Passages To Adventure Celebrating 38 Years of Making Memories... 1 800 634-3785 • www.passagestoadventure.com
Photo by Gary Hartley
West Virginia Bucket List
“Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.” Photo by Gary Hartley
Welcome to Our Playground of Rocks and Rivers… Since 1974 we have shared our love, respect, and passion for the outdoors with you. Through the years we have become known for a legacy of excellence in providing adventure memories. Safety and participant satisfaction have been foremost in our approach to providing adventure. Our guests have become our friends. Many of you have returned time and time again. Just this year, we had a group return for its twenty-sixth year. We thank you for visiting Our state. It is because of you and your interest in our activities that we get to work at a job we truly enjoy in a special place that we care about. Please come and share an adventure with us. Whether it’s a week, a weekend, or just a day, we will find the adventure for you. We will find plenty to keep you busy, regardless of your tastes. Come with your expectations set high and prepare to leave with a great memory. You are always welcome to come to West Virginia and play with us!
“I really cannot thank you enough. The experience you and your staff give our kids (and us!) is unreal. You know how important it is for our kids to get these experiences, and you support them and guide them through those risks and challenges. Imagine what they’ll be inspired to do in the future! Best, and THANKS AGAIN! Mary” “…from my observation, everything that you do is done with attention to detail so that nothing is left out and you are prepared for any eventuality.” New River Gorge NPS Superintendent Pete Hart “I wanted to just take a minute of your time and thank you for your assistance with our leadership class last week. I never thought I could do the zip line but it was a challenging and excellent experience! Please keep doing what you are doing as WV needs you! I wish I was up there now. Thanks. Andrew.” “…None of us were expecting the New River to be so lovely – the beautiful green mountains, the roaring rapids, along with the deserted mining towns contributed to the beauty and mystery of the New River Gorge. One of the major factors that added to the enjoyment of our trip was our outgoing, informative, and adventurous guide, John. He added spark when the river was flat, leadership when the river got tricky, history when the environment allowed it, and humor throughout the weekend. The entire crew at “Passages” went out of their way to see that we were well taken care of. From the first calls to our final goodbyes, the fantastic attitudes of all added to the success of our weekend adventure.” Barbara Monahan “…Thank you so much for giving my daughter the opportunity to experience the “zip line.” We all appreciate the time (that most people don’t give) to work with our daughter to allow her to experience what we believe will be a wonderful memory.” Karen Burde
“20 years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.” Mark Twain
New River
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The New River is an 8 month season; high water in the spring; wonderful lay, hazy days in the summer; and fall’s gorgeous multicolored scenery. The Upper and Middle New is an ideal whitewater adventure for children, families, and senior citizens. The mode of travel is... Paddle rafts with everyone paddling... Oar frames for those who prefer to sit back and relax... Duckies that make all rapids exhilarating. The Lower New River is characterized by huge, rolling waves, fascinating history, beautiful scenery, and challenging whitewater. The New River Gorge offers a variety of adventure activities. The walls of the New River are one of the best climbing spots in the East. The historic Mary Ingles Trail offers backpacking and day hikes providing scenic vistas of the area’s old abandoned coal mining towns. The New River Gorge has become a popular destination for mountain biking. Small mouth bass, muskellunge, walleye, catfish offer great fishing. There is guided horseback riding.
Gauley River
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Mile for mile, the Gauley River offers more captivating whitewater than any other commercial river in the world. The Gauley is world class whitewater; #8 in the world. The Upper Gauley is simply “THE BEST!” This is an intense mind-altering escapade with continuous whitewater that requires constant maneuvering. The Big Class V rapids include insignificant, Pillow Rock, Lost Paddle, Iron Ring, and Sweet Falls. Previous paddling experience is recommended. The Lower Gauley is nature’s whitewater roller coaster with one HUGE rolling wave after another. Numerous rapids like Mash, Canyon Doors, Koontz Flume, Heaven Help Us, and Pure Screaming Hell will give the first time paddler plenty of whitewater exhilaration. The Gauley Marathon is both the Upper and Lower in one day; 26 miles and 103 rapids. The Gauley Reverse is ideal for beginners. Raft the Lower Gauley on the first day; the Upper Gauley on the second day.
Climbing & Rappelling
Rock climbing and rappelling are the most exhilarating, challenging, and satisfying adventures that we offer. Combining balance, flexibility, grace, and strength, our rock climbing and rappelling adventures are both challenging and fun for both children and adults. Our climbing activities are tailored to the individual with each participant allowed to progress at his or her own rate. The minimum age is 10 years old. Safety and self rescue are continually emphasized.
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We offer adventure activities to enhance problem-solving methods, to improve communication skills, to strengthen the team concept, and to have fun! For a more productive, creative, and cohesive team, spend 1-3 days ‘playing’ with us. “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” Plato
Team Building
Some of our most important lessons are not always learned in the classroom. Getting everyone over a 14’ wall, crossing a swinging bridge, dropping 140’ down the side of a mountain, and rafting class V rapids are not unlike working through personal and worldly crisis; less difficult and complex but still requiring your same skills and resources. At Passages, the outdoors and our adventure activities are your classrooms. Our team building courses are well known for taking a diverse group of individuals and helping them to learn how to function more effectively as a team.
Bridge Day
®
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On the third Saturday in October, the Fayette County Plateau Chamber of Commerce hosts Bridge Day® to commemorate the October, 1977 completion of the New River Gorge Bridge. The New River Gorge Bridge is the world’s second longest steel arch bridge with a main span of 1,700 feet. At 876 feet above the New River, the New River Gorge Bridge is the second highest bridge in the United States. Bridge Day® is unique in that it is the only day visitors may walk across the Bridge. BASE jumpers are permitted to parachute off the bridge. Rappellers are allowed to descend and ascend fixed ropes. There is a 600’ high line. Vendors line both ends of the Bridge. Bridge Day® is West Virginia’s largest one-day festival and is rated one of the top 100 festivals in North America. The first official Bridge Day® was celebrated in 1980.
Bridge Walk
Experience the breathtaking views of the New River Gorge from a new perspective-beneath the Bridge, 876 feet above the river! Join us for the walk of your life during the Grand Opening in Spring 2010.
Bridge Walk Opening Spring 2010
www.bridgewalk.com
The New River Gorge, with its natural splendor, historic past, unique ecology, and diverse adventure offerings, are within an easy day’s drive of 60% of the United States population and 33% of the Canadian population.
Our Partners
Your photos are avilable at:
www.passagesphoto.com
Remember your adventure and the date. Jasen Melton Potography 304 237-7682
Almost Heaven on Horseback! Daily and Overnight Guided Horseback trips in the New River Gorge National River.
New River Trail Rides
1•888•743•3982
www.ridewva.com •
[email protected]
Choose the whitewater adventure best for you! Rating Number Days Difficulty Rapids Gradient Feet/Mile Drop Miles
Upper New Easy
Middle New Easy
Lower New Exciting
Upper Gauley Extreme
Lower Gauley Exciting
1-3
½
1-2
1
1
Class I-II 12 135’
Class I-IV 10 100’
Class I-V 12 146’
Class I-V 65 394’
Class I-V 43 239’
18’
38’
12
6
8
13
13
Put-In
McCreary
Stone Cliff
Cunard
Summersville Dam
Woods Ferry
Take-Out
Stone Cliff
Cunard
Woods Ferry
Swiss
MarchOctober
MarchOctober
Fayette Station MarchOctober
SeptemberOctober
SeptemberOctober
6
6
12
16
12
No No Raft Duckie Oar Frame
No No Raft Duckie Oar Frame
No Yes
Recommended Yes
No Yes
Raft
Raft
Raft
Season Minimum Age Experience Guide In Raft Boats
Passages To Adventure Post Office Box 71 Fayetteville, West Virginia 25840
304 574-1037 800 634-3785 www.passagestoadventure.com
o t e p a c s E ! e g r o G e th
800-927-0263
www.newrivercvb.com
Passages To Adventure, Inc. exists to provide the highest quality adventure experiences while maintaining a high regard for personal safety. The adventure experience should include the concepts of adventure, recreation, education, and healthy living. The company is to operate in a productive and effective manner, thus being profitable, while maintaining that its staff, its customers, and the community are essential to a successful business. Mission Statement, 1984
www.passagestoadventure.com
800 634-3785