Upper Youghiogheny

Last week a surplus of water above the Yough resulted in a mid-week release. The common stretch runs into Pennsylvania, but the technical Upper is located in the panhandle of Maryland. A chance shuttle on the Gauley left us in contact with Don and Audrey, a local couple with a lot of river experience. I was fortunate enough to run the Yough for the first time with both of them. My first trip could have been full of swims and pins on a river that I think would be compareable to the Cache La Poudre only twice as steep and with 40% more boulders. In addition to showing me lines Don and Audrey invited the Montana crew back to their house for a hot meal and beds to sleep in. The chance shuttle we ran a week earlier rolled over into an all expenses paid vacation in PA. Thanks Picture of Alec running National Falls

Gauley-land

I haven't been able to write very much due to a combination of distractions. But, we made it and I have been guiding on the Gauley River in West Virginia. Because of mergers the companies have become massive entities, ours (me and Austin's) employs nearly 200 guides and I've never had to move so many rafts in my life. People from all over work the river here, including guides from California, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio?, Pennsylvania, and Montana. The scene is wild, but still hard for a newcomer to break into.