River Expeditions Announces the Bridge Day Blowout

Oak Hill, WV, September 25, 2013 --(PR.com)-- On October 19th, experience the thrills of West Virginia’s favorite festival and the final rafting experience of 2013. On this weekend, guests can raft down the New River on Saturday or the a combination of the New River and/ or Gauley River on Saturday and/ or Sunday, for the last time in 2013. River Expeditions is offering an extreme discount where guests can purchase 1 or 2 day rafting packages for the weekend starting at $145 per person. The Bridge Day Blowout package consists of white water rafting, camping, daily lite breakfast, and a BBQ cookout after rafting. The package also includes an after-party hosted by River Expeditions at The Red Dog River Saloon in their Adventure Resort in Oak Hill, WV, and fantastic savings in the Outfitter’s Store.

“This year has been awesome on the New River! We think that about 80,000 people will attend the 2013 Bridge Day celebrations to witness BASE jumpers and rappellers fly from the New River Gorge Bridge, and we believe that they would really enjoy the activities available at River Expeditions’ Adventure Resort,” says Rick Johnson, owner of River Expeditions “Between the festivities at Bridge Day and white water rafting at a discount, this will be a great weekend!”

Bridge Day is the lone day of the year that people are permitted to BASE jump into the New River Gorge, 867 feet (267 meters) below the bridge. For the rest of the year, the U.S. National Park System imposes a general ban on BASE jumping. BASE is an acronym of the places that people can jump from: Buildings, Antennas, Spans (bridges) and Earth (cliffs). Approximately 400 BASE jumpers participate in the Bridge Day festival, in addition to rappellers.

The Gauley River hosts some of the most intense and beautiful white water rafting in the Eastern US. The river is a dam controlled watershed that ensures scheduled release dates in the fall, resulting in optimal rafting flow, creating a world class rafting experience. The river is known for its intensity and it is ranked among the top five in the world. On the Gauley River, guests will experience white water thrills in beautiful fall surroundings. The Gauley River offers summer and fall rafting, in addition to lower, upper, and double upper river rafting. This is a fantastic opportunity to experience the changing of the seasons in a completely different, but thrilling way.

The New River is full of natural and cultural history and features a plethora of opportunities in recreation and sightseeing, including rafting, float trips, fishing, kayaking, and much more. The river splits into two distinct sections, creating appropriate adventures for all skill levels of rafters, including first timers. The Upper New River is a great route for beginning rafters (age 6 and up) and features gentle rapids and quiet pools. This portion is great for paddling, playing, taking pictures, or simply enjoying the beauty of the surroundings. The Lower New River Gorge is often referred to as “The Grand Canyon of the East.” This trip combines classic white water excitement with the elements of history, nature and wildlife found along the river, resulting in a breathtaking adventure. Water temperatures average 50 degrees in October.

White water rafting involves travelling down a stretch of river on an inflatable raft for about 5-7 hours, including lunch. On the milder sections of the river, no experience is necessary. The ability to swim is helpful, but not required because all guests receive the necessary safety equipment: a Coast Guard approved Type V Life Jacket, Paddle and Helmet, plus the trips are guided.