much of the park is quite beautiful, but the indicated vistas are supremely magestic. Let's run down my top 4:

1. Laurel Highlands trail. Approximately 2.5 miles from the end of Garrett St on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is a rocky outcropping that offers a magnificent view of the Great Bend in the Middle Yough. Hike in your camera for this one - you will see miles of trees and river valley, with the river itself flowing far below you.

2. Kentuck. Two benches sit atop a hill, facing a gap in the opposing hillside through which you can see the ridge system in the distance. The kind of spot that makes you feel like you just might be the first one to see this sight.

3. Tharp Knob. Easily my current favorite. You can drive to the softball field area and walk around the Kentuck Trail loop, or you can really earn this view and go up Great Gorge trail, turn left on Kentuck -- passing the Kentuck overlook -- and reach Tharp Knob that way. From this spot you can see the entire town of Ohiopyle (what there is of it) and much of the Middle Yough. Wilderness Voyageurs is just visible to the left of the railway tracks in the picture below:

Beware: this image is zoomed in. For the full view, you will have to go there yourself.

4. Sugarloaf Road. Driving on Sugarloaf road from Ohiopyle to Confluence, you will see an overlook sign on your left. Park in the pulloff and walk up to the rocky outcropping. This is another spectacular view of the Middle Yough.

Do you have any other favorite vistas in Ohiopyle (there's one just outside the park on 381 N just past Scarlett Knob campground, for instance)? Leave a comment and let us know.

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!