.Items
Needed for outings: Thin Rope (always!)
Portable Stove & Small
Pot (cold weather)
Signaling Mirror
Firestarter
Dry Clothes
Rubbing Alcohol
Duct Tape (1001 Uses)
Watertight Bag to keep it
all in
Never go ALONE-always take
a buddy
For more
information on Somerset/Cambria waterways contact(Stonycreek Conemaugh
River Improvement Project) SCRIP
or (Greater Johnstown Watershed Association) GJWSA
Clubs overlapping into
PA waters: Check each club website for a Forum
Whitewater
is
an adventurous recreational sport for those who love the speed, the challenge,
and the competition of man against nature. It can be done safely and without
injury if the person takes along knowledge and skills.
This page contains links, tips and resources along with waterway information
and terminology to help you get started.
Having the right equipment,
the knowledge how to use it and a little common sense, whitewater sports
can be the most rewarding and invigorating sport around.
International Scale
of River Difficulty
Class I: Easy - Fast
moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious
and easily missed with little training. Self-rescue is easy
Class II: 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.
Class III: 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 is often required.
Strong eddies and powerful current effects can occur.
Class IV: 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 turn may be needed to initiate
maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must" moves above
dangerous hazards. Scouting is 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.
Class V: Expert.
Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler
to above average endangerment. 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 mandatory but often difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue
is difficult even for experts. A very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment,
extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential for survival.
Class VI: Extreme.
One grade more difficult than Class V. These runs 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. This class does not represent drops thought to be unrunnable,
but may include rapids which are only occasionally run.
Local
Southwest Region Areas For
more listings with Classes, please visit
Riverfacts.Com
Planning
a trip this summer for some whitewater fun? White
Water Excitement.Com to see your dream vacation turn into a reality!
Best Value and Pricing for California River Rafting
The
contents of this Web Site are considered to be public information. The
contents of other Web Sites accessed by links from this server may be copyrighted
by their respective owners. Sites linked from this Web Site have been screened
for appropriateness; however, we cannot be responsible for any changes
in contents on those Web Sites.
Canoeable
Streams in Western Pennsylvania- The stage data are retrieved from
the USGS Real-Time Data for Pennsylvania: Streamflow site and from the
five river basis pages listed at the Army Corps of Engineers' Current Conditions
site as this page is loaded.
Riverbot!
an online river gauge retrieval service-requires registration but is free
to use
A
website dedicated to whitewater paddling in Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Maryland and more where you will find detailed river descriptions, trip
reports, pictures and video clips.
White
Water Adventurers-Ohiopyle State Park alongside the Youghiogheny River-Self-Guided
Whitewater River Rafting Trips
Got
Boof- showcase, for the rest of the whitewater community, our adventures
within the region and beyond...blog spot with videos of local runs
BASIC
FEATURES OF A WHITEWATER STREAM
CHUTES
A chute is the easiest way
through a rapid, look for "V" shapes pointing downstream, the best way
through a rapid is along the tips of the V's. But also keep an eye open
for backwards V's, there's usually a rock at the tip of a backwards V.
It is often easier to see a chute when you are downstream from it, so if
you can't see the chute in the rapid and it's a rough rapid you may want
to get out of your boat and walk downstream first to look at the rapid
from there before running it.
HUMPS AND HOLES
A hump forms over a large
submerged rock as the water is forced up over the rock, the water on a
hump is flat and dark and quite shallow. You could easily scrape the bottom
of your boat against the rock if you pass over a hump. Often times there
is also a hole right after the hump. A large hole can easily suck a person
down and spit him back up a few yards downstream, kayaks and rafts often
get stuck in holes. If you get stuck in a hole calmly but forcefully paddle
downstream until you get loose. If you get sucked down don't panic, you'll
probably pop up again in a few seconds a few yards downstream, but not
for sure, you could get stuck in something under the water, or you could
get your foot stuck in something on your boat which may be stuck in the
hole and not coming with you. Many beginners quit after having a traumatic
experience with a hole. Very skilled boaters like to play around in these
holes but unless you are an expert you should try to avoid holes at all
cost, always keep an eye open for humps and paddle around them.
EDDIES
Eddies are areas right behind
large obstructions in the river such as large rocks where the current is
very slow or even slightly backwards. These are great places if you need
to stop in the middle of a rapid for some reason.
STANDING WAVES
Standing waves usually form
in deep water so there are usually no rocks to worry about. If there are
rocks they tend to interrupt the smoothness of the wave so keep an eye
out for that.
Swiftwater
Rescue Field Guide- $16.95-There are 49 sections covering everything
from river features and cars in water to HAZMAT and knots. An excellent
quick reference, truly pocket sized and therefore one of the few to be
truly field-usable.
Whitewater
Rescue Manual- $17.95 - Whitewater Rescue Manual is for all whitewater
padlers, beginner to expert. This book presents the best techniques for
self-rescue and rescue of companions on the river.
Many
kayak & canoe clubs offer training for canoeing and kayaking. Check
the club listed closest to your area for more information of what they
offer.
