2011 New River Squirt Gathering of Friends
May 19-22, 2011
The Site | River Level | Release Schedule | Camping | Food | Directions | Pictures | Scores
This page
was last updated May 3, 2011
|
Updated water schedule as of May 3 2011
WATER LEVEL
Thursday May 19th: 12-3 pm @ 2.6 = Squeeze and Bubbler 1
4 – 8 pm @ 3.2 = Bubbler 1 & 2
Friday May 20th: 10 am – 3 pm @ 2.6 = Squeeze and Bubbler 1
4 – 8 pm @ 3.2 = Bubbler 1 & 2
Saturday May 21: 9 am – 7 pm @3.2 = Bubbler 1 & 2
Competition = 1 pm Bubbler 1 & 2 individual followed by tandem class
Sunday May 22: 9 am – 12 noon @ 3.2 = Bubbler 1 & 2
1 pm – 4 pm @ 2.7 = Squeeze & Bubbler 1
NOTE: Down Under should be in at the 3.2 – 4 feet if you catch it.
SITE
The BUBBLER is cool! Brad Buchanan
discovered it fall 02' and Bubbler II was discovered
spring 03'. Located on the New River near Blacksburg, VA and just down
stream from the site of the old "New
River Kayak Rodeo" which also has a mystery spot known as "Down Under"?
Locals have been getting
rides at Bubbler I from 8 - 14 seconds pretty consistent and it is very
gentle with lots of bubbles for the view.
Bubbler II on the right side is only a few feet away and is deep,
gentle, with more bubbles and rides up to 18
seconds.
There is also the "Squeeze" just upstream from the Bubbler with lots of charcs and water scheduled again this year.
LEVELS:
Bubbler I is good from about 2.2 feet to
about 3.3 feet on the Radford gauge.
Bubbler II is good from about 3.0 to 3.3
feet. We have found the 3.1 or 3.3 will
give great rides on both sides! The gauge is about 6 and half hours
upstream, so you will need to consider this
when you look at the flow. You can also call 540-639-3425 and get the
latest in stream flow (THE CLOCK IS OFF ON
THE RECORDING, YOU CAN PUSH 7, AND IT WILL MOVE BACKWARD BY 30 MIN.
INTERVALS EACH TIME YOU PUSH IT... SO YOU CAN
BACK IT ALL THE WAY UP TO YOUR PRESENT TIME IF YOU WISH) Here is the
projected water release schedule.
CAMPING:
Camping available in the Jefferson
National Forest (Boley Field is the private group
campsite we have reserved for the event Thursday - Sunday night. IIt is
primitive camping with a bathroom and no
water 10 minutes away. Camping area now has a fence across the field
which requires a short walk with your tent
etc. and will not allow you to put your tent
next to your vehicle due to limited parking spaces. SORRY, but there is
nothing than can be done about it.
There are hotels
in Blacksburg which is 20
minutes away
Camping Directions from Bubbler to Boley Field: Go upstream on Big
Falls Road about 2.5 miles, take a left on Norris
Run and go about 3.2 miles& when you come to a Y in the road take
the left fork and keep going until you see
a gate on right and the gravel road crosses through the creek into a
large field and there should be a sign that
says BOLEY FIELD. You made it.
FOOD:
You will need to pack your food and
drinks or drive into Blacksburg (20 minutes away)
with plenty restaurant choices
DIRECTIONS:
From D.C., Richmond, & Charlotte or South: take I-81 to Christiansburg, which is the Blacksburg VA Tech exit. Take rt. 460 West towards Blacksburg for approximately 10 minutes to the 2nd Price's Fork Road exit. This is rt. 685 towards Price's Fork--away from Blacksburg
From Beckley,
Charleston (W.Va.), Ohio, Kentucky: take I-77 to the Princeton exit. Take rt.
460 East for approximately 45 minutes to the
1st Price's Fork Road exit, this is Prices Fork exit -away from
Blacksburg.
*** Once on rt. 685 towards Price's Fork, turn right onto McCoy Road
(across from Snuffy's Market) and follow to
stop sign (several miles). Turn right at stop sign (Big Falls Road) and
go about 2 miles on left. You will first
see Big Falls Rapid which is the home of the old New River Kayak Rodeo
and just down stream 2.5 miles will be a
pull off on the left (just before you cross over the RR tracks the
second time) this is the parking for the Bubbler!
Paddle to other side of the river, top ledge. CHEERS
COMPETITION: We will announce the schedule for Saturday
(informal comp.)at the campground Friday night. Most likley it
will be about 1 pm on SATURDAY
It's pretty simple. Lots of Mystery Moves! You will have 5 tries in
each spot at a mystery move for a total of
10 tries. Your total mystery move time is added up and highest time
wins. (Yes 0s' will count, ouch). Your time
starts when your head disappears and stops when either your boat or
your shoulders break the surface. No additional
style scores&. Usually rides are a gentle surface to the top!
There will be an OPEN & TANDEM class.
SPECTATORS:
The only way to enjoy the action is to
paddle to the other side of the river. The
New River is very wide at this location and not spectator friendly.
However, we plan to have a canoe available
to shuttle spectators to the other side with some help from volunteers.
REGISTRATION:
Why? We're squirt boaters after all. Just
show up but it would help immensely if
you let Ricky know you are coming to keep thing organized.
Donations can be given to Ricky at the
campground to help with event
expenses, if you want!
rrshowalter@embarqmail.com
Ricky Showalter
New Squirt Gathering
690 S. 4th Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
QUESTIONS: you can call Ricky at 276-223-3515 daytime, home
276-228-8822
evening or cell number is 276-620-0308
or e-mail the address above
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