|
The Six
Difficulty Classes
A particular section of river is
rated according to it's most challenging rapid. When in doubt about what's ahead
always pull over and scout first. You can always walk around a rapid you don't
feel comfortable running.
 Class I:
Easy.
Moving or flat water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious
and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue
is easy.
 Class 2:
Novice. 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. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are
designated "class 2+".
 Class 3: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which
can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control
in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers
may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current
effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Scouting is advisable
for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is
usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids
that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated
"class 3-" or "class 3+" respectively.
Class
4: Advanced.
Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in
turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large,
unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers
under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy t urn
may be needed to initiate
maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest.
Rapids may require must'' moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting may be
necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high,
and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue
is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong Eskimo roll is highly
recommended for kayakers. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty
range are designated "class 4-" or "class 4+" respectively.
 Class 5:
Expert.
Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to
added risk. drops may contain large,
unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding
routes. rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high
level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to
reach. at the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined.
Scouting is recommended but may be difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is
often difficult even for experts. A very reliable Eskimo roll, proper equipment,
extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential. Because of the
large range of difficulty that exists beyond class iv, class 5 is an open ended,
multiple level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc... each of these
levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. Example:
increasing difficulty from class 5.0 to class 5.1 is a similar order of
magnitude as increasing from class 4 to class 5.0.
Class
6: Extreme and exploratory. These runs
have almost never been attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty,
unpredictability and danger. the consequences of errors are very severe and
rescue may be impossible. for teams of experts only, at favorable water levels,
after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. After a class vi
rapid has been run many times, it's rating may be changed to an appropriate
class 5.x rating.
|
