Please join us in welcoming our team! New River Conservancy is incredibly pleased to announce the team for the New River Expedition, (NRX26), who will be traveling over 280 miles of the New River this summer. NRX26 will launch in early June from the gentle river in the High Country of North Carolina, journey to the wide river of the New River Valley in Virginia and finish this August in the wild New River Gorge in West Virginia.
Anastasia Jeffcoat, an avid whitewater kayaker studying Conservation Biology at the University of Idaho and a North Carolina native, is eager to bring her skills and passion for the outdoors to serve a greater good.
Lucy Bolin is eager to combine her ability to coordinate logistics for a long-term paddle trip with her career motivations to facilitate Appalachian community development through river education, protection of natural resources, and expansion of recreational opportunities.
Abbey Mays has years of paddling experience, including a stint as a canoe mobile leader where she facilitated canoeing in urban communities for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities and educated over 3,000 students about their local waterways.
David Bernier, an Assistant Professor of the Adventure Recreation Management Degree Program at WVU Tech, in Beckley, WV. has been a raft guide and cameraman on the New and Gauley Rivers, as well as a White Water Rescue Park Ranger in the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve.
Ann Rose “River Warrior,” who has travelled almost the entire New River from Lansing, NC to the confluence of the Gauley in Gauley Bridge, WV, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, will be paddling sections with the NRX26 team and traveling along with them as support and portage vehicle.
NRX26 will support the growth of the New River Water Trail by identifying gaps in recreation infrastructure, highlighting areas that deserve more effective protection, and documenting locations that need the attention of NRC clean-up crews. Along the way the NRX26 team will engage with the incredible communities along the New River, and hold small community events throughout the journey.
Looking for a way to be involved in the Expedition? Our members and supporters provide essentials to make the New River Expedition great! A special NRX sticker will be coming your way, plus exclusive offers just for you! Your donation could go towards: Food & lodging, gas for our support vehicle, gear & safety equipment, training, campsite & access development or outreach & development.
Ready to support the NRX? Click HERE to make your donation.
Our partners and sponsors are integral to the New River Expedition. We are indebted to the them for their support for this project. Our thanks to Virginia Recreational Trails Program, The One Foundation, and North Carolina Community Foundation, along with our sponsors The Thraser Group, Esquif Canoes, Astral Designs, Kind Snacks, Northwest River Supply, Werner Paddles, and Orvis .
Make sure you are following along on our social media pages where we will post nightly updates, and our new Substack page, where the team will be posting thoughts and observations each week. Stay tuned for interviews with the team this month.
Ann Rose, “River Warrior”, Photo courtesy riverwarriordocumentary.com
