Introduction
In this course, we will emphasize "Look before you leap". It is real important for your safety to scout either from your boat or on land the line/s you plan to take in running each rapid. Visualize how you plan to run each rapid and "stick" your line!
How to paddle in current
As you know, it is always safest paddling with other boaters. That way if you get in trouble, someone will take notice and provide assistance if necessary. When paddling in a group, keep an eye on the boater in front of you and observe how well they are managing the rapids downstream. Think of them as a cheat sheet. If they get stuck in a sticky hole you might not have noticed, you still have time to avoid the same fate. If they drop out of sight real fast, you know you are coming up on a ledge. If they ricochette abrubtly to the right, there is probably a reaction wave on the left. To provide that safety factor, try to hang back several boat lengths. This also has the added advantage of helping you avoid running over top of the paddler you are following.
A key difference between experienced boaters and novice boaters is how far downstream they are looking. Advanced boaters look a good distance downstream, often 100 yards if possible. They are not as worried about the "little stuff" close by and deal with waves and cross-currents using their hips as shock absorbers. Novice boaters are fixated on what is immediately in front of them or worse yet, the PFD of the paddler they are following. A great way to practice this skill is leading on the easier rapids.
In addition to looking downstream, it pays to look on each side. If the paddler you are following gets in trouble, it helps to know if there is an eddy on the side you can quickly grab so you don't meet the same fate. Sometimes a drop looks very different up close. You may discover a pinning rock you didn't anticipate. By avoiding tunnel vision, you may see an easier chute than the one you originally planned.
In addition to keeping an eye on several boaters downstream, occasionally look back to make certain you haven't lost anyone behind you. If the paddlers in your group are are out of site, stop in the eddy or slack water below so you can regroup. Even if you are a novice and lack rescue skills, you can always blow your safety whistle if someone gets pinned in the rapid above.
Spacing/Avoid "tunnel vision"
Many inexperienced boaters either crowd to the front hoping to follow someone down rapids or more commonly migrate to the end of the group to see everyone's lines and choose the best one from their perspective. Both strategies come with considerable risks. The front paddler "The Scout" often catches many eddies looking for potential dangers like strainers so they can signal to the rest of the group potential pitfalls. If you follow this person too closely, you may very well end up passing them and running the rapids blind. Migrating to the rear of the group tends to spread the group way out so they can't provide mutual protection. The Scout and the Sweep work together to adjust group spacing which is very dependent on the type of rapids. A good rule of thumb is don't leave your eddy until you can see a safe passage towards your next eddy downstream. If the eddy is full - wait. Following too closely essentially makes that impossible. You also want to avoid wide separation. If you take a swim or get stuck in a river feature, you really want a fast response time from your rescuers and that's not feasible if tghey are 50 yards downstream.
Tunnel Vision is another challenge. Many beginners have a very narrow and short field of vision. It's always good to look around for other options. Recognizing alternate eddies is valuable if the eddy you planned to reach is full or blocked by something like a strainer or another boat coming downstream. Busy rivers like the Lower Yough bring additional challenges like boats overtaking you - often with little or no warning, you need to be adaptable. Another common form of tunnel vision is simply following someone dopwnstream. Ask someone that practices this behavior what they thought of the rapids (or run) and they will decribe your PFD accurately down to every detail. If you make a move they don't expect - panic ensures. If you slow down to choose a better route you will get run over. This can also be a sign that the run a a bit over their skill level (or certainly comfort level).
Scouting
Scouting either from your boat or on land is how we prevent accidents. To stay out of trouble, don't run any drop you can't see the route on or know the route is clean from a paddler signaling you from below. Always assume a tree limb may be hidden out of site. Most of the time, we break down rapids and navigate from one eddy to the next. Each eddy gives us a better look at the rapids below. This is known as boat scouting. When you can't see a clear line to your next eddy, it is time to land your boat on shore, get out and take a look from a higher vantage point. When scouting from shore, I like to crouch down closer to kayak sitting height periodically as I return to my boat. This helps me to pick out various markers I can actually see as I run the rapid. Here is a nice video explaining scouting:Scouting.
On challenging rapids, unforeseen challenges may come up. Perhaps you will get thrown off course by a side wave you didn't account for. You might flip and roll up off your original line - it happens. That eddy you had planned to catch may become occupied by someone else and full. You need to plan for these contingencies with a Plan B. This is where scanning to the side and further downstream pay immense dividends. This is also why practicing leading is so important - eventually, you will be in the lead.
Portaging Hazards
Don't mess with strainers or manmade structures like low head dams. Both these hazards are a losing proposition. This is a big reason scouting is so important to safely running rivers. If a rapid's difficulty is well above your skill level or the consequences of a mistake are too severe, land your boat and carry around the hazard. This is where good judgment is crucial to safety. Another rule of thumb, if you need to watch everyone in the group run a rapid before you have enough nerve to run it yourself - do everyone a favor and portage. The rapid will be there in the future when you have gained sufficient skill to run it confidently and safely.
Eddies Are Your Friend
Eddies are your most important friend when running whitewater. Eddies are calm water behind ledges or large rocks. Beginning boaters find eddies on the sides of rivers easiest to identify and catch. More seasoned boaters can also find smaller midstream eddies. Think of eddies as rest stops in a rapid where you can take your time determining where to go next.
Eddies come in all shapes and sizes. Eddy hopping is the process of navigation from eddy to eddy. This is how we manage to stay in control. When planning your next move, always look for the next eddy or slow moving pool of water. If you can't see a clear navigable line to that next destination, bring your boat on shore and scout from land.
The V's
Water flows around boulders or large rocks. Taking an Arial view, they form what is known as an upstream V. Most of the time, we want to avoid running into boulders or upstream V's. Water typically forms a nice dark colored tongue between two boulders. This tongue gets more narrow further downstream. This is known as a downstream V. The water is much deeper in downstream V's and this enables a safe passage. When the tongue runs out, we often have nice tail waves. On the sides of the V are eddies. Here is an excerpt from a book on recognizing V's: V's.
Waves
Waves are a great deal of fun to run and one of the safest features in whitewater. The easiest way to run waves is to keep your boat perpendicular to the wave front. It helps to paddle through waves pretty much at the same speed as the current. This helps to avoid irregularities in the waves or cross waves from pushing your boat off course. On larger waves, you can get the best view of downstream from the wave tops. The top of the wave is also the easiest place to turn the boat. Waves.
Catching Eddies
Eddies come in all shapes and sizes. Many are relatively placid and very easy to paddle into. Some are what we call "Dynamic Eddies". Dynamic eddies are formed next to fast moving current. These eddies have a well defined drop off the main current into the eddy that we call and eddy fence. One side of the eddy fence, the water is trucking downstream usually in a tongue. The other side of the eddy fence in the eddy itself the water is moving quickly back upstream. When catching these eddies, it is real important to lean the downstream side of your kayak up in the air to compensate. A great way to picture what is going on is to compare this to swinging on a rope around a pole. Your body naturally leans towards the pole just like you want to lean your boat towards the eddy. As always, keep the top part of your body upright for balance, only the boat is leaned. You should also plan to catch eddies as high as possible, closest to the rock forming the eddy. Yes, the forces are greatest here and need to be managed. Many novice boaters make their move far too late and end up missing the eddy completely. Eddies also become much weaker (less current flowing back upstream) the further down you catch them. The upstream current enables you to hold your position in the river. Here is a nice demonstration: Eddy Turns, Gliding Eddy Turns.
Ferrying
When we boat, we typically take a zigzag course down the river. You might not be able to see below your drop on the right side of the river. If there is a better view from an eddy on the left side across from you, you need to ferry directly across to that eddy. The ferry maneuver balances the downstream current force against your upstream paddle strokes. Moving sideways is simply a matter of setting a balanced angle pointing to the other shore, typically facing upstream. Although this is from an open boat perspective, the approach for kayaks is very similar: Ferry Tips 1, Ferry Tips 2.
Pillows
Water often forms a pressure wave on large rounded boulders. If you are swept into this formation, it is important to lean the boat towards the boulder, not away. Pretend you have an open canoe. If you lean a canoe away from the boulder, it will quickly fill with water and capsize. As you ride up on the boulder, it will be easier to spin around the rock either forward of backwards - go with whichever is easier.
Holes
Holes are typically underwater ledges. Water flows over the ledge forming a depression. Water returns back upstream to fill in that void - this is called the backwash. The backwash is very aerated and unstable. For novices, the best approach is avoiding these features. If you can't avoid the hole, lean a bit forward and paddle quickly to "punch" the hole. Ideally, try to time a strong stroke that reaches over the hole just as you enter the hole to pull you through. All holes (except man-made ones) on novice/intermediate runs can be swum out of should you flip and swim. Here is a good article on punching holes: Punching Holes.
Horizon Lines
In general, you can't see down a rapid with a horizon line until you are almost at the lip. You really need to ask yourself if you can easily paddle away from that lip if necessary. If you can't, it is always a good idea to get out and scout from shore unless someone gives you the "All Clear" signal from below. There may be a tree laying below that blind drop that could kill you - why take unnecessay chances. If it is OK to proceed, take your time approaching the lip so you can make last minute entry point adjustments. You can use your back ferry or draw stroke to move sideways to line up. Once you see your line and destination to the next eddy, go for it.
Paddle in Control
If you notice from the above river running tips, I never said paddle as fast as you can. When skiing you don't point your skis directly downhill and tuck - that is a sure fire way to get in an accident. Many novices and intermediate boaters unfortunately try that approach with pretty much the same crash and burn rates. Good kayakers break down tough rapids into a series of easy moves with lots of eddy rest stops. Most of the time, you paddle roughly the same speed as the current so you control your route through down the river rather than the current controlling you. Punching holes is one of the few places where you need a bit of extra speed to break through the backwash.
Here is a nice video on river running strategies: River Running Strategies. This is a great article that pulls this whole topics together: Sample River.
