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== Names, etc ==
i think the class of the river sections is debatable. i've heard people claim that the rapid "Pure Screaming Hell" on the lower section is class V, and some people claim that all waterfalls, without exception, are class VI (i personally disagree with this, but i've definitely heard people say it).


When making my first kayak run on the Upper/Lower Gauley in 1971, I was told that Sweet Falls was named for John Sweet, a prominent C-1 paddler, because on the first descent he was the only one to run the falls part (as opposed to the sneak on the far left). In 2012, I ran the Gauley with Jack Wright, who I had always heard was on this first descent and who claimed to have been. He said that the first run was at 1000cfs, which would go along with the comments about the origin of the name of Insignificant. I believe that this first descent was in September 1968. Up until the formalization of recreational releases in the late 70s or early 80s, the lake drawdown started in October, not September. This would be why the first run was at a lower level than today's recreational releases.
also, i think that the story about the name of the rapid "Insignificant" isn't necessarilly true - the only people i've heard say that are raft guides, who, in general, are only trying to make the experience enjoyable for the rafters so they can get them to come back or spread the word. i've heard a lot of kayakers and canoeists say that the rapid is named "Insignificant" because that's how it makes you feel. not to mention, the idea that someone would claim that everything above Pillow is Insignificant is thoroughly unbelievable, considering that, with the exception of the big five, those are some of the more difficult rapids on the river.


The notable raft pioneer doing the Gauley in 1972 was Jon Dragan. I don't recall that John Sweet was ever significantly involved in rafting, certainly not in southern West Virginia.
--[[User:141.158.40.25|141.158.40.25]] 23:17, 27 May 2006 (UTC)


A couple of other comments - in the old days the rapid referred to as "Heaven's Gate" was known as "Gateway to Heaven." And the most significant rapid between Lower Mash and Gateway to Heaven is Diagonal Ledges, which has a very popular play hole. <span style="font-size: smaller;" class="autosigned">— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/198.228.228.46|198.228.228.46]] ([[User talk:198.228.228.46|talk]]) 23:47, 21 September 2013 (UTC)</span><!-- Template:Unsigned IP --> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->
:Class of river sections, and rapids, is ''always'' debatable. It's silly to say that all waterfalls are VI; that sounds like something out of the 1970's, and it's hardly worth paying any attention to in the 21st century.
:[http://www.americanwhitewater.org American Whitewater] addressed this issue, to some degree, by compiling a list of "Standard Rated Rapids" in 1997-8. See the [http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:class4benchmarkrapids Class-IV] and [http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Wiki/safety:class5benchmarkrapids Class-V] sections. According to that survey, PSH is a IV; the major rapids of the Upper Gauley range from IV to V. Thus, AW rates the Upper as IV-V and the Lower as III-IV.
:I don't know about the veracity of the story about Insignificant. I figure that the first party may have seen the river at a level lower than the typical Fall release level of 2800 cfs. At 1000, Insignificant loses a lot of its punch, so I believe the story (which, by the way, I've heard from kayakers) may well be true.--[[User:RattBoy|RattBoy]] 12:45, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

::Okay, I looked it up. In the Summer, 1973, issue of the [http://www.americanwhitewater.org/journal/archive American Whitewater Journal] (page 62), Charlie Walbridge wrote:
"Then comes 'Insignificant,' so named because one party,
told that there was no significant rapids above Pillow Rock,
was suitably impressed by this one and gave it a name."
::Charlie Walbridge is a credible enough source for me.--[[User:RattBoy|RattBoy]] 12:54, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

Latest revision as of 02:00, 1 February 2024

Names, etc

[edit]

When making my first kayak run on the Upper/Lower Gauley in 1971, I was told that Sweet Falls was named for John Sweet, a prominent C-1 paddler, because on the first descent he was the only one to run the falls part (as opposed to the sneak on the far left). In 2012, I ran the Gauley with Jack Wright, who I had always heard was on this first descent and who claimed to have been. He said that the first run was at 1000cfs, which would go along with the comments about the origin of the name of Insignificant. I believe that this first descent was in September 1968. Up until the formalization of recreational releases in the late 70s or early 80s, the lake drawdown started in October, not September. This would be why the first run was at a lower level than today's recreational releases.

The notable raft pioneer doing the Gauley in 1972 was Jon Dragan. I don't recall that John Sweet was ever significantly involved in rafting, certainly not in southern West Virginia.

A couple of other comments - in the old days the rapid referred to as "Heaven's Gate" was known as "Gateway to Heaven." And the most significant rapid between Lower Mash and Gateway to Heaven is Diagonal Ledges, which has a very popular play hole. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 198.228.228.46 (talk) 23:47, 21 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

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