The Deep Creek Blog

Tom Wallisch Wins Gold at Winter X Games

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has an article on  Tom Wallisch and his recent Gold at the Winter X Games.   Wallisch is a native of Pittsburgh and started out at Wisp as a kid.   If you missed it, here's a video from the event. 

 

Adventure Sports Center International Defaults

ASCI announced that it has defaulted on loan payments and change of ownership may be in the works.   The Center will reportedly remain open. 

ASCI in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Post-Gazette ran this article on the Adventure Sports Center yesterday. 

Eagles Putting on Show at Savage Reservoir

All Earth Eco Tours reports they've been spotting a lot of junior Bald Eagles on their kayak trips on the Savage Reservoir. 

ASCI Hosts Maryland Canoe and Kayak State Championships this Weekend

The 2011 Maryland Canoe and Kayak State Championships are scheduled for this Saturday at ASCI. 

Garrett Trails Website

The Garrett Trails new website is up and running with a lot of information for anyone interested in local trails.   Visit it at www.garretttrails.org. 

Special Whitewater Releases this Weekend

From Precision Rafting: 

The Upper Yough will have a bonus Saturday release as the lake is full and the power company needs to let out some water.  This is a non scheduled release but will be a good one.  The Savage is going to be released on Sunday for six hrs and will be a great day for rafting. This is the first of three and it is not to busy so it will be a great time. The weather forecast is in the low 80's and lots of sunshine a beautiful day for rafting and a perfect trip for anyone.

We still have room on all the trips and would love to show you great time on the river. This is going to be a great weekend for rafting so give us a call 800 477 3723

ASCI to Host International Canoe Event

Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI)  will host the 2014 Canoe Slalom World Championships — 25 years after the event was held on the Savage River in 1989. The International Canoe Federation selected ASCI after reviewing competing bids for the 2014 event from Vienna (Austria) and Krakow (Poland).

"Garrett County has done more than any other rural community in the U.S. to build infrastructure to host international-caliber whitewater events," said Matt Taylor, ASCI's executive director and a two-time Olympic canoe racer. "We have a perfect whitewater venue for the return of the World Championships."

Scheduled to be held Sept. 16-21, 2014, the canoe championships coincides with Maryland's Star-Spangled Banner 200 celebration — the bicentennial anniversary of the writing of the National Anthem. A relay across water and land will start at Fort McHenry and end in the town of McHenry, ASCI's home. The relay will bring a Star-Spangled banner to the opening ceremony of the event.

Swallow Falls in Winter

Can't make it to Garrett County in the winter?  Here's a video of Swallow Falls State Park from the Cumberland Times-News.  Also, Everything Deep Creek Blog has a post about about a recent excursion with All-Earth Eco Tours in the park.  

 

Garrett Trails Update

Want to know what Garrett Trails has been up to?  Here is a video sent over by Brad Nesline, outlining some new trails being built in Garrett County.  

Win a Deep Creek Lake Kayak Tour & Lesson with Casey Eichfeld on EBay

High Mountain Sports is auctioning off a Deep Creek Lake Kayak Tour & Lesson with Olympian Casey Eichfeld on EBay.Olympic whitewater paddler Casey Eichfeld will be giving a private flatwater kayak lesson/tour to a few special guests on Deep Creek Lake. All proceeds go toward supporting him as a whitewater athlete. The tour includes all necessary equipment including: a kayak, life vest, and paddle from High Mountain Sports. The 1 hour tour/lesson will start at 8:30 AM on Saturday July 31st and the winning bidder may bring up to five guests.  Traders Coffee House will provide pastries and beverages before or after the tour. If there are substantial competing bids they will consider a second chance offer to the second highest bid. The Auction ends on July 28. 

High Mountain Sports spokesperson Steven Green commented “We are excited for this opportunity to help an Olympian who has been training in our backyard.  We were discussing fundraising for his Olympic Training Fund with Oakland resident Sarah Anderson and were super stoked to come up with this idea to help out Casey.

2010 All-American Whitewater Festival at ASCI

The All-American Whitewater Festival is being held this weekend at ASCI.  The festival is a celebration of whitewater recreation in honor of American veterans. On Saturday, check out the Whitewater Parade and Figurehead Contest, get wet and paddle for prizes in the Veteran’s Race, or take a guided rafting trip down the world’s only mountaintop rafting park. Whitewater demonstrations all Saturday as well – watch everything from freestyle kayaking to ‘Mattress Surfing.’ Kayak Club Competition on Sunday. Memorial Day Paddling is open to all and 10% of rafting proceeds go to Team River Runner.
 

2010 Inaugural "All-American Whitewater Festival" at Adventure Sports Center International

ASCI's 2010 Events start off with an all-weekend whitewater festival, May 28-31, in celebration of American veterans. Team River Runner, the national kayak program for injured war veterans, will have their second annual Rendezvous at ASCI, and will put on some whitewater demonstrations alongside a crew of professional extreme and freestyle kayakers during the day.

Friday night is community rafting for $25 starting after 4pm (through the sunset) and a pig-roast "Memorial Feast" to celebrate the start of Memorial Day weekend. Saturday is the official 'Festival Day,' with a kick-off 'Whitewater Parade and Figurehead Contest." Build a figurehead that can attach or sit in the front of a raft, and it will ride down the course for the Saturday parade starting at 11am. Prizes to the most creative and patriotic figureheads. The rest of Saturday will be discounted access for kayakers, whitewater demos (including ASCI's exclusive in 'gonzo' whitewater action, 'mattress surfing'), and the inaugural Veterans' Race, a mass-start kayak and raft race for only $10 an entrant.

Local Ski Patrol Tackle Ultimate Storm Training Experience

Local ski patrol recently participated in a National Ski Patrol Mountain Travel and Rescue training mission. 

Graduates included Fred Fargotstein, Laurel Highlands Nordic Patrol; Andrew Scott, Laurel Hill Nordic Patrol; John and Angelina LaForge, Wisp Alpine Ski Patrol; Eleonore Randolph, Laurel Highlands Nordic and Wisp Alpine patrols; John Majhan, Laurel Mountain Alpine Patrol; John Dyke, Seven Springs Alpine Patrol; and Stephan Kaltwasser and Catherine Patterson, students at Garrett College.

Read more about this challenging experience in the Times-News. 

Need a Last Minute Gift?

Adventure Sports Center International is offering their once a year special - 20% off all gift certificates for $100 or more until December 31, 2009.  Certificates can be used for guided rafting and rock climbing, kayaking, geocaching, and more.   Order online at www.adventuresportscenter.com or call 301-387-3250.