George's West Virginia River Badge Drop

Gauley meets New, New meets Kanawha, and none of them care how tough you think you are. Fifty-three free-flowing miles from Bluestone Dam to Hawks Nest Lake: long pools up top, then the Lower Gorge throwing Class III to V. Hinton to Thurmond humbles intermediates. Below Thurmond, experts only, hero. West Virginia law wants that life jacket sized, serviceable and aboard, kids under thirteen wearing it. The West Virginia drop is three tees, a muscle tank, a crop tee, and three full-color caps. Wear it. Pack out what you paddled in. Paddle On. Only You Can Keep The Rivers Clean. — George