News and Events
White Water Rafting
September 10-12, 2010
Through the Recreation Department 16 Washington College Students traveled to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania in Somerset County to experience a weekend filled with thrills and some spills. We began our journey leaving from The Lifetime Fitness Center Friday at 4:15 p.m. Four hours later after a short stop for dinner at a Pizza Hut in Beezewood, the students arrived at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, where they would spend two nights, in two four bedroom condos overlooking the Seven Springs Ski Resort.
Friday night students enjoyed the amenities of the ski resort lodge, but most called it a night, understanding that they had a long day ahead on the rapids of the Lower Youghiogheny River. Everyone woke up at 8:00 a.m. and piled into the vans to head to the outfitters location. There students listened to a small presentation of what they would experience out of the river that day, and were suited up with bright yellow lifejackets and helmets. Many were nervous having little to no rafting experience, but nonetheless they were excited for the trip.
Once on the river we were separated into four boats; four, four-person rafts, and one, three-person raft. It was a wild ride, having no guide in the boat made every individual work together to get through the intense class III and IV rapids. The students were lucky that it was a beautiful day in September because everyone got wet! Every boat had a least one person swimming! After two hours on the river and several sets of rapids, the outfitters set up a nice deli lunch on the shore for all of us to enjoy. Following lunch and full stomachs we faced the toughest rapid of the day nicknamed the Dimple Rapid. Everyone made it through with only a couple bruises and the rest of the five-hour journey was a breeze.
Back at the resort we enjoyed a nice pasta dinner and some much needed rest. The students woke up on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. for a nice morning hike up the mountain. Unfortunately our morning hike was cut short due to weather, and we packed the vans and headed back to Chestertown.
