Ice Breaker Weekend used to be held in March when there was a possibility guests might have to crunch through shore ice before sliding their inflatable rafts into the New River in West Virginia.

It was moved to April because there was a better chance of warmer weather and the only ice-breaking to be done was to chill cold drinks for consumption after the trip.

And that's what 100 guests of River Expeditions experienced when they celebrated the 28th Annual Ice Breaker Weekend April 10-11 in the New River Gorge National Park.

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The air temperature climbed to the mid-60s and the water temperature was in the mid-50s. Guests rented wet suits to stay warm while paddling about 14 miles from Stone Cliff Beach in Thurmond to Fayette Station rapid under the New River Bridge.

"It was a wonderful day," said Heather Johnson, 41, a veteran river runner who owns and operates the company with her husband, Rick, 46. "The river level was approximately 5 feet above normal, which translates to 10,000 cubic feet per second. It gave the guests a great ride."

A cubic foot of water is about the size of a basketball. To appreciate how much water that is, imagine standing next to a tree along a riverbank and watching 10,000 basketballs shoot past that tree every second. March Madness pales by comparison.

Although most rafting companies have specific colors for their rafts, paddles, life jackets, windbreakers, buses, trucks and buildings, River Expeditions features a variety of colors, thanks to its recent acquisitions of three competitors.

The Johnsons bought the river-running license of Extreme Expeditions in 1996. In 2008 they purchased Appalachian Wildwaters and USA Raft and Rivers. Heather Johnson's father Eddie Lilly, who founded Rivers in 1982, started the Ice Breaker Weekend that year.

The Johnsons changed their company name to River Expeditions to acknowledge the new acquisitions. But it will be awhile before its distinctive red will be reflected unanimously in its attire, equipment and vehicles.

As a result, the group that ran the river on April 10 featured a kaleidoscope of colors: blue and yellow self-bailing rafts, black wet suits, orange life jackets, blue and green windbreakers, yellow helmets and paddles with yellow blades and black shafts.

And some of its veteran guides have colorful names:

Richard "Goldie" Lilly, 44, a river veteran of 19 years known as "Goldilocks" when he wore his long blonde hair in dreadlocks.

"Neon" Leon Gibson, 56, a guide for 17 years and known for his colorful stories.

"When guests ask for an authentic West Virginian with the hillbilly twang and all, we assign them to Leon," Heather Johnson said. "He's one of our most requested guides."

The first few miles of the trip consisted of several miles of flat water where the guides and customers became better acquainted. The importance of teamwork and bracing in the 10 person raft was emphasized and paddling in unison was practiced.

After a stop at Fossil Rock, a large boulder on the right side of the river, the guests encountered Surprise Rapid, a howdy-do-to-you "hole" in the river that would make Pittsburgher pothole jumpers proud. It frequently ejects those who aren't braced properly.

Then it was on to the roiling whitewater and big waves of the major rapids -- Pinball, Upper and Lower Railroad, the Keeney Brothers (Upper, Middle and Lower), Double Z and Fayette Station.

Guests reenergized themselves with a lunch of deli-style sandwiches, taco and veggie dips, soft drinks and homemade cookies

The company's Spring Special -- $95 on Saturday, $85 on Sunday -- continues through May 16. It includes one day of rafting on the second oldest river in the world (the Nile is the oldest), two nights of camping, a barbecue cookout Saturday evening, two Continental breakfasts, complimentary beverages and live entertainment. Base facilities include an 18-person hot tub, massage therapy, rustic cabins, RV sites, outfitter and camp stores, Red Dog River Saloon and the Fire Creek Lodge and Conference Center.

For more information, go to www.raftinginfo.com or call 1-800-463-9873.

First Published: April 25, 2010, 8:00 a.m.