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The Blue Ridge Voyageurs - A Club for Whitewater Paddlers -

Credits

The Blue Ridge Voyageurs (BRV) is a voluntary association of experienced whitewater paddlers (both open and decked boats) from the Washington, DC area. BRVers revel in the challenge, camaraderie, adventure, and natural beauty of whitewater paddling. The club offers trips at all skill levels from beginner to expert, with most trips in the intermediate to advanced levels as defined by the American Canoeing Association. Typical rivers paddled by BRVers include the Shenandoah Staircase, Passage Creek, Lost River Gorge, South Branch Potomac/Smoke Hole Canyon, Lower Youghiogheny, Cheat Canyon, and the Savage. Over the past decade, BRVers have paddled virtually every whitewater stream in the Mid-Atlantic region, ranging from family/cruising trips on easier streams such as the Cacapon, Hughes and Cedar Creek, to expert-level runs on the Upper Gauley and the Upper Yough. The club also organizes extended trips to Western rivers, the Smokies, and Europe. If you have had whitewater paddling instruction and you would like to be taken down new rivers, please join us. Similarly, if you are a seasoned boater wishing to join a fun group that will gladly show you the more difficult rivers you've been wishing to paddle, then the BRV is the club for you! Our trips typically consist of 5 or 6 paddlers. Trips seldom exceed 10 boaters. When they do, people are usually split up into 2 or more groups so that everyone can enjoy a fun and safe day on the river.

In addition to scheduled trips, club services and activities include meetings 5 times yearly featuring canoeing videos, slide shows, and talks; a club newsletter, The Voyageur ,  published 6 times a year; club roster; holiday party; annual moonlight paddle/picnic; and conservation projects.

BRV does not  offer equipment rentals, organized instruction, or competitive events (e.g., racing).

Safety: Whitewater paddling is a risky sport. In the BRV, each individual is ultimately responsible for his or her own safety. Each individual is responsible for having appropriate equipment, for having the requisite skills for paddling a given river, and for the decision to run any river or rapid. Although ultimate responsibility rests with each individual, important safety benefits are gained from paddling with a group of other prepared and competent paddlers.

To Join: If you want to become a member of the Blue Ridge Voyageurs, print the BRV Membership Form, fill it out, and send it in with your check payable to BRV to the address specified in the form. Annual dues are $15 for the entire family. Membership is for a calendar year and you must renew by February 15 of each year to be listed in the club roster and continue receiving The Voyageur newsletter. If you have a question, please join us at a meeting or e-mail us at info@blueridgevoyageurs.org.