NRGE Rafting Lower New

OVERVIEW

Let’s White Water Raft the Lower New, I don’t smoke but I wanna get high on hydraulics.
*This trip is part of NRGE, by signing up for this trip you are committing to the whole weekend.
I’ll talk river safety and show the boats. Yall paddle and I’ll steer the darn thing while we rip some Class IV Rapids. The Lower New is a mighty force to be reckoned with and never to be treated lightly, but it is a spectacular river to try rafting for the first time. It is seven miles from Cunard to Fayette Station. Check out the rapids here: https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2418/main

TO PARTICIPATE
Attendees should be able to follow instructions, paddle, and swim a strong 50m.

PLAN
There will be two rafts, I will guide one and a buddy of mine will guide the other. Mellis will also smellus. Once you are off the waitlist I will add you to a group chat, and I will set an exact timeline once the driver situation is locked in. Saturday morning we depart camp around 9am and return to camp around 3pm (subject to change). In the unlikely event of flooding, we may go to the Upper New instead.

WHAT WE BRING:
-splash tops (if necessary)
-PFDs & helmets
-dry box (for keys and essential meds)
-paddles, rafts, pumps, rigging, throw bag

WHAT YOU BRING
-any of your own gear listed above if you have it
-swim wear (Do not wear cotton clothes, they will make you cold)
-sealed water bottle
-sunscreen
-towel/change of clothes for take out
-proper footwear: something with decent grip for wet rocks that cannot be easily pulled off (not flip flops, crocs)

FOOD
Feel free to bring a sealed snack for when we reach our take out.

River Conditions (USGS @ Thurmond)
Average Water Temperature for Sept 26: 68°F
Average CFS for Sept 26: 3600 cfs

DRIVERS
Drivers are needed! We may need to have at least two cars from adventurers to make shuttle work well. The shuttle roads down the gorge to the take-out/put-in are steep and windy but paved and very doable. Cars should ideally carry at least 5 people including driver and not mind having wet river gear in the trunk/bed during some sections of shuttle. If this sounds like you and your vehicle, you get priority off the waitlist and your gas reimbursed with a tip of up to $20.

Notice – This is not a guiding service, participants assume their own risk. Whitewater sports are inherently dangerous. We lead trips at a level where we feel confident about our ability to keep people on our trip safe. Your safety depends on you and your honest communication of your abilities and state of being, as well as respect towards any safety advice. Pay attention to the trip talk and be ready to self-rescue. I’ve seen everything from broken paddles, oars, rafts, hearts, egos, teeth, and worse on the river. If that is too much risk and rafting isn’t for you that is OK, but this is the most exciting trip the club has to offer and less risk than driving a car.

-Michael Farace