Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 17 · column 2 of 7 · from the scan, no model involved
from five to seven paddlers, with a guide at the back who steers and directs the paddlers. Reasonably good physical condition is recommended, since arm, leg and back muscles get a good workout over the course of the day.
With a good crew and an experienced guide, the trip is unforgettable. Our guide on the Upper Gauley, Rip Kirby (“everyone just calls me Kirby”) has been leading trips for 10 years and is one of the company’s guide instructors.
The rapids on the Upper Gauley are fast and furious. From the put-in just below the dam to the first rapid, Initiation, was only a matter of moments. It gave Kirby a chance to assess his crew and bark a few commands, getting the paddlers used to working with each other.
Then the fun began.
At 8 a.m., the first splash of 52degree water got the crew’s attention, and made everyone glad they had opted to wear wetsuits on the trip. (Helmets and life jackets are mandatory, and included in the price. Wetsuits are optional and cost extra, but most whitewater vets recommend them on all but the hottest mid-summer days.)
94.8%