Cheat Fest 2016

OVERVIEW

Friends and fellow adventures,

It’s that time of year again. CHEAT FEST 2016!
Well, actually, this is a bit early to announce this trip compared to past years, but this is because Cheat Fest is preselling their tickets, and may sell out: http://cheatfest.org/tickets/ ($15, which I listed as part of the cost of the trip)
What is Cheat Fest? “The annual Cheat River Festival is a celebration of new life, that which comes each Spring and the new life that can be found in the Cheat River watershed.” Basically, a collection of UVA kayakers, canoers, and rafters will head up to WV for the weekend to hang out with a random collection of fellow boaters and West Virginia locals while listening to some live bluegrass in the festival grounds.

This trip is primarily intended for more advanced kayakers, as some of the rivers we may be paddling include but are not limited to the Cheat Canyon, Lower Big Sandy, and the Upper Yough (really depends on rain.) There are some more intermediate options, and we can put together more friendly day trips depending on interest.
I’d like to have at least one club raft come out too. No paddling experience required, as long as you are okay with getting thrown out of you raft into cold water at your guide’s whim. I’ll be asking those advanced boaters when signing up if they’d be willing to help guide a raft one day.
If you are a novice kayaker and just want to come to experience the festivities (with possibilities of hiking/biking/etc, nearby) you may still sign up for this trip! If enough of you sign up I might ask another leader to try to coordinate a corollary trip.

River Sections:
Cheat Canyon: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/2347/
Cheat Narrows: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/2346
Lower Big Sandy: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/2331
Upper Yough: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/753
Lower Yough: http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1687

The Cheat River Massacre-ence Downriver Race is also on that Friday, May 6th on the Cheat Canyon. Tickets can be bought here: http://cheatfest.org/activities-2/down-river-race/
These include access to the festival, t-shirt, and maybe some ~*free beverages*~. It’s a really fun race – I did it two years ago and will likely go up early for it again this year! (for advanced boaters only – see description of the Cheat Canyon)

So here’s how this will work: Sign up if you are interested, and answer all indicated questions regarding your plans for this weekend. If you are an advanced boater and ready to commit, go ahead and purchase your tickets. I will then add you officially from the waitlist. If you are an intermediate kayaker, a rafter, or really aren’t sure, then wait until I contact you personally afterwards as things shape up before buying your ticket.

Rest of the deets:
CAMPING: We’ll most likely be staying at Teter’s Campground if we can secure a spot before it fills up, adjacent to the festival grounds and at the put-in. The campground includes hot showers and flush toilets! The cost will be $10 a night; lodging is not reimbursed by the club in the summer months. Bring this in cash!!

TIMES: We’ll likely have a crew going up for the race mid-morning Friday the 1st, but a more general carpool will be Friday night or Saturday morning. Expect to return late Sunday. If you have a schedule conflict or preference, please indicate when signing up so we can coordinate drivers with similar plans!

FOOD: There is food at the festival grounds, the campsite, and a nearby gas station. Plan to pack some stuff in a shared cooler (or we could stop at a grocery store along the way, if needed)

YOU PROVIDE:
Boat and gear, snacks/any food you want to pack for lunches or other meals, camping gear. I’m putting the cost at $35 for the $15 ticket plus $10 a night for camping, but this amount won’t actually get paid to me.

CLUB PROVIDES:
Any kayaking gear needed, including boats, let me know if you need anything when signing up. Camping gear as well. Gas $ for drivers up to $100 per vehicle.

DISCLAIMER/LEGAL:
I am NOT “leading” any river trips, I am only coordinating some transportation and logistics. YOU are responsible for your own safety and the activities you choose to participate in while on this trip. Additionally, all participants must have read and must agree to abide by the American Whitewater Safety Code http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:start? for the duration of the trip.
All who participate on this trip agree to participate as “Common Adventurers”.