KAYAKING
(Photo Tom's Turn Class V Rapids by abkfenris)
Kayaking can be separated into two main categories: river/whitewater and sea/touring. Kayak excursions and instruction in both types are offered for all skill levels. Touring kayaks are designed to navigate in straight lines on inland bays, flat rivers, lakes, estuaries and the open ocean. River kayaking through challenging whitewater is a growing sport, and learning from a professional instructor makes your kayaking experience a pleasant one.
Part of the planning of a kayak trip entails knowing what to expect on your trip. This is not so difficult to figure out when you are kayaking on a lake. For kayaking on a river, however, you should learn about the ratings given to rapids, water level, and even kayakers.
Rapids
A skier is aware that a black diamond run is a lot steeper and more difficult than a green circle slope. Rapids, like ski slopes, vary in their intensity. The International Rating system classifies rapids as follows:
Class A – Lake water. Still. No perceptible movement. met. Even nor
Class I – Easy. Smooth water; light riffles; clear passages, occasional sand banks and gentle curves. The most difficult problems might arise when paddling around bridges and other obvious obstructions. classification
Class II - Moderate. Medium-quick water; rapids with regular waves; clear and open passages between rocks and ledges. Maneuvering required. Best handled by intermediates who can maneuver kayaks and read water.
Class III – Moderately difficult. Numerous high and irregular waves; rocks and eddies with passages clear but narrow and requiring experience to run. Visual inspection required if rapids are unknown. Open kayaks without flotation bags will have difficulty. These rapids are best left to kayakers with expert skills.
Class IV- Difficult Long and powerful rapids and standing waves; souse holes and boiling eddies. Powerful and precise maneuvering required. Visual inspection mandatory. Cannot be run in kayaks unless the craft is decked or properly equipped with flotation bags. Advance preparations for possible rescue work important.
Class V- Extremely difficult. Long and violent rapids that follow each other almost without interruption. River filled with obstructions. Big drops and violent currents. Extremely steep gradient. Even reconnoitering may be difficult. Rescue preparations mandatory. Can be run only by top experts in specially equipped whitewater kayaks, decked craft, and kayaks.
Class VI – Extraordinarily difficult. Paddlers face constant threat of death because of extreme danger. Navigable only when water levels and conditions are favorable. This violent whitewater should be left to paddlers of Olympic ability. Every safety precaution must be taken.
Water Level
The characteristics of a river can change remarkably as the water level rises or falls. As you might expect, a set of Class II rapids can become raging Class IV when the water is abnormally high following spring runoff or heavy storms. Conversely, a Class IV can turn into a shallow pussycat when the water level is low in the late summer. Even normally calm stretches become turbulent and dangerous at flood stage, because the force of currents slammed this way and that by rocks and obstructions creates powerful and dangerous surface conditions.
An International Rating system has also been devised to describe river flow. The classification for a specific river may change from season to season; the following letter designations are used to describe water level and rate of flow:
L, or Low – Below-normal levels for the river. Below-normal depth may interfere with good paddling. Shallows may turn into dry banks and low areas become muddy sandbars.
M, or Medium – Normal river flow. Medium water generally is used to describe good water for rivers with slight gradients and enough depth for passage on the steeper sections.
MH, or Medium High. Higher than normal. Faster flow on gentle gradients. The best flow for more difficult river sections with enough water for passage over low ledges and through rock gardens.
H, or High – Water is becoming difficult to handle. he river is well above normal stage. Kayakers may refer to the strong currents as “heavy.” Small debris may come floating by, a warning that the river is dangerous and better left to skilled kayakers or kayakers whose craft are supported by flotation bags.
HH, or High-High – Very heavy water. Hydraulics are complex. Even slight gradients become treacherous. Debris frequent. Only for experts.
F, or Flood – Abnormally high water, overflowing the banks; current extremely violent; low-lying areas underwater. TV crews show up to shoot tape for the evening news. Not for any boaters except those with appropriate equipment on dangerous rescue missions.
(Photo: Jackson Kayak Star Elite Whitewater Kayak)
Kayakers
Rate kayakers on a scale of I through V. Check your competence against the ratings:
Novice – Little or no Experience with a kayak or paddling.
Class I – Beginner. Is familiar with basic strokes and can handle a tandem kayak competently from the bow or stern in flat water; solo kayakers is familiar with basic strokes.
Class II – Novice. Can handle more advanced whitewater strokes solo or in either bow or stern of a tandem kayak. Knows how to read water; can negotiate easy and regular rapids with assurance.
Class III – Intermediate. Can negotiate rapids requiring linked sequence of maneuvers; understands and can use eddy turns and basic bow-upstream techniques; is skilled in either bow or stern of a tandem kayak; can paddle Class II rapids in a solo kayak or kayak.
Class IV- Expert. Has established ability to run difficult (Class III and Class IV) rapids in bow or stern of a tandem craft; can paddle solo in a properly equipped kayak or kayak; understands and can maneuver in heavy (Class H) water.
Class V- Leader. Is an expert kayakers; possesses the experience, judgment, and training to lead a group of any degree of skill on any navigable waterway and in the wilderness.
Should You Paddle That River?
Three elements must be evaluated before you are competent to judge your ability to handle a river: (1) your ability; (2) the class of rapids; and (3) the river flow level.
Know what to expect from a technical description of a river and from your own skill at the class of rapids and expected water level. Don’t put yourself and your partners at risk. If in doubt, personally inspect the river first, or don’t run it.
Kayak livery operators are excellent sources of information about the rivers they service and usually are quick to warn customers about any unusual situations. When the waters are dangerous because of high levels or unusual cold temperatures, most operators will cancel all rentals. The better ones will give out rain checks. Even if you have your own kayak, operators will be as ready to warn you about dangerous conditions as they are their own customers.
More on River Classification
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