White Water Rafting

On this West Virginia Morning, we hear about those who build their own whitewater paddles and have a song of the week from some bluegrass all-stars.

Appalachia boasts some of the wildest rivers on the East Coast, including the Gauley, the Youghiogheny, and the New River. And though whitewater paddling is now popular in the region, it wasn’t long ago that paddlers first started exploring these rivers, designing their own gear and even building their own paddles. Inside Appalachia Folkways Corps Reporter Clara Haizlett spoke with some of these DIY paddle makers about their love for the craft and perhaps more importantly — their love for the water.

In the latest episode of Inside Appalachia, we’ll meet a man who makes wooden turkey calls. However, these aren’t ordinary turkey calls — they’re hand-crafted and feature intricate paintings. We’ll also travel to some of the most beautiful spots in Appalachia to find wildflowers — Dolly Sods and the Canaan Valley of West Virginia. But are these places becoming too popular?

Some rafting guides are making practice runs before the start of the fall season on the Gauley River.Adventures on the Gorge Vice President Dave Arnold…

West Virginia's whitewater rafting industry saw a 3 percent increase in visitors last year compared to 2014.State Division of Natural Resources figures…

West Virginia's Economic Development Authority has accepted its first loan application from a whitewater rafting company since lawmakers allowed the…

A Department of Environmental Protection inspector is searching for an oily substance reported on the New River.Update at 3:51 p.m. ET June 6, 2014 DEP…