Monday, July 14, 2008

West Va/VA Raft and Backpacking Trip

The raft trips are always a blast. We spent two days rafting the Lower New River. The water levels were still fun despite being a little low.



The Brooklyn put in the New River Gorge



Running the Warm Ups


Eating lunch on Whale Rock in the Keeney Creek Rapids


Watching the other rafts surf the hole in Middle Keeney Rapid


Riverside near our camp




Stray kitty keeping cozy by Jaysons feet




Start of our AT hike near Rockfish Gap VA




The Boys taking a little snack break

Mark and Jayson road walking some of the trip



Whats referred as the "Long Green Tunnel"

Tyler mastering the art of kickin' back


Beautiful view from the top of Blackrock Mountain

Jayson proving that "Hiking is Cool!"



Thankful for the fresh water


Markie at Loft Mountain Amphitheatre

Wild blackberries near Loft Mountain Campground


Sunset at Loft Mountain

Lower Falls on the Doyle River Trail

Tyler enjoying the scenery


Jayson enjoying his refreshing shower

SNAKE!!


The kids standing under "the gate"


panoramic shot


another cool panoramic shot at an overlook
Dead tired"??

Dumbfounded by the landscape

Impressed with the view



Crossing Ivy Creek

Admiring yet another fabulous view


Beautiful flora--if I only knew what these were


Pinefield Hut--one of several shelters we stayed at on our hike

Enjoying the upper loft


Bird catching the thermals



WhooHoo!--Cooling off at Blue Hole in Rawley Springs, VA


Why it's called "Blue" Hole



Cori juming off the rock

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Leaving for West By God Virginia!




Thanks everybody for the positive feedback on my blog. I plan to continue the "top ten" trips after I get back from this next one. We will be in West Virginia running the Lower New over the next few days.
Looking upstream at Fayette Station Rapid
My Appalachian Trail section hike begins on Sunday. Will write about that when I return

What the rapids look like from a raft

See ya on the flipside!