Our First White Water Adventure
After taking a lesson in white water kayaking, and after
playing around a little bit a Rio Vista, Donna and I decided to take a trip to
New Mexico to try our luck on the Rio Grande River. We hooked up with an
outfitter who provided us kayaks. We both got into a Liquid Logic XP 9, a type
of kayak known as a “crossover.” The XP 9 has a “drop down” skeg which, when
deployed, helps a paddler go in a straight line. This is especially important
for beginner paddlers and for experienced paddlers as well. When you are
paddling a long flat-water stretch with low flow you will learn to love your
skeg. This is what the XP 9 looks like (www.liquidlogickayaks.com).
Anyway, we knew nothing about the levels of rapids before we
embarked on this trip. If we did, we may have had second thoughts. The section
we decided to run is called The Racecourse. This is what the website http://southwestpaddler.com
has to say about the Racecourse: If you
are looking for a popular whitewater run of short duration on Class III to IV
rapids, then Racecourse is the place to be.
Class III? Class IV? Let’s see. Here are the most common
definitions of Class III and Class IV rapids.
Class III: Class III rapids consist of fast-moving water
that have high, irregular waves and
narrow passages that often require precise maneuvering. Inexperienced
kayakers should scout a Class III rapid before entering it to make note of the
route they should take.
Class IV: Class IV rapids are typically long, difficult rapids with constricted passages that often require
complex maneuvering in turbulent water. The course may be hard to determine
and scouting is often necessary. A paddler should know how to eddy out quickly
as well as have a strong roll. Class IV rapids normally require scouting before
they are run.
High, irregular waves and
narrow passages that often require precise maneuvering? Long, difficult rapids with constricted passages that often require
complex maneuvering in turbulent water? Oh, swell. Well, we were committed so there was no chance to chicken
out.
We started off by practicing ferrying across the river. We
did pretty well until I decided to go around a big bolder rather than in front
of it. I flipped over, wet-exited and then learned how to get back into a kayak
when you are in the water. It is not
that easy. Not to self: practice white water kayak re-entry.
I will admit that on the first run down The Racecourse we
were very, very nervous. When we did it the second time it seemed relatively
easy. Not easy—just relatively easy.
Here is short video I put together using pictures from our second run.
