Whitewater Boating – River and Rapid Classifications

In the United States there are a large number of rivers with whitewater sections. Some of the most beautiful places in the country can only be seen or accessed through a river. You most likely have a nearby river that has some level of whitewater. However, buying all the equipment and equipment can be extremely expensive. Knowing how to navigate the rapids correctly is a learned skill and must be taught properly for you to have a fun, exciting and, above all, safe experience. Hiring a whitewater provider / guide will increase your chances of having a memorable experience and living to tell the story.

River classifications

Basically, there are four different types of rivers in the world. Rivers are classified by their respective age, which will inherently affect the gradient that the river has. In this case, we will deal almost specifically with the rivers of the USA.

– Young: A young river will generally have a steep slope with few tributaries and numerous sections, if not continuous sections of rapids. (for example, Trinity, Animas, American, Rogue, and Arkansas)

– Mature: a mature river will have a shallower gradient and slower flow than a young river and will be wider, with tributaries flowing into it. (for example, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Colorado)

– Old: An old river will have a very shallow slope with a slow and gentle flow. Old rivers are generally very wide and deep with numerous tributaries that include all other river classifications. You will have to travel outside of the US to find these rivers. (for example, Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Amazon, and Ganges)

– Rejuvenated: A rejuvenated river is the result of a tectonic uplift and will generally have a steep slope with little or no tributaries.

Whitewater areas are generally found in young or rejuvenated rivers due to steep slopes, constriction points, and obstacles such as rocks. However, some mature rivers will also have whitewater areas.

Rapid classification

There are six kinds of rapids in the whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing industry. Each one has its own characteristics and no two are alike.

– Class I: Placid, slow-moving, very similar to your bathtub. Good for learning the basics like getting back on the raft, flipping the raft, or practicing your kayak roll techniques.

– Class II: Some undulations and low waves. Good for doing inner tubes or learning to sail and steer your raft, kayak, or canoe.

– Class III: Now we are talking! Fast moving water, low drops and bigger waves. Good for learning more technical navigation techniques. Class III rapids are a fun level for family rafting trips and suitable for children over 7 years old.

– Class IV: Now we were cooking! Very fast water, big drops and huge waves. Class IV rapids are considered expert class. Most Class IV rapids will require at least a couple of years of consistent full-time guiding experience. Don’t attempt without formal river guide training and at least 2000 river miles of Class III whitewater experience. Suitable for people over 16 years old. Most equipment providers will require a swim test beforehand. If you can’t swim or don’t swim well, DON’T TRY!

– Class V: Now we are cooking with gas! Extremely fast moving water, huge drops and massive waves. Beyond the class of experts, we are talking about the class of full professor. Navigating Class V rapids will require years of experience in professional Class IV guides and nerves of steel. Only suitable for those who are not faint of heart and don’t care about hospitals. Rule number one in Class V: Stay on the boat! If you fall off the boat, you will almost certainly end up in the hospital or morgue.

– Class VI: Irrunable, certain death! Class VI rapids are like Niagara Falls; Sure you can run it if you want to, but you won’t!

Excursions

River trips are a great way to get back to nature and a great idea for family fun. River trips are, or can be, not only adventurous, but also educational. Some river trips can be done by private boaters, if they have the right gear and gear, while others are best left to the shipowners.

One day excursions

Day trips can be a lot of fun for you and your friends or family. Day trips run from ¼ day to full day (6 to 8 hours). They can run anywhere from a couple of miles to more than 20 miles, depending on the flow of water. It is best to hire a shipowner for day trips due to the time it takes for a private boater to set up shop and also the availability of river permits.

Night trips

Night trips can also be a lot of fun for friends and family. They are appropriate for sailors and private shipowners. Make sure you have the proper gear, equipment, food, kitchen, bathroom (called groover), and permission, if applicable. You must have experience in day trips and know your limitations to stay overnight. They can go very well or terribly wrong. The weather is usually the reason they go wrong, so be prepared.

Multi-day / expedition trips

Multi-day trips can also be a lot of fun for friends and family. Multi-day trips can last anywhere from three days to a month. They can also be done privately or with the service of providers. If you love rivers, multi-day trips may be for you. If you are a private boater, make sure you have successfully completed several overnight trips before attempting a multi-day one.

Many multi-day trips will require at least two or more boats, as one of them will most likely be a “team” boat. Also, take some time to learn a few things about the area. Hikes, games, and other adventurous activities should be planned in advance. This helps with “downtime” when you are not in the water or can spend two or more nights in the same camp.

Having meals and chores planned in advance will help make the trip go smoothly if you are sailing privately. Knowing who cooks and cleans, as well as post-trip routines, will make life easier for everyone involved. Eating three squares a day is important; it will use a lot of energy while in the water.

If you and your group are not experienced overnight boaters, hiring a shipowner is the ideal option. The vendors will be in charge of preparing the trip, cooking, cleaning, setting up and dismantling the camps and will, of course, have all the necessary equipment, equipment and permits for the river.

Riparian environment

The riverside environment is fragile. The term “riparian”, in this case, is used to describe the river itself, as well as the flora, fauna, geology, and almost everything that surrounds or in a river. Any decent river guide or even you as a private boater should have a working knowledge of the riparian environment and be able to provide your interpretation.

Care must be taken to cause as little impact or footprint as possible at all times while on your river journey. As the sayings say; ‘Take nothing but photographs and leave nothing but footprints’ and ‘Pack it up, pack it up’. Team and gear

As with any other sport, whitewater sailing has some very specific equipment and equipment requirements. Some can be relatively inexpensive to purchase and others can cost thousands of dollars. Because all equipment and gear will be used for whitewater, regular maintenance will also be needed. And of course, since whitewater sailing can sometimes become a contact sport, things will break down or just wear out. Below you will find a list of items required for whitewater boating. Items with an * indicate items required for private boaters and guides.

– PFD (personal flotation device): don’t call them life jackets around the guides. If you do, you might be given this speech: ‘It’s not a life jacket. It will not take you to shore by swimming, it will not save your life; Its only purpose on earth is to make you float! ”PFDs must be USCG Type III or higher.
– Helmet, if applicable. Most equipment vendors will require them for Class IV and above. Some states require them for Class III and above.
– * Flip line
– * Knife
– * First aid box
– * CPR and First Aid Certification: the level will vary depending on the state you are in.
– * Z-Boat & Trailer Repair Kit-for inflatable boats.
– * Spare oars or oars
– * Shooting bag
– * Inflatable boat-raft or kayak (duckling), canoe, whitewater kayak. (Don’t use sea or lake kayaks in whitewater – sure, you can give it a try, but you’ll educate yourself!)

The overall experience

The overall experience, in general, is aimed at adventure and fun! As long as you follow the rules, everything should work fine. I highly recommend hiring a river supplier to help you if you are inexperienced. There is a lot of fun on the river and no two trips will be the same.