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The area where I live has experienced a lot of rainfall recently and local rivers and creeks are very high. One favorite hot spot is Split Rock Creek, a little-known kayaking gem that offers great beginner whitewater paddling when conditions are right—usually class II – II+ (III)—and typically runs at or below 500 cfs (give or take a few). The recent flooding has pushed it to over 4,500 cfs (that’s nearly 10.5′).
Paddlers familiar with this creek get pretty big smiles on their faces when the water reaches these levels, but novice paddlers should take extreme caution. These levels can toss your boat with ease and there are a lot of dangers that, if you don’t know exist, may put you in serious trouble especially if you aren’t wearing a helmet or spray skirt.
If you ever have the chance to paddle this stretch of river, please go with someone who has paddled it before. It could literally save your life.
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Riprap, also known as rip rap, rubble, shot rock or rock armour, is rock or other material used to armor shorelines, streambeds, bridge abutments, pilings and other shoreline structures against scour, water or ice erosion. It is made from a variety of rock types, commonly granite or limestone, and occasionally concrete rubble from building and paving demolition. It is used to protect coastlines and structures from erosion by the sea, rivers, or streams. It can be used on any waterways or water containment where there is potential for water erosion.
I ran across this GREAT RESOURCE from Paddling.net. It shows hundreds of verified and unverified launch sites across North America. A potentially very useful tool when planning your next paddling adventure.
Most low-head dams in existence today are no longer serving a purpose, yet pose significant risk to boaters. More state and local governments should consider altering these structures by knocking them out or filling the downstream side with rock to disrupt the hydraulic. A great example of how low-head dams can be transformed into something useful for the paddling community can be seen in Yorkville, Illinois.
Class II Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. Local examples: The Delaware below the Lamberville Wing Dam (Summer levels); the Lehigh, White Haven to Jim Thorpe at summer release levels (under 800 cfs). Waves up to three foot high.
Ferry: A method of crossing a current without washing down current. The boat faces up current, at an angle to the current. It is paddled up current with sufficient effort to overcome the down current drift of the boat due to the current. The force of the water on the side of boat pushes it to one side. In a back ferry, the boat faces down current and the paddler or paddlers use a backstroke.
Two Dagger Delta’s collecting dust in subzero temps
An exciting new kayaking event is coming to the mid-west. Thanks to all of the organizers – we hope it’s a huge success!
The South Dakota Kayak Challenge is the first marathon-endurance paddling race in the state.
Racers will face 75 miles on the Missouri National Recreational River, starting in history-rich Yankton, S.D., and ending in less than 36 hours in Sioux City, Iowa.
The SDKC portion of the Missouri National Recreational River varies greatly, from narrow channels between islands to areas where the river is more than a quarter-mile wide. Views from Google Earth or even Google Maps can give you an accurate view of the area.
As a first time event aimed at a wide range of paddlers, the SDKC timeframe is 36 hours for all participants. As registrations come in, we hope to develop a series of cut-off times for racing veterans and offer cash prize incentives.
Visit the official site for more information:
http://www.sdkayakchallenge.org/
I just got back from the 2009 canoe and kayak regatta, held on th Big Sioux River north of Flandreau, SD. At the halfway point, we had to portage a lowhead damn… Surefire deathtraps if your not prepared. This is a shot of the damn.
The 2009 Canoe and Kayak Regatta is being held tomorrow, April 24th, on the Big Sioux River. The weather will be less than perfect with rain and wind in the forecast, but the water level is high so the river will be fast. I’ll be glad for my rain gear and chances are good that the pics I bring back won’t depict a bright shiny day like last year (below).
