GAULEY FEST MAIN TRIP !!!!! (beginner camping, intermediate whitewater, intermediate climbing, beginner hang out)

OVERVIEW

Hey goons!

Are any of you interested in water, or camping, or music, or festivals, or being outside!?!?! JK I know some (most? (all??)) of you are interested in at least one of those things. This is going to be a dope and unique weekend trip that is both for beginners (beginners to just being outside even– you don’t have to know anything!!) AND advanced whitewater AND climbing folks.

Here’s the explanation– Mitch, and I wanted to go to Gauley Fest which is a HUGE whitewater festival in Summersville WV. This is gonna be a super fun weekend, with lots of live music, whitewater (and other) vendors, probably some partying, and lots of watching people do dope stuff on whitewater.

I personally will not be rafting, or paddling any craft down the Gauley this weekend as it is Class V whitewater and I am very scared of that. So, I will be taking a group to hike in to Pillow rock all day saturday, where we can chill for the day (consume beverages and green leaves) and watch the crazy paddlers send it and see some good carnage too. If you’re not doing whitewater or climbing for the weekend– you’ll be with me at pillow rock or exploring the festival or the area, it’ll be pretty open ended!

Mitch, on the other hand, is going to lead a raft down the Gauley (ahhhh, wow). If you are advanced in whitewater– have done Class IV or above (rafting trips in which you paddled class IV rapids do count)– and if you are a strong swimmer you can sign up for Mitch’s trip, after you sign up for this one, which will be posted separately. You have to be signed up for this main trip BEFORE you can get off the waitlist to raft!!!

ALSO Eliza is going to be posting a small climbing trip to go along with this trip. If you’re interested in climbing in WV for the weekend, you can sign up for this trip and her trip. You have to be on this trip BEFORE you will get off the waitlist on her trip.

After daily activities we can rally to the festival for live music, food, a rad whitewater marketplace, raffles and a silent auction. Mitch will be fiending there friday for the launch party of a new boat from local indie kayak company Verus Kayaks! (there is probably some sort of fee associated with admission, we are not sure what it isss….). We can also chill at the campsite in the evenings as well!

Everyone, regardless of their daily activity, will be camping for the weekend. We are all going to be camping at Ray’s Campground in Hico, WV. There is a campsite reserved, but you will have to make sure you have your own camping gear AND FOOD, WE WILL NOT PROVIDE FOOD– which we have listed in the what to bring section.

As you can see– this trip is open to ANYONE. You don’t have to have any experience outdoors, all you have to be able to do is be comfortable camping for a weekend– which is super chill to do even if you’ve never done it before. I’m super happy to answer any questions anyone has about this weekend (jma9x@virginia.edu)– whether it be about whitewater or how to stay comfy camping for a weekend. I’ve wanted to go to Gauley Fest for yearsss now so I’m super stoked to get some of yall out there with us and get y’all pumped for whitewater.

This trip is going to be very loose and up to what we want to do for the weekend, if any of it sounds interesting to you, go ahead and sign up!

AW festival page
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/aw:events_gauley

WHAT TO BRING
Sleeping pad
Sleeping bag
Pillow if ya want that
Tent if you want but you could cowboy camp too (no tent, just sleeping bag and sleeping pad)
Headlamp
Food (friday dinner; saturday brekkie, lunch, and dinner; sunday brekkie and lunch; snacks)
–> We may be able to stop for food for some meals, but count on bringing enough to sustain you for the weekend.
–>You are welcome to plan meals with others you know who are coming! Please do!
–>We may make a groupme with others signed up for this
2 water bottles
–>There will be places at campground to fill water
Layers layers layers
–>Its gonna get a little chilly during the night time so just make sure you check the forecast and pack accordingly.
Clothes for the warm weather during the day
Some shoes good for hiking and walking around all day
–>A pair of sneakers/hiking boots AND a pair of sandals/camp shoes
Mayhaps a little journal or book or cards if you’re into that (i am for sure)
Rain jacket
Hat
–>Beanie and sun hat
DO NOT FORGET WARM SOCKS
Drinks or green stuff for the evenings if you’d like
Bowl and utensils
Sunglasses

PSA #1: We will bring cookware (stoves and fuel), but if you have your own please bring it!

PSA #2: Bring money– if we stop for food, if you want to GET INTO THE FESTIVAL (could be up to $60), if you want to buy anything at the festival. BRING MONEY!

PSA#3: Only sign up if you are going to commit your weekend to this. We cannot have last minute back outs!!!

WE NEED DRIVERS (6 cars!)!!!! If you have a car and can drive, you will get priority off the waitlist! Gas is going to be reimbursed up to $150.

If you have specific questions that ARE NOT ANSWERED IN THIS DESCRIPTION:
feel free to email/text me or Mitch at:
Mitch: (804)-955-8990
Jade: (804)-980-5222 ; jma9x@virginia.edu