Another HUGE Thank You to long time  Friend of the Cheat John Victor! Keep your eyes and ears open, the music line-up is almost  all set to go.

Rick Gusic’s Cheat River Massacre-ence
Registration Now Open

It’s that time of year again.. 85 days till the Cheat Race! We are so pleased to welcome Heather Rau as the race coordinator this year.

ONLINE early registration is now open!  You are able to register using an online form and donate using Paypal.  Early registration is cheaper ($30), and if you register by April 10th you will receive a t-shirt. Save even more time by printing and filling out your race waiver before you arrive.  Online pre-registration will close on April 27th.

Race Day Registration will cost $35 and be open from 1pm – 4:30pm at the FOC meeting booth at the Cheat Fest South Entrance – same turn as you made in year’s past for the Cheat River festival public parking (marked by a banner across Rt. 26 and a large “Cheat Fest South Entrance” sign).  The booth will be straight ahead as you proceed down the hill.  At registration you will receive a race bib and a t-shirt (if you pre-registered). Friday night festival wristbands will be provided upon return of the race bib. Racers also receive a $5 off coupon for Saturday festival entrance.

All race proceeds benefit Friends of the Cheat, who works to restore, promote and protect the Cheat River Watershed, and its recreation access.

More details coming soon!

Click Here to Registration for the 2020 Cheat Fest 5K

Saturday morning of the Cheat River Festival starts with a 5K run that attracts athletes, walkers and families from West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and beyond. The funds raised support the Preston Rail-Trails Committee, who, with support from FOC, have implemented 38 miles of new rail-trail in Preston County.  Runners start and finish at the Preston County Country Club, cruising along the gently rolling course through the grounds of the golf course, the rhododendron lined banks of Buffalo Creek, and along the mighty Cheat River.

Registration: Pre-Registration is open! You can register on the day of the race at the Preston County Country Club between 8:00-9:30am.
When: 10:00 AM, Saturday, May 2, 2020
Racer Perks: Along with a beautiful race, runners receive free entry to Cheat Fest on Saturday. Runners who register by March 31st will receive a complimentary t-shirt.
Results: Event results will be posted on Active.com. Timing service is provided by Miles of Smiles.
Awards: This year we will once again have handmade pottery awards from Keith Koury of Appalachian Clay Works
Race Route: Click here to view Cheat Fest 5K Route in a larger map

It’s true — there’s only 99 days until Cheat Fest 2020 — and we are in the full swing of festival planning. Check out the many ways you can already get involved below. We can’t wait to see ya this Spring!

Volunteer Leaders

Cheat Fest is a groundswell of effort shared by hundreds of folks. We work alongside something near 300 volunteers, many of whom have been around since the beginning, and helping to steer the ship (raft?) is a rock star team of lead volunteers. This year we’re looking for a few new leaders to help us have an even smoother festival! If you’re interested in jumping in on one of these lead roles,  reach out to Lauren directly at Cheatfest@cheat.org! For regular volunteer shift sign-up, click below.

A few new roles…

• Tech Troubleshooter (Day-of): Internet, phones, square store – oh my? We need an on the grounds, on call tech troubleshooting hero festival weekend.

• Education Eddy Coordinator (Pre-Fest & Day Of): Help organize a series of talks that tell the story of the Cheat Watershed and the folks in it

• FOC Store Assistant Lead (Day-Of): Cool, calm and collected? Help us keep the FOC store ship sailing smooth

• Public Parking Person (Day-Of): Passionate about Tetris? Love a good workout? Let’s talk.
• You can sign up for a regular volunteer shift online also!

Help Rainproof the Festival as a Sponsor

Sponsorship directly supports the financial stability of the festival and subsequently of Friends of the Cheat. The difference between a rainy and sunny festival can mean tens of thousands of dollars for FOC, money used to support our salaries and our restoration work. Festival sponsorship helps to ensure a successful festival regardless of the weather. If you’re interested in supporting the festival and Friends of the Cheat as a sponsor, contact Beth Warnick at Bwarnick@cheat.org!

Artists, Vendors & Non-Profits

Applications are live! Are you a vendor, non-profit or artist looking to be a part of Cheat Fest this year? All applications are now live on our website – and are due February 15th, 2020. Learn more and apply below!

Workshops & Public talks

Interested in becoming involved in the festival by hosting a workshop or talk in our education eddy tent? This could be anything from a morning yoga class, a deep dive into the history of paddling in West Virginia, a plant walk, an art project, and beyond! If you’re excited to bring your passion to the festival in this way, contact Lauren at Cheatfest@cheat.org.

VOLUNTEER INFO:

First of all – THANK YOU!!!

Please review the parking plan – linked below. Remember, you are a Volunteer, so follow the flow chart accordingly.
http://cheatfest.org/accomodations/parking/

Backstage Volunteer Potluck

This year we are again going to do the Charcuterie Potluck for our backstage volunteer & VIP snack area. Please bring a potluck item to contribute to this! The idea is for folks to bring either a meat, cheese, cracker, bread, naan, or alternative dipping vehicle, a dip, or the like to contribute. Extra points if it doesn’t need to be refrigerated! Having this be potluck style has really helped us on the organizing end, and we are so grateful that folks have been supportive and excited about this change. We will once again have a Bloody Mary bar backstage on Saturday, between noon and 4pm!

Extra Points: Cooler Potluck

We are also looking for coolers to use during the festival. If you have a spare cooler that you can lend us, let me know ahead in an e-mail, and please bring it to the FOC Info Booth when you arrive. We will have Tape & Sharpies so that all coolers can be labeled with your name & contact info! Thank you.

2019 Cheat River Festival Volunteer Information

1. Gates open again to volunteers Friday at 10am. The gates will close at 10pm Friday and open again to volunteers at 8am Saturday.

2. When you arrive you will check in at the back gate. The back gate will then mark your car and give you a parking pass. PLEASE CARPOOL WITH OTHER VOLUNTEERS – we are really trying to reduce vehicles on site!

3. Next, you will talk to the parking authority. Tell them that you are a volunteer. Check out the flow chart attached. We have reserved areas for volunteer camping.

4. At the Cheat Fest Info booth all volunteers will check in with the volunteer coordinator, and receive their purple VIP wristband, $5 off T-shirt Coupon, 2 drink tickets (one for Friday, one for Saturday), your job description, and your Volunteer Info/Feedback sheet. Do not misplace these things, they will not be replaced!

5. Make sure that the food item that you brought for charcuterie is on ice if necessary. There will be a cooler with ice in the info booth where you can put your item or you can put it in the fridge backstage.

6. The VIP party is Friday evening from 5:30pm to 10pm or until food and drink run out. All volunteers are welcome to come and enjoy food, craft beer, and cranberry vodkas (please bring your own reusable cup or buy an FOC steel pint cup!). Our VIP Party Rockstar Sarah is planning chilli, a goat curry, and a knock out cookie table.

8. You will have access to the volunteer cafe for snacks and beer on Saturday. We are psyched to bring back the Bloody Mary bar again this year – which will be from noon to 4pm on Saturday. Be sure to bring your drink ticket to get your BM. You can snack on charcuterie and drink beer throughout the day. Again, bring your own cup!

If you have any questions, check out the website at www.cheatfest.org.

Thank you so much for everything you have done to bring this to life! Let’s celebrate the river!

Cheers,
Lauren

Friends of the Cheat does more than host the raddest river festival in all the land; most of the time their work focuses on the restoration of waters polluted by acid mine drainage, environmental education, and recreation access projects. This year, FOC took some exciting steps towards rail trail projects that have been more than 15 years in the making. Read about the history of the Preston Rail-Trail Committee and the work forthcoming below, from PRTC member and Friend of the Cheat Janet Szilagyi.

Rail-Trails At Last!
By Janet Szilagyi, April 2019

In 2002, Friends of the Cheat formed the Preston Rail-Trail Committee with the goal of developing rail-trails in Preston County. CSX had announced plans to abandon the rail line along the Cheat River from Rowlesburg north to Rt. 7, the section known as The Narrows. There was also another potential rail-trail opportunity on the old West Virginia Northern Railroad from Kingwood to Tunnelton.

At the time, Executive Director of Friends of the Cheat Keith Pitzer worked for a rafting company which ran trips on the Cheat Narrows, so he understood that having the railroad section along the Narrows become a rail-trail would provide a very special opportunity for people to connect with a beautiful section of the Cheat River, a river that he was now focused on restoring, preserving and promoting. He also understood the potential impact that developing trails in Preston County would have on recreation and tourism in the area.

After many years of meetings, members of the small but dedicated committee learned  much about the process of acquiring support and grants. The 10-mile section of the West Virginia Kingwood Northern from Kingwood to Tunnelton was purchased in April 2015. Then, in April 2016, the section along the Cheat Narrows was purchased. This initial section of the Cheat River Rail-Trail is about 8.5 miles long with the possibility of extending it in the future. The Kingwood to Tunnelton purchase was made in partnership with the Preston County Parks and Recreation Committee, and the Cheat Rail-Trail purchase in partnership with the WV State Rail Authority – with grants from various government agencies and matching grants from local organizations and fundraising efforts.

Early in its existence, the Rail Trail Committee realized that funding was needed for operating expenses such appraisals and surveys as well as funds for matching grants. In 2005, in conjunction with Cheat River Festival, the Cheat Fest 5K race was established as a fundraiser for the rail-trails. The Cheat Fest 5K is run on Saturday morning of Cheat Fest with over 100 runners and walkers of all ages participating.

In December 2018, FOC was awarded over $3 million for development of the ~8.5 mile section along the Cheat Narrows.  This Abandoned Mine Land Pilot Grant will allow for construction of the trail, including renovating the former railroad bridges, developing access points, and covering the contaminated soil to protect public health from the legacy of industry pollution. This three year project will create numerous construction and engineering jobs, as well as partially funding the retention of two full time FOC staff members.  The renovated trail surface will make it easier to walk, bike, access by wheelchair, or push a stroller to see the whitewater, incredible rock formations, and beautiful mountain scenery. There will also be an emphasis on working with the nearby towns of Kingwood, Manheim, and Rowlesburg for tourism and economic development.

Work on the West Virginia Northern Rail-Trail has included stabilizing or razing buildings at the land known as “The Shops” in Kingwood to prepare that area as an access point. On April 13, 2019, the improved first mile of trail was introduced to the public and the Tunnelton access was dedicated. The Tunnelton Depot has been restored and is now open as a museum on Sunday afternoons from 1 to 3 p.m. June through October.

The promise of having access to these two rail-trails in the near future is exciting for the committee members who have put countless hours into the projects and equally exciting for those yearning to get out on the trails.

Good morning, Earthlings!

What a perfect morning it is. Having been spending the month camped out on the Cheat, I’ve had a front row seat to the changing season. From the rapids in the Cheat Canyon, I’ve watched the forest floor transform from a canvas of hummusy brown, first only highlighted by the mosses and pioneering ramps, to what is now a verdant rainbow dotted with the purples, blues, yellows and whites of spring ephemeral flowers. The corridors of the Cheat Watershed are truly bursting with life; the redbuds have burdened me with a sensation of unmanageable happiness and sometimes it all just moves me to dance.

It’s not just the plants — spring storms engulf my camp in the low roll of thunder. The warm air that accompanies them means my skin can once again breath after shedding my winter layers. Yesterday, I found a Morell, and oh, the rain! The river rose 6 feet in a day last week and at the same time the water warmed up to something near 60 degrees *perfect* and all I want to do is roll around in my kayak like a river otter. What a magnificent home this earth is, especially here at the Cheat. We are the luckiest of earthlings!

For me, this is all the motivation I need to keep me moving through the long days of organizing that lead up to the festival – because, what can be better than to celebrate this river, in the Spring, with so many folks who have loved this Appalachian ecosystem for a quarter century or more — and dance?

Everything you’ll need to know for this year’s fest is below. See you in 11 days.

Happy Earth Day,
Lauren & Friends of the Cheat

Click Here to See All the Fest Info In One Spot

Good morning, folks!

We’ve just updated our 2019 Music Line-up page to include the set times. Check em out, start your dreaming and scheming, and get your early bird tickets online now – just $30 for Friday AND Saturday.

MUSIC LINE-UP HERE

Did you know that all profits from ticket sales go directly towards supporting the work of Friends of the Cheat, and we really appreciate when people get their tickets ahead of time 🙂

Click Here for Tickets! 

Big Thanks to Dylan Jones & Highland Outdoors for the excellent story in their Spring edition. Find it, for free, in establishments all over the state, or read the article below!!

Silver Lining: 25 Years of the Cheat River Festival

It’s April! It feels springy! The river is running! Every year, Liquid Adventures holds the Cheat River Training  to help paddlers prepare for the annual Down River Race (now an an International Canoe Federation Ranking race – register here!). Read below to learn more about this cool group!

“What is Cheat Training?” When you see 40 DC boaters on the Cheat River every Saturday in April, you may ask that question. The short answer is that Cheat Training is two months of paddling with Calleva, in DC and WV, to get you in shape for paddling the Cheat Canyon Race. Our goal is to get intermediate paddlers ready to run the canyon without a leader; looking out for themselves and each other. But it is so much more than that! When folks sign up, I am not sure they truly understand what they are getting themselves into.

It will snow, and we will paddle. While this sounds miserable, and it is, you are miserable with 40 of your friends. The truth is that it really isn’t that bad. It’s lovely, actually. You push yourself to a different place, dig deep, and come out the other side stronger and more confident. Those snowy, cold, ice-on-the-brim-of-your-helmet type of days are the ones that Cheat Trainers talk about for years.

On Saturdays in March we paddle downriver on the Potomac, from just below Great Falls, 11-miles down to Sycamore Island. It is a lot of flat water; exhausting but also awesome. By the time we drive up to the Cheat in April, we have a month of endurance work under our belts and are ready for the 10+ miles on the Cheat.

And what an incredible 10 miles it is! Cheat Trainers get to see spring hit the canyon. The first weekend often offers frozen waterfalls and baren trees. By the time the race comes around, that first Friday in May, the sun is glaring and the trees are green all the way up the canyon walls on each side. We get to know the river at a variety of water levels and temperatures in springtime.

We come for the paddling, but we all stay for the community. Our long boat pushers are an amazing bunch on their own, but surround them with 40 of their peers and things start to get turned all upside down. At any point during Cheat Training you could cry from laughing at Jon Becker, get handed a homemade beer from Mark Eakin, get thrown in a van by Tom that fits 12, but there is already 20 in there, or wait an extra for shuttle because a tree has fallen across the take out road.

Cheat Training to me is so much more than just a paddling event; it is a lifestyle, a rite of passage for paddlers on the Potomac River, and most of all an adventure with friends. I wait all year for Cheat Training to start and I am always sad when it ends, but I know that the memories I have made with everyone will hold me over till March the following year.

Read More About Cheat Training

 ~ Steveo and Ashley– Calleva’s Liquid Adventures

Register for the Down River Race