Rafting the Gauley Photo courtesy of Lynn Seldon

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I'm a Bud man. That's Bud, as in Bud Frantz, one of the best river guides north, south, east, or west of West Virginia, one of my favorite states in the U.S. To see him or other guides at their best, you have to get on the state's famed Gauley River this fall. I'll be there and so will Bud.

Every fall, some of the best river guides from around the world converge on West Virginia. They come to guide more than 60,000 people that also converge on the state to raft down the Gauley River. Many of these intrepid thousands are trying whitewater rafting for the first time and several are heading down the Gauley for the 50th wild and wonderful time. But it's the guides who get them down safe and happy.

Bud Frantz, with Class VI River Runners, was one of the first guides on the Gauley River and he probably has logged more guided Gauley River trips than any other human being. If the river could talk, it would sound like Bud.

The West Virginia resident says sagely through his beard, "I never get tired of the river or showing it to others. The world-class whitewater is certainly great." After a dramatic pause that all story-telling guides seemed to have learned, he continues, "But it's the sheer beauty and the remoteness of the Gauley that keeps me out here year after year."

Bud is typical of many local guides who seemingly live for the Gauley season, but the river also gets guides every year from much further away than the Mountain State. On any given day, you're liable to hear northeast accents, comments about last spring's Rocky Mountain skiing, and some Spanish from the guides who head up from South American or Latin American countries like Chile or Costa Rica.

They all come to guide and tame the famed Gauley. "I love the flurry of activity in Gauley season," says Class VI guide Mary Ann "M.A." Reiniger. "It always brings interesting people into our area. There are guides from all over the world that somehow make it to West Virginia just to work Gauley season. There is something mystical about it."

Of course, the Gauley River isn't the only West Virginia whitewater for guides, with the New, Tygart, and Cheat also well-known venues. But running the Gauley is a guide's badge of honor. In Wildwater West Virginia, the authors write "The Gauley has become the East's qualifying cruise for the title of expert paddler. It's big, it's long, it's inaccessible, it's tough, it's dangerous, it's intoxication."

"With a riverbed that drops more than 800 feet in 27 miles, the Gauley River is the ultimate challenge in whitewater rafting..."

The 2003 Gauley River season is the 30th consecutive year for commercial rafting by West Virginia's numerous outfitters and guides. A full season of rafting is already anticipated by guides and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which controls dam releases for the river.

Steve Wright, public affairs officer for the Army Corps of Engineers, says, "We will have a tremendous whitewater season on the Gauley this year because there will be plenty of water for optimal flows. It should be a world-class whitewater experience for those who come to West Virginia to raft."

The Corps will open Summersville Dam with predicted water releases of around 2,500 cubic feet per second on each release date, beginning in September. Then there will be five consecutive four-day Friday-to-Monday sessions of whitewater fun and a sixth session that just includes Saturday and Sunday. That gives you 22 chances to become a Bud man or woman.

With a riverbed that drops more than 800 feet in 27 miles, the Gauley River is the ultimate challenge in whitewater rafting for guides and their groups of rafters. The ruggedly carved canyon has two distinct river sections, called the Upper Gauley and the Lower Gauley. Guides and their rafters must make their way through more than 100 rapids, 56 of which are classified from Class III to Class VI.

The put-in just below Summersville Dam was once legendary, with the huge holes in the dam releasing walls of thundering water into the river. The hydro plant now has the water boiling out deep into the river, but it's still a classic put-in for everyone.

Some of the best stories and scenes took place right here. One time, Class VI's Randy Dotson had such a strong group of psyched-up paddlers that they accidentally started with him still holding the raft on shore, pulling him into the river and raging rapids. They finally looked back to see him hanging on for dear life and pulled him back in. This was all recorded on video and shown that night, as are many thrills and spills in these modern times.

This is also the spot where you're sure to hear the story of how Summersville Dam was named. Most dams are named after the nearest town or the town the dam is putting underwater. In this case, the town they were putting underwater was called Gad, but they couldn't very well call it Gad Dam. Thus, they opted for using the nearby town of Summersville for the name.

The put-in serves as a proper introduction to paddlers, as guides bark out commands to paddle directly into the ocean-like waves. It's just a taste of things to come.

The first rapid is called Initiation and it serves its purpose. Guides use the rapid to make sure their groups understand paddling commands and to develop teamwork with their paddlers. They'll need it later.

The next major rapid is called Insignificant, but it's not. There's a series of long waves and rocks and it's about this time that paddlers and their guides start to get serious.

The relatively easy Iron Curtain rapid provides the warm-up for Pillow Rock and 100 yards of sheer whitewater force. This house-sized "pillow" boulder on the left side of the river inevitably stops a few rafts and dumps them into the water. It takes skill (and sometimes luck) to maneuver past Pillow Rock.

The Meadow River adds fuel to the fire when it joins the Gauley, just before Lost Paddle. The half-mile-long rapid is actually divided into three distinct sections, each one of which will swallow rafts, guides, and passengers.

"If I had to pick one rapid as my favorite, it would have to be Lost Paddle," says M.A. Reiniger. "I like it because it is a long rapid and has quite a few different characteristics that are fun. It is a little tight at the top, the second drop is big and impressive, and leads you right into another tight and challenging spot with the potential of pinning. The Tumble Home is very tight, with quite a few obstacles to avoid." She says, "When you have a clean run on Lost Paddle, it gives you a great feeling of accomplishment."