After a few weeks of epic water I left West Virginia to return to Canada in preparation for Canadian Team Trials. I’ve spent the majority of the last six months living in Fayetteville discovering what an amazing place it is for paddling.

Mill Creek Falls (Photo Stephen Wright)

I first paddled in West Virginia in the fall of 2005 on my way to Mexico. I managed to catch the last weekend of Gauley season and got a few low water runs on the New. Everyone in the area talked about how it was a world class area for boating and had some of the best play in the world. After coming straight from the Ottawa at prime levels I thought everyone was crazy for saying that, don’t get me wrong it was a great time but not what I considered world class. When I came back to Fayetteville over a year later I quickly saw the light. Following true locals like Bryan Kirk and Brian Jennings down the Gauley and playing at all the spots I didn’t even realize were there left me grinning ear to ear. That combined with the New at high water completely altered my view on the area, there really is world class play, these guys aren’t on crack…well most of them anyway! Then there was the creeking, so much so close.

Some Panamage on Suprise Wave (Photo Bryan Kirk)

Suprise double dose (Photo Bryan Kirk)

My first experience was Mill creek, still one of my favourites and only 15mins from the front door. I think I ran the falls eight times that day…it’s pretty hard not to! One that I’d wanted to do for a long time but never got to until recently is Manns Creek, the WV classic. I got on Manns for the first time at 6”, a medium level, and was fired up! It always seems to be cold at the put-in and this day was no exception. After the first mile I found myself absorbed in the beauty of the river. The leaves had just changed colors and tree branches formed a canopy over the river’s cold, brown water. I was warm even though it was quite cold outside and the snow that squeezed it’s way through the leaves made for one of the most beautiful days I’ve ever had on the river. I don’t remember it being particularly attractive on my next run down Manns, I actually think it was kind of bleak but that day was amazing.

Chartwheeling above Iron Ring on the Gauley (Photo Bryan Kirk)

I could go on forever about my positive experiences in WV but then you’d get bored, if you aren’t already! If you haven’t been go sometime when you can spend a few weeks and really enjoy yourself.

Kelsey Thompson