Scariest Vacation with the Girls!

by Gail
(Virginia Beach, VA)

Several years ago, my girlfriends and I decided to go whitewater rafting on the Upper Gauley, in West Virginia.

I had been rafting a half dozen times previously, but always out West, while on vacation. The rapids were generally Class 3s and very fun and exciting!

For years I had heard about the Class 5 rapids on the Upper Gauley and all the rafting guides I encountered in Wyoming or New Mexico or wherever I went, talked about coming East to run this river.

Another girlfriend had also wanted to try this so she got a bunch of us to finally go. It was all that I imagined it would be and so much more!

It was early fall and the day was cold. Most of the day was just perfect! We had a raft just for our group and a great guide. We did everything he told us to do and made it through one rapid after another.

Just when we were feeling smug that all the other rafts around us were not doing as well, we attempted the last Class 5 rapid and the whole raft flipped! People actually die on this river, so going into the water up against the rocks was very frightening! Fortunately, we were all eventually rescued, but none of us have gotten up the nerve to go back yet! Those Class 3s are looking mighty good to me now...