Hanshaw's other choice is Ronceverte to Fort Spring, which he likes for its relative isolation. The Greenbrier as a whole is certainly not a wilderness stream, but this float takes place fairly far away from roads, which gives it a more tranquil air. Hanshaw said that old railroad crossings, stone pillars and shoreline caves also characterize this section. The well-known trout stream Second Creek flows into the Greenbrier here, too. And a real oddity exists as well.

"Old Windy Mouth Cave lies just 600 feet downstream from Second Creek's entrance on river left," continued the outfitter. "Cold air pours out of the cave, and some kind of draft, a vacuum, is created, and the wind there seems to blow all the time.

"This float has no rapids over Class IIs; the Bankers Rock area has some of the more challenging water."

The Ronceverte float flaunts nine rapids, all of which are Class Is and IIs under normal water level conditions. In intensity, both Virgil and I would rate this float as being somewhere between the Caldwell and Fort Springs ones.

OTHER GOOD BETS
The Alderson to Pence Springs (8.5 miles) excursion does not receive the acclaim, as do the three upstream floats detailed above. Nevertheless, Hanshaw believes the trip is very much worth taking. The operator stated that this section only contains a few rapids, all of which are Class Is. He added that this is a very good float for novice paddlers and for families. Long, flat pools characterize this section, and minor rapids sandwich these holes. The take-out is at the Lowell Bridge at Pence Springs; this access point is on river right.

Virgil Hanshaw also likes the Pence Springs to the bridge at Talcott (4.5 miles) junket. This relatively short float is an ideal one for anglers who don't want to spend an entire day on the water. The Pence Springs excursion is very similar to the Alderson one in that both lack major rapids and contain mostly slow-moving pools with the occasional riffle. The scenery for this section is only fair, as numerous private camps and cabins dot the shorelines. The take-out is on river right at the bridge in Talcott.

Hanshaw recommends that float- fishermen do not take the next trip, Talcott to Barger Springs (4.5 miles). Two major rapids loom on this excursion, Bacon Falls and Linsey Slide. Bacon Falls comes by its name honestly as it is a dangerous Class IV drop, and Linsey Slide is not to be trifled with as well. The DNR recommends that paddlers portage both of these rapids.

The final float on the lower Greenbrier is Barger Springs to Willow Wood Bridge (six miles). Riffles, Class I rapids and water willow beds characterize this float, which ends not far from where the Greenbrier enters the New River at Hinton. The next take-out point would be on the New River itself on river left above Brooks Falls.

TRIP ACCOUNT
As noted earlier, Elaine, Dan Hudson and I ventured forth last June on the Fort Spring to Alderson excursion. Anglers can put in off Fort Spring Pike at a series of river-right roadside pull-offs. Of course, my group put in at the Greenbrier River Company's access point. For the first mile or so, the river flows very mildly and in a fairly straight fashion. Look for the best fishing to occur along the heavily wooded shorelines and downstream from water willow beds.