Bel Haven “Buddie”, Stephen Walters made a trip to West Virginia to raft the raging New River on Bridge Day; 2006.  The trip entailed multiple Class IV and Class V rapids along with an hour and a half stop beneath the famous Gauley Bridge, to watch base jumpers parachute off the bridge.  One day a year the National Park Service permits these maniacs to jump off a perfectly good bridge.  It figures, Walters first time witnessing this would prove eventful. Not only did the group witness approximately 100 jumpers that day, but the first fatality in 19 years occurred during his watch.  This tragedy only delayed the remaining maniacs from jumping for twenty minutes. 

The river was fast and all had an exhilarating day of paddling.  All this in a gorge that was surrounded by optimum peak foliage color.  Several photos are attached, with Walters anchoring down the port side of the raft in Green.

I think I can thrash with the best of them, but I will (hopefully) never have to jump off a perfectly good bridge.

Paddle On,

Walters

or SK or Stephen or Keith or Widebody or ………

Lost in the Wading River's waters for months, Bel Haven activates Moko's "Tactical Yak Team" to use their "Commando Kayaking Skills" to locate Lost Canoe #63. A short time after insertion, the team locates the lost canoe fully submerged and pinned in the fast current and extreme high waters.

Remembering the teams motto of "Leave None Behind”; the crippled canoe was finally resurrected from the deep using a simple Z rig rope system. The canoe was treated on location , secured and "Battle Paddled" in the fast waters to Bodine Field for transport back to the safety of Bel Haven Paddlesports by BH support staff. Barb finally removed the rental ticket from missing is action board and declared the case closed! Old # 63 is doing well and is expected to fully recover.

All members of Moko's Tactical Yak Team are State Firearms Instructors, certified in First Aid First Response, CPR, Rope Rescue, EOD and are Dive certified.

Be Safe and Paddle On! Mahalo BH!

Moko