The Perpetual Flow: Back to West Virginia

It has been a week or two since the last trip to West Virginia, so I knew we were due another trip with all the rain. None of the Nelson County creeks came up in Virginia, so Brett, Billy, John and I met up at 5:30 Saturday morning and made the game time decision to head up to the Canaan Valley area to get in some paddling. After lots of driving, scouting, and deliberation, we decided to get on the lower Blackwater. The upper was too high and the North Fork was too low.

Douglas Falls, North Fork Blackwater

Kayaking safety, like climbing, is all about risk management. Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut when things get messy. This was the lesson learned on Saturday. Thats all I will say about that. However, the day ended on a high note however with an awesome Hackensaw Boys show at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV. This was followed by the after party at the Mountain State Brewing Company just up the road. We managed to be the odd group of kayakers who knew no one and were not in costume. But we didn't let hat hold us back from having a good time. It was a wet and chilly night but we all huddled in John's 1980s era Eureka tent and made it to the morning.

Sunday was a great day and we got to put on our soaking wet and freezing cold kayaking gear and paddle the Lower Blackwater without incident. On the way home we stopped by Dolly Sods Wilderness area for a quick side trip to Bear Rocks.