Some Gauley Photos from Backender and Canyon Doors

By Stephen Wright

You probably read Nick’s updates about our adventures to WV last
week, but here are some photos for your enjoyment. This trip just served to
reinforce my opinion that the Gauley is one of my top 3 favorite rivers in
the world (Zambezi, and Ottawa are probably the other 2). Clay, Nick, and I
had upper Gauley runs at 10,000, around 5,500, and 3,200 cfs. We were
running from dark on the 10,000 day so I didn’t get any photos, but we shot
at the wave at Backender and at Canyon Doors when we parked and played there
on Sunday. 10,000 on the Upper Gauley is AWESOME: HUGE waves and holes,
very few rocks left, great play, and adrenaline-inducing rapids make this
one of my best paddling days of the year. Pillow Rock is HUGE (but
Volkswagen is bigger!), Iron Ring has 2 massive waves and holes, coming-into
3rd drop Lost Paddle reminds me that I’m a little man, and the meat run at
Sweets Falls is terrifying.

I’m back in Rock Island, and am looking forward to Thanksgiving with the
Jacksons, Nick, and Pikey. BUT I’m already planning to drive back to WV in
the next few days for more Gauley action!

Enjoy the photos, shot by Bryan Kirk and me.
Live from Clay’s house in Rock Island,
Stephen Wright