“You need to understand that the rapids ahead are filled with danger. You are going to be pushed and challenged. You need to follow my instruction as I guide you.”

Through the open bus windows the roar of rapids could be heard as the river guide reinforced the important understandings that would lead to a safe and fun river adventure. But through a much different window of understanding transformational spiritual insights are discovered as rafters navigate world-class whitewater with Alpine Adventures.

Alpine Adventures is a “slice” of Alpine Ministries (www.alpineministries.com), which also includes Alpine Bible Camp, Alpine Retreats, and T.R.E.E. (our Outdoor Education Program). Alpine Ministries is a ministry of Appalachian Bible College (www.abc.edu), which is a regionally accredited Bible college educating and equipping servants in the Word of God for effective ministry in independent, fundamental local churches.

MORE THAN AN EXPERIENCED RIVER GUIDING SERVICE

Alpine Adventures started in 1974 as an optional activity during a week of family camp, providing campers the opportunity to raft a fairly calm section on the New River in West Virginia. From that meager beginning, the ministry has grown into a full adventure operation, utilizing the many natural resources located nearby in southern West Virginia.  Alpine Adventures is a licensed Christian river outfitter operating on the New and Gauley Rivers where rafters can experience some of the best whitewater in the world.  

In addition to rafting, Alpine Adventures offers a variety of packages that include other high adventure activities found in the local area, such as wild caving, rappelling, a giant ropes course, hiking, paintball and more.  While all of our activities are teaming with adventure, it is the whitewater rafting that tops the list for most people.  More people climb into a raft or inflatable kayak each year to take on the thrill of the whitewater than participate in all the other activities combined.

Alpine is blessed to have many natural resources as avenues for adventure. They are however merely “tools” for accomplishing a much greater purpose: “To provide participants with quality adventure experiences that lead to the discovery of God's grace; thereby confronting each participant to grow in his/her relationship with Christ and others.”  Alpine wants to introduce people to the saving grace of Jesus, or help them grow in the relationship they have already established with Him.

Sometimes that happens as participants reflect on the beauty and intricacy of God’s creation and then ultimately on God the creator. As the Bible says, “There are things about God that people cannot see—his eternal power and all that makes him God. But since the beginning of the world, those things have been easy for people to understand. They are made clear in what God has made”.  The analogies that naturally come out in the adventure activities provide a window for an individual to better understand his or her faith.  Alpine tries to be very intentional in using these experiences to help them understand deeper spiritual truths. There are a lot of rafting companies that will take you down the river safely --- they do it with a purpose.