Pick up your paddles and get ready to ride the river, as the fifth annual paddle trip down the Coal River has been set for June 20, reports Bill Currey, president of the Coal River Group. “We had more than 200 folks involved in the river clean up and paddle even in 2008,” he reports. “They came from all over the U.S. and everyone enjoyed the 11-mile trip.” Starting in 2004, the Coal River Group began inviting people to rediscover the adventure of rafting down the river. From one friend to the next, word of the Coal River’s appeal began to spread like butter in a warm summer sun. What started as just 40 participants has grown to more than 50 regular volunteers with hundreds of annual participants rafting and paddling the river trails. “We now have more than 50 volunteers helping with parking, launching boats and handling safety responsibilities. We have three volunteer fire departments and the St. Albans Fire Department providing vital safety support. The 11-mile trip begins at Meadowood Park, in Tornado, and the river takes the paddlers down the river at a slow, leisurely pace to Lower Falls, where the paddlers must navigate the mild rapids then on to a new West Virginia DNR-constructed take out site at Gateway Shopping Center, in St. Albans. “The event is not a race, it is simply a community float trip that’s sole purpose is to bring life back to the Coal Rivers,” Currey said. The group works diligently to instill pride in others, hoping that by bringing them to the river to raft, they will recognize the importance that the river trails play in the life of the mountainous flora, fauna and wildlife Through the years, the event has become a showcase for people to learn about river clean up programs that the Coal River Group has undertaken. Paddlers are offered clean up bags provided by the DEP to pick up any trash they might encounter on the trip. It is a great event to see different paddle boats, canoes and kayaks and people come from North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida and many other states, according to event organizers. “We never thought of the volunteer effort as becoming a major tourist destination, but it has,” Currey said. Ecotourism, a relatively new concept in the world of group travel, is growing in popularity among travelers and the Coal River Group is strategically placed to make a difference not only for the beautification of the state, but also as an organization that can act as an impetus for drawing tourists to the southern coal fields of West Virginia. Residents living along the river are scheduling parties on their docks and in the backyards to celebrate the river event and many provide water and snacks to paddlers as they navigate the lazy river route. “The Tour De Coal is just a well planned happening, “Currey says, “Weeks in advance volunteers scout out the river route for trash or dangerous conditions. They prepare the put-in and take-out sites. Buses are solicited from area car dealers to ferry attendees from the Gateway Shopping Center parking lot to the starting launch, located in Tornado.” Local Fire Departments provide extremely valuable safety support both on land and by water to watch over the safety of participants. N all, more than 50 volunteers from the Coal River Group membership and many other groups, are involved in preparations. Considerations are being deliberated to provide overnight camping this year for out-of-town visitors who have requested such accommodations. The event is financed by donations from participants and private business sponsors like Moses Ford, City National Bank, AEP, Dow and many others. The excess funds are used by the CRG to help support Coal River clean up programs in Boone, Lincoln and Kanawha Counties. For more information, visit the CRG Web site at www.coalrivergroup.com or call 419-4417.