A Time for Adventure in West Virginia: Chicago Final Edition

A time for adventure in West Virginia:[Chicago Final Edition] Laurie D Borman, Special to the Tribune. Chicago Tribune Chicago, Ill.:Oct 3, 2004. p. 17 Author(s): Laurie D Borman, Special to the Tribune Dateline: FAYETTEVILLE, West Virginia Section: Travel Publication title: Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Ill.: Oct 3, 2004. pg. 17 Source Type: Newspaper ISSN/ISBN: 10856706 ProQuest document 705398151 ID: Text Word Count 568 Article URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb? RQT=309&VInst=PROD&VName=PQD&VType=PQD&Fmt=3&did=000000705398151&clientId=1452 Abstract (Article Summary) Turn south on U.S. 19 to Fayetteville, but watch for speed traps- -there are 35 cops for four burgs along the U.S. 19 corridor. This is home for dreadlocked guides, rafters, rock climbers and mountain bikers. On Oct. 16, Fayetteville will swell with 200,000 or so gawkers for the 25th annual BASE jumping event, in which the truly hardy strap on a parachute and dive 876 feet from the New River Bridge into the white-water rapids below.

YOUTH MOVEMENT.

Time for most young travelers is limited, so don't waste it. Every month, Youth Movement brings you expert advice on affordable, imaginative travel to make the most of your days away from school or the office.

Warning: Don't take down too many burritos before hitting winding U.S. Highway 60 from Charleston, W.Va., to U.S. Highway 19 and the New River Gorge. The state calls it scenic, but the hairpin turns through the hills to this river-rafting center can be as stomach- churning as the Class VI rapids in nearby New River Gorge National River.

Turn south on U.S. 19 to Fayetteville, but watch for speed traps- -there are 35 cops for four burgs along the U.S. 19 corridor. This is home for dreadlocked guides, rafters, rock climbers and mountain bikers. On Oct. 16, Fayetteville will swell with 200,000 or so gawkers for the 25th annual BASE jumping event, in which the truly hardy strap on a parachute and dive 876 feet from the New River Bridge into the white-water rapids below.

The other big draw in September and October: Gauley season. That's when the Summersville Dam levels are lowered, thereby flooding the Gauley River with adrenaline-pumped rapids.

Probably the best-kept secret of the New River Gorge remains the hard sandstone, perfect for rock climbing.

"If you climbed every weekend for the rest of your life, you couldn't do all the routes here," says Doug Ferguson, an American Mountain Guide-certified instructor for Water Stone Outdoors in Fayetteville. Ferguson moved here from Florida, where rock climbing tends to be an indoor sport. Now he climbs even on his days off, and never indoors.

With more than 1,600 sport climbing and traditional climbing routes, rock rats scramble up terrain as provocative as the route names: Nude Scientist, Party in My Mind, Cotton Mouth and Satisfaction Guaranteed. Most routes are 80 to 100 feet, rated from 5.5 to 5.14--which for the uninitiated means pretty tough--with spots where there are two hand and foot holds for every move to real "Spiderman" stuff.

If there's been too much partying, there's always the option of rappelling down the cliff instead of clawing up.

Rounding out a West Virginia trek requires some mountain bike saddle time. One easy route snakes down the gorge, bunny hopping logs and railroad ties, past waterfalls and railroad trestles, and the former mining towns of Red Ash and Thurman (Pop. 37).

Best budget tips: A wakeup call comes in the form of a $2.25 cappuccino at Cathedral Cafe, 134 S. Court St. On Tuesdays, the all- you-can-eat chipotle chicken pizza and salad is just $8 at Pies & Pints Pizzeria, 103 1/2 Keller Ave.

Best splurge: Hand-made rocker for about $200 from Tamarack, just off the highway in Beckley. Rest your bones in it when you get home, and spin all the tall tales you want.

More, more, more: For cabin rentals, hotels, etc., go to www.wvtourism.com. For more about New River Gorge rock climbing and guides, visit www.waterstoneoutdoors.com. For bike rentals and guides, www.newriverbike.com. All the bumps and dips show up in a topographical map, such as DeLorme's Atlas & Gazetteer, a helpful tool for bikers and climbers.

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