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Upper Glade Creek - IV

(the New River tributary, between Beckley and Lewisburg, by Little Beaver State Park Glade Creek, not one of the dozen others in WV)

Videos:

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3.20.08 GoPro Boat cam video of Upper Glade 10min 35mb

1.12.08 Mill 18in + Glade of Meadow + Upper Glade (Triple Drop) 2.1ft 3min 12 mb

3.18.07 Upper Glade (1.2ft) (3 min 11mb)

10.30.06 Upper Glade (2.1ft) and Meadow Creek Falls (4 min 17mb )

1.18.06 Level 2 ft by Heath Damron 3 minutes

5.01.05 Level 1.1 ft by Brian Rahall 1 minute

12.11.04 Level 1.3 ft by Brian Rahall 1 minute

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Heath Damron Description:

5 miles - 4 miles of "Full on" (quote taken from Brian Rahall)
150 ft per miles average gradient
Level 1.3 feet

Order of major drops:

Kings Island, slide section, Pothole Eater, Dead Snake Falls, Triple Drop

Glade Creek is a classic southern WV gem. After a few warm-ups after the initial flat water, it gets down to business. There are tons of nice boofs, ledges, and slides. It seems that at the end of every slide are a few holes to keep it interesting. Kings Island is one of the first tougher drops. Dead Snake Falls is a 10 footer with an interesting entrance. There is so much going on that it is hard to even remember all of it. Triple drop is right at the takeout. The first drop is about 6 feet and is run on river right about a boat length or so off the bank. Then you can see the launch rock of the lip of the second drop which should have some water flowing off, so boof it and bombs away. The second drop is shallow so you need to try not to pencil in. The third drop is just an easy slide. I am looking forward to running on down Lower Glade and hitting Pinch Creek in the future when it runs.

12.11.04 Here is a video shot and edited by Brian Rahall.

05.01.05 Update 1.1' (low level)

Chris Barry Description:

Yours truly, the webmasta, was finally able to get out and run what some of the WV homeboys will say is their favorite run around. After all was said and done, I think I'd probably agree. I was expecting a tough run, and after a hard day of rugby and partying until 4am the night before, I wasn't exactly in prime condition. But Glade Creek sure gave me a run for my money.... if my arms weren't sore enough before the run, then they certainly were after.... fortunately the excitement of big drops and slides doesn't give you time to be tired. Fun as they were, the drops weren't as challenging as I'd expected (I may have a different opinion today if I'd pitoned any of them, but I was lucky this first time through).... no, it was the medium sized rapids with S-turns, undercuts, sieves, and pinning rocks that really challenge you. The big drops are just your reward!

Anyway, here are a few shots and videos from my camera......

The slides start before you even get wet!..... video of put-in entry