1998 White Water Rafting Trip
 This Page Last Revised  6/24/99
  On  June 20, 1998  three members of the Athens Bible Church  and  three  members of  our
sister Church in  Salem Ohio ,  went on a  white water rafting  trip  in  southern West Virginia.
  The company providing the equipment  is  called  Alpine Adventures  and is affiliated with
the Appalachian Bible College.   They are located south of  Charleston , north of Beckley W.Va.
The trip was on the 'New River' ,  which has a strange name considering it is actually an older river.
Also the New River  is one of the few in the USA  that  flow  Northward.                                 .
.
  Alpine Adventures  offers two  types of  trips down the New River.  A basic trip on class 1 - 3
rapids and a longer trip on class 1 - 5  rapids.  We took the longer trip.  The cost is $51  per
person.  Alpine Adventures  provides the  lunch , rafts , helmets & life vests , and a guide on
each raft.  Alpine's  phone number is  1-800-806-2180 .  They have strict  policies  and would
like to have reservations made a  month or more , in advance.                                            .
.
  Below  are a three photos  that their photographer took of  our raft.  They also shot a video of
our trip.  Besides  their photos  I took along a cheap disposable waterproof  camera and have
put some of  these photos on the  Web.  If my photos look like the water was too calm , it's
because when the water wasn't that calm I was too busy to take pictures!    Due to allot of
rain, the river was 5 - 8' deeper than normal which made for some wild rides through rapids.
.
Click on these small images to see a bigger photo
 
Left to Right are guide Dave C. , Nathan DeMar , Josh Brunk ,
Dave Dupler , 'Chub' Davis , Steven DeMar , Nathan Roe
 
 
  
In  the  Rapids
 
 
Early morning arrival at the College's Lodge
 
About a 20 minute bus ride to the River
 
The trip begins as our raft waits for others in our group to pass by.
We were the "Sweep Raft"  to  retrieved the "carnage" that fell out of other rafts.
 
 
Chub Davis from Athens Bible Church
 
Our Guide for the day was  Dave C.
Yes , that is Chub swimming behind the raft.  See what happens when
you tell  'West Virginian Jokes'  to a West Virginian native ! ( just kidding)
 
Nathan Roe of the Salem Bible Church
 
Lunch was cold-cut sandwiches , beans , macaroni salad , cookies & etc.
 
Steven DeMar of   S.B.C.  and   Josh Brunk  of   A.B.C.
 
a  raft  behind  us seen after  passing through some rapids
 
another raft seen  with "carnage"  floating  nearby
 
 
Josh & Steven swim along side the raft during calmer waters
 
Our raft's  photo taken from another raft
 
Myself  with the famous bridge in the background.
The trip ends just beyond this bridge.
 
  You need to have a fair amount of stamina for this trip.  The rules for rafting on this part of the river
require a person to be at least 14 years old.   Also bring a  tube of  sunblocker.