[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          WILDERNESS CHALLENGE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 27, 2005

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, October 8, 2005 46 teams of 
active-duty men and women from military installations around the U.S. 
converged in West Virginia's Gauley and New River Gorge to compete in 
the sixth annual ``Wilderness Challenge.'' I am proud to have such an 
event in West Virginia that allows our armed forces the chance to 
display their skills of physical endurance and of course, bragging 
rights. There is not a better place to host the Wilderness Challenge 
than the New River Gorge National Park. It has superb overlooks, 
historic scenery, rugged Appalachian trails and peaceful valley flats, 
not to mention the world class whitewater. Rafting the waters is no 
easy task, as one could imagine by the names of some of our rapids such 
as ``Big Nasty'', ``Even Nastier'' and ``Heaven's Doors,'' just to name 
a few.
  The Challenge begins with a 20-mile mountain bike race which precedes 
a half-mile swim on the Lower Gauley River, and ends with each team 
tackling a 13-mile stretch of Class III to V whitewater. The next day 
the competitors start with a run, paddle a section of the New River in 
inflatable rubber kayaks called ``duckies,'' and finish with a 14-mile 
hike that entails the steep slopes of the New River Canyon. The whole 
event is sponsored by a whitewater outfitter Class VI River Runners, 
which supplies the event with the rafts and equipment used in the 
outdoor extreme sports match.
  It is really a pleasure for me to see such a group of well trained, 
highly motivated soldiers compete. I know that there is friendly 
competition between the branches of service and West Virginians as well 
as all Americans hold them all in the highest regard.

                          ____________________