Patrick & Jim Murtha run Koontz Flume, Lower Gauley River, WV.
Photo by Larry Krall.
Let's Go Again
by Patrick Murtha
Patrick & Jim Murtha run Koontz Flume, Lower Gauley River, WV.
Photo by Larry
Krall.
"Oh boy", I sighed, looking at Koontz's Rock not 50 yards away. "So this is the first rapid on the Gauley," I said. "Uh Huh," Dad replied as I glanced at the seemingly emerald encrusted trees. I then dropped my gaze to the fleet of kayaks to our left and right. I scanned all around me for Eric, our friend, but he was nowhere to be found. "Hey Dad, where's Eric?" I asked. "Over there," he replied pointed to a boat just dropping into the rapid.
"Hang on," Dad yelled just as we fell into the hole. I fell to my knees but I still paddled. All I could see was white as we rose on a wave then dropped into a hole. Then we did it again and again dropping five feet from wave to hole.
Suddenly, we spun off the top of a wave into a sudden lurching halt sending me flying to the other side of the raft! When I finally stumbled into a sitting position, I saw we were in an eddy.
"So how's the first rapids on the Gauley?" Dad asked. In reply I gasped, "Let's go again!"
Patrick Murtha eats lunch at Diagonal Ledges, Gauley River WV.
Photo by Jim Murtha