Adventures on the Russell Fork
Brian October 6th, 2006
For the last few years, something I have really wanted to do is go whitewater rafting on the Russell Fork River.
Each year, rafters from all around converge on Dickenson County to paddle the Russell Fork.
It was one of those experiences I always “wanted” and “hoped” to enjoy, but never really acted on. Then, a few weeks ago, one of my friends from law school came up with the idea for us and some other folks from school to go one weekend in October. That weekend is tomorrow.
The problem which quickly came to light is that I had never been whitewater rafting and the Russell Fork is not exactly the “bunny slope” of rivers.
When I tossed the idea out of making my first rafting trip on the Russell Fork to a local attorney, who is an avid paddler, he said, “well, it will be one hell of a memory if you all survive.” I talked to him again today and he said, “I really thought you were smarter than this.” Hopefully he was giving me the “worse-case scenario” sense of the trip.
American Whitewater has an excellent resource for those seeking adventure on the Russell Fork here. It includes several photos and first-hand accounts. I think I have read every word on there at least three times now and still feel uninformed about what I am getting myself into.
E-Raft describes the river here:
Difficulty: Class IV-V rafting experience required
Whitewater enthusiasts seeking a rare challenge above and beyond the upper Gauley or upper Yough rafting trips should take note of the Russell Fork of the Levisa along the southwest Virginia—eastern Kentucky border. The Russell Fork, considered unrunnable just a decade ago, is rated by knowledgeable whitewater experts as the most technically difficult commercially rafted river in the eastern United States.
. . .
Rafters must immediately begin their final tune-up for the unbelievable whitewater action of Breaks Interstate Park. Within the Park the River drops about 500 feet in just 2.5 miles (4 km). Eight huge rapids consisting of high drops, powerful hydraulics, and chutes (barely wide enough for rafts) require the utmost in raft maneuvering and course execution. Class IV-V rapids—Twist and Shout, Tower Falls, Triple Drop, El Horrendo and S-Turn—will provoke lifetime memories. El Horrendo, more like a waterfall, is the highest commercially run drop in the eastern United States.
. . .
Because of the extreme difficulty and technical nature of the Russell Fork, professional outfitters screen prospective rafters very carefully.
Here is a video someone posted on YouTube.com of a fellow making a run through the “Towers” section. That looks like fun, right?
Now the good news. We did have the good sense to know we could not just go buy a raft and some paddles. We have arranged to shell out the $45.00 per person to have a guide and go with a group. This company appears to be reputable and to have taken other novice rafters down the Russell Fork before.
I bought a disposable, waterproof camera tonight, so hopefully I will have some photos to share tomorrow. This should be one heck of a trip and I am really looking forward to it. If anyone has any last minute advice, feel free to share it.
Good luck on your trip. I hope that you have a wounderful time I’m sure that you will. Best of luck and be careful.
Best advice: Stay in the raft. Unless it’s capsized.
Best of luck, have fun, and be careful.
Be careful…have fun..and hope you can tread water….:)
[…] The rafting trip went great and was no where near as death-defying as I had first expected. The main reason for that is we put in at the Dam and took out at the Garden Hole, just above the really big and bad rapids (commonly known as the “Gorge”). […]
I ran the Russell Fork about 8 years ago (the whole thing). It is NO PLACE FOR BEGINNERS!! Two friends and I went, but we had all run the Gauley several times, including the Marathon (Upper and Lower in one day) and the Upper Yough.
Even with that, we had one guy get washed out of the raft in the middle of Triple Drop. We saw one raft come through a rapid, empty and upside down, followed shortly by the people who had been in it, swimming the rapid (that whole raft was crewed by professional guides).
I have wanted to go back for the last couple of years, but I never seem to have time and money at the same time. Always either one or the other. The other two guys are not interested in running it again.
Also, last year (when I had money and before I ran out of time) I started calling around and there are not many companies that run the whole river. At least one had stopped running it when one of their guides drown. If you can find one, plan on around $200 for this trip.
Run some other big rivers before you consider running the big rapids on the Russell Fork.