I pulled into the Lower Swiss parking lot and saw more than 15 women gathered in front of the ACE Adventure Resort shuttle bus, laughing, talking, and covering each other in glitter and jewels.
A Full-Circle Return to the Lower Gauley
The last time I paddled the Lower Gauley, it was my personal first descent (PFD), and I was just 13 years old. That was also my first time meeting Anna. She graciously and kindly welcomed me into the crew and introduced me to the countless other women joining us on the water. I honestly didn’t remember much about the river, but the community, support, and camaraderie from that day stuck with me.
Now, at 22 years old, I was eager to get back on the Lower Gauley with another group of incredible women. It felt like a full-circle moment to join the group again, this time as Anna’s content and marketing coordinator. I enjoyed the opportunity to document the day on the water.
What is Ladies on the Lower Gauley?
Anna, along with ACE and Jackson Kayak, brought back Ladies on the Lower Gauley to raise money for American Whitewater (AW). Each lady who participated purchased an AW membership if she wasn’t already a member and made a $50 donation to further support AW’s mission of protecting and restoring America’s whitewater rivers. As a group, we raised around $1,000.
Alongside Anna were co-instructors Emily Jackson, Christina Kossis, and Amanda Burhnam. Women from all walks of life joined our group. Some had paddled the Lower many times over decades, while others were newer to the sport and experiencing the section for the very first time. Some were in open canoes and packrafts, while others were in hardshell kayaks. I think that is what’s so special about Anna and her programs: her ability to meet each woman where she’s at in a supportive and encouraging way.
Setting an Intention at the Put In
Before we got on the river, Anna led a dance party, a mindfulness exercise, and stretches to prepare us all for a good day on the water. My favorite part was the mindfulness exercise, where she asked us to close our eyes, imagine what we wanted to feel at the end of the day as we took off the river, and hold that feeling with us throughout the day.
I watched women style rapids, roll in rapids, try new moves, and stick to the same lines they’ve run countless times, all met with smiles and cheers from Anna and the other women.
Throughout the day, the women gathered and cheered, “Glitter Ladies of the Gauley!”
We finished the day tired but with big smiles, still holding the same intention we each set at the beginning of the day.
Thank you to Anna, ACE, and Jackson Kayak for bringing back Ladies on the Lower Gauley, one of my favorite parts of Gauley Fest, and for raising so much money for American Whitewater!
