ACE Adventure Blog

Who Is The Best Guide At ACE?

rick.bayes@aceraft.com — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I thought I would try something different in this week's blog. I'm going to allow you guys to vote for who is the best guide at ACE!

Every week I get the privilege of reading the guest comment cards and emails. They are filled with the accolades of how so-and-so was the best, greatest, most fantastic, etc. With so many "great" guides, how do you determi [...]

Every Adventure Vacation Should Have A Check-List

scott.perdue@aceraft.com — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I am continually fascinated at human behavior. In particular, it is amazing that my brother and I come from the same sperm and egg donors, yet differ so dramatically.

He likes to say we are exactly the same, but totally different. It is true.

We share the same general looks and senses of humor but that is where the similarities end.

I starch all of my clothes, and he prefers ca [...]

Marines Win 2009 Wilderness Challenge At ACE

aceblog@weldtheweb.com — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Our friend Mark Piggott from the public affairs office at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown, Va., not only helped organize one heck of an adventure race for a couple hundred soldiers, he followed it up by writing a doozy of a guest blog post for us. Here's Mark's report:

Cold, rainy and muddy conditions would not deter the 54 teams competing in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Morale, [...]

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Bridge Day

aceblog@weldtheweb.com — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Here's a guest blog post from our friend Ben, one of the many good people who bring you Bridge Day:

If you keep up with what's going on over at ACE, it's nearing the end of Gauley Season and they're paddling straight for Bridge Day. You know Bridge Day, right? It's the West Virginia rafting season end of the year party, and the biggest festival in the state. And, yup, you're invited [...]

Man-Eating Plant Descends On Fayette County

beth@aceraft.com — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Located at the main intersection in Whipple, WV, stands the only remaining coal mine company store of its kind, The Whipple Company Store. This building was the center of life for the coal miners it served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This store has been through much upheaval in its 120-year history, and it takes a multitude of talents to maintain its integrity - preser [...]

Three Cheers For The Transportation Department

cbarkley@columbus.k12.nc.us — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Many people both behind the scenes and behind the wheels are the transportation gurus here at ACE. As a customer, I got to know many of the bus drivers by name.

I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but after all, they had the cold drinks after the trip! And don't tell, but you can enjoy them on a school bus — not to mention, one that's clean, and won't lea [...]

Making The Vacation Connection In The Airport

scott.perdue@aceraft.com — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

One of my favorite things in the world is people watching. That is why an airport is like a feast for the eyes. It is sensory overload.

I returned from vacation recently, and this is the story.

Across from me was an elderly couple. They barely spoke but their body language told the tale. They held hands. He draped a jacket over her shoulders as the airport air conditioner [...]

We Support Our Troops (By Running Them Ragged)

rick.bayes@aceraft.com — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome, soldiers and Wilderness Challenge racers.

My blog post yesterday covered details of the race for today. The racers will need a good night's rest after today, because day two is going to push the teams beyond their limits!

In the past, the race was set up in sections, but not at ACE. We are going to run the event tomorrow as one continuous event. Our private 1,500-acre facility allows us to do things that no one else can.

The first leg of the race Satu [...]

Here Come The Troops — Are They Ready To Race?

rick.bayes@aceraft.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The Wilderness Challenge is almost here! This year's race will be totally different than in the past.

I'm starting to get very excited, and a little nervous, about this upcoming event. Months of preparation (started back in April), a lot of hard work, and we are now only days away from the start.

This will be the first time ACE has hosted this prestigious event, and it's [...]

There's A Party At The Lost Paddle

cbarkley@columbus.k12.nc.us — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Imagine you've just taken a trip down the Gauley. Who says the fun has to end? Join us at the Lost Paddle for an evening of fabulous food and the perfect way to complete your whitewater adventure.

Open seven days a week, the Lost Paddle serves up a tasty menu with something to suit everyone's fancy. No driving worries, the Lost Paddle is located lakeside on ACE Adventure Resort property.

Who's Running This Show, Anyway?

cbarkley@columbus.k12.nc.us — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I'm often asked by customers, "Who owns ACE?" and I smile because I remember when I was a customer asking that very same question. Not sure why exactly I wondered, other than I couldn't believe I was having so much fun each and every time I went down the river.

As I described in an earlier blog, I was very impressed with everything I experienced as a customer. Our guide, [...]

Forget The 80s, Remember The Bridge

scott.perdue@aceraft.com — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I was a child of the 1980s and loved every minute of it. I loved the paisley, the neon, my worn copy of The Official Preppy Handbook, and my Swatch watch. I was glued to MTV for all of Madonna’s new videos. Was Boy George really a boy?

So growing up here, I can remember a time before the New River Gorge Bridge. What is now a 60-second drive across the bridge used to take a [...]

Sorry, Can't Come — It's Gauley Season

alysonsmith07@yahoo.com — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Gauley season is in full swing and it's a good time to remind family and friends why I will be unable to attend all weekend events for the next few weeks.

I'm usually the first in line for a wedding, football game (or tailgating at least), family picnic, or class reunion. But I'm confident in saying that NONE of these activities can compete with running the rapids on the Gauley River.

Please [...]

Where There's Blue Smoke, There's Flavor

beth@aceraft.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

If you are looking for that perfect gift to take home to family and friends that is 100% West Virginian, you need to stop by the Blue Smoke Salsa shop in Ansted, WV.

I promise, it's worth the trip. But don't just take my word — our very own Governor was stirring a pot of bubbling salsa just a few weeks ago. That's Gov. Joe Manchin III at the Blue Smoke kitchen in the photo ab [...]

Capture Your Whitewater Rafting Memories On Video

cbarkley@columbus.k12.nc.us — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I can't think of any better way to capture your trip memories than on video. Now don't get me wrong, I always bought the pictures from our trips, but I also bought our DVD videos, too.

It was the videos that actually helped us through the long winter months as we endured that most painful time of what we call river withdrawals. Each and every time we'd watch a video from one of our [...]

The Best Combination: Gauley And Bridge Day

dcbarkley@earthlink.net — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

It's September and Gauley Season is here. With all of the local rains we had over the summer, Summersville Lake was full and ready for the big fall release schedule!

If you came out over the summer, the Lower New River had great water levels all summer, the best summer levels in years! Now its time to step it up to next level. The Gauley is waiting for you.

As you plan for when you can come take part in the Gauley celebration, consider what some feel to [...]

Every Gauley Trip Begins On A Bus

dcbarkley@earthlink.net — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Every year as Gauley Season approaches, memories of past Gauley trips come to mind. I feel my heart rate pick up a bit and then I realize I am already holding my breath.

But wait, we're not at Insignificant or Lost Paddle Rapid yet. Take a moment and breathe again. We're still on the bus.

The adventure of a Gauley Season river trip begins on the bus ride!

What ma [...]

A Drive I Don't Mind: The Gauley Season Commute

her.ghost@gmail.com — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

As Gauley Season approached, I was ready for the river trips, the weather, and the scenery. I love driving in West Virginia, and nothing compares to my morning commute in the fall.

When talking about commuting to work, most envision crowded 6-lane highways, waiting on exit ramps, and a million stoplights. On a day-to-day basis, those sights blur together into a timeline: 5 minutes until the next lan [...]

All In A Day's Work — A Raft Guide's Life

mattfroman@yahoo.com — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

The day of the raft guide starts the night before, as the last thing we all do is check the schedule before we go to bed.

The reasoning for this our river trips can change in an instant. Working for ACE, the largest outdoor resort in West Virginia, trips consistently change, depending on the guests' needs. This task is left up to the 3 Managers on Duty (M.O.D) in charge of scheduling the tens of thousands of guests who visit ACE each year.

For a guide, the day starts long b [...]

10 Ways To Win Surfing Sundays On The Gauley River

dcbarkley@earthlink.net — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Every Sunday of Gauley Season, ACE sponsors a contest named "Surfing Sunday."

This contest is usually decided per trip on the video made by the videoboaters. The winners are selected and announced after the video of each trip.

Besides the eternal lasting fame and glory of being the winners, the winning boat gets the dubious honor of receiving a Surfing Sunday T-shirt to take home to immorta [...]