Another Weekend in the Woods

Wonder Falls

The levels were dropping last week from the lack of rain and or snowmelt so Ian, (currently the jobless wanderer) and Brett, (the highschool teacher on spring break) were able to get out of town a few days earlier than Billy or I. They were able to get two beautiful days out on the Lower Big Sandy and a run on the Top Yough before I even got out there.

Tyler and I arrived at the Jenkinsburg bridge takeout around 11pm to a small shanty of vehicles and tarps. I added another vehicle and a tarp or two to the mix and we had a nice shelter from the drizzling rain. Friday night was a fun evening that involved wine, beer, Natural Light, Cuban Cigaritos, beer funnels and 12 frat kids. Thats right we were sharing the woods with 12 frat pledges from WVU who were wielding one of everything from the Wal-Mart camping section including an axe, a 12-gauge, 150 hotdogs, 12 cases of Natty Light, and 2 handles of cheap vodka.

We were slow getting going in the morning which was fine because we were waiting on some of Brett's friends to join us. We ran shuttle in my truck and has 7 boats, people and gear in my poor little rig driving out of the Cheat Canyon, it was great!

Tyler at the Lip

Billy enjoying airtime. Photo: Brett MA

Saturday turned out to be a very nice March day complete with sunshine and laps on Wonder Falls. We took our time and enjoyed the run, some of the folks had never been on the Lower Big Sandy.

Men in Skirts...lots of them Photo Brett MA

Billy scouted Big Splat for about 2.5 to 3 hours, but finally bucked up and ran it in his playboat. Nice work dude!

Waiting and scouting in anticipation

Nice work Billy!

Jeff from Roanoke had an interesting swim at the Big Splat seal launch and his buddy pegged him in the head after he had emerged from the cave and was relatively safe.

Tyler and someone else at First Island

After running shuttle we poured a sip out on the gravel road for our fallen comrade, Johnny Haddock, in hopes that tax season might soon end and he may soon have his life back.

We met Scott at Perkins for some quality eating and then headed to Pine Ridge shelter to camp. Billy got all cynical and Buddhist for a while and Ian added some depressing Avett Brothers tunes to the mix.

Scott, Tyler and I made another fire in the rain, and drank a few brews to wid down the evening.

We awoke Sunday morning to and inch of snow and fridged temperatures. Bouldering was out of the question so Billy, Brett, and Ian headed back to town, while Scott Tyler and I hit the laundromat in Friendsville to dry out some gear. I blew my neck gasket which sucked, but I actually got a loaner drydeck from John Mason of Mountain Surf for the day, which was really killer and a life saver.

Too cold for any pictures on Sunday!

All photos can be seen here:

http://www.theperpetualflow.com/gallery/4530941_wzX9T#P-1-28