NRGE Whitewater Rafting

OVERVIEW

It’s rafting time!

For this NRG rafting trip we will be paddling 14 miles from Thurmond to Fayette Station (twice the length of the normal NRG raft trip due to a closed put in!!) The lower section will consist of class III-IV whitewater and a pretty incredible gorge. Check out the rapids here:
https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2418/main

TO PARTICIPATE:
We will have two boats, one will be taking the driest lines and trying to keep you in the boat, and the other will be going for the biggest hits on the river…
You can let us know which boat you would like to be in but everyone should be prepared to swim a strong 50m.
While prior rafting experience is a plus, experience swimming in moving water and the ability to participate in your own rescue is all that is required to attend.

ITINERARY
Things will be a bit up in the air but the rough timeline is below. We will be out there all day. You’ll be put into a groupme/gc if you’re off the waitlist where we’ll update on specifics.
– Friday night: maybe meet and discuss some of the driving/logistics. You’ll know when to wake up, could also just do this over the groupchat.
– Saturday morning: meet and be ready to leave by 8am on the dot so we won’t have to run rapids in the dark.
– Rigging boats and getting on the water!
– Stop for a food break at some point.
– Takeout at Fayette Station by 6:30pm, reset shuttle, head back to camp

GEAR
– We bring:
wet suit/dry top/dry suit/booties if we think necessary (we will work out specifics) to keep you warm on the river
PFD and helmet
Raft paddles
Dry bag(s) for lunch
rafts + pumps + rigging + throw bags
– You bring:
any of your own gear listed above if you have it
warm clothes to wear on the river. DO NOT WEAR COTTON! Especially cotton underwear. Bring a polyester/wool fleece, neoprene layers, a synthetic warm swim/athletic shirt if you have it. (again, we’ll work out specifics)
water shoes (no flip flops or crocs)
food for lunch/snack that is dry bag friendly, no refrigeration needed
a water bottle
sunscreen
towel and change of clothes for take-out

FOOD
Bring something for lunch/snack on the river! I will provide a dry bag to keep it all dry. Bring a water bottle!

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. They will get back to camp the latest of the group. 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 – 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.

This is a trip for NRGE so please sign up for the main carpool and pay the trip fee after you have been let onto this trip!
Let us know if you have any questions!
We hope to see you on the river!

John and Will