Lower River Tryweryn - 13/09/09

Steve T · Lower River Tryweryn - 13/09/09

Carl has kicked off the discussion on Saturday’s course so I’ll start on Sunday’s river trip. This was our novice trip down the Lower Tryweryn – a really good introduction to “proper” river paddling. This is 6km of good grade II (pushing III in places) with a grade IV fall at the end which can be portaged. It’s fairly continuous so it’s never dull although that also means that it can be intense for those not used to it. Five of us ran this last year, and then it was higher due to rain, but I think yesterday it was more technical.

We had a total of 12 on the river, a good split between experienced paddlers and improving beginners who had twelve months or less paddling experience. For many, this was their first experience of real river running (The Washburn is really extended park & play, and June’s Ure run was just an infuriating scrape down).

Chris H and Andy ran part of the top section while we sorted the shuttle out, then Carl, Chris T and I met them at the raft egress to run NRA and Chapel falls, meeting the rest just below this bit for the rest of the river.

Everybody should be really proud of themselves. The first part was remarkably swim-free and everyone tackled the rapids with a degree of skill – there isn’t much of this river which you can bounce down without thinking so it shows that everyone is learning and improving. I think people then started to get tired and lost concentration, or perhaps wanted to practice the swimming techniques learnt the day before, and we started to get the odd swim. Only once did we get the nightmare scenario with several swimmers (three) at once but that was cleared up fairly efficiently.

I think that over half the capsizes were down to trees which were by a long way the biggest hazard yesterday At one point a gardening party set out to hack down one bit of foliage which caught a couple of members out (and someone still has my knife!)

Four of us ran Bala Mill falls, a proper grade IV which needs a bit of thinking about to get the line right. I need to see Darren’s video but I think I nailed the line this time, after screwing up badly last year and running the last bit backwards.

This was a really good trip in excellent weather. Everyone should now be more aware of what to expect as winter’s river running season approaches - this type of paddling is very different to bimbling down Burrs.

For me the revelation of the day was Dave’s Approach. I was impressed with how it handled the grade II stuff – bouncing over most waves and showing more manoeuvrability than I expected it to. By taking everyone's sandwiches he also made sure that if he swam it would be swiftly and safely recovered.

Unfortunately Mike lost his paddle, and I noticed that he has appeared as "speedfreekz" on UKRGB's lost & found section. Good luck in getting it back, but a warning to all to make sure your name & number is marked on all your loseable kit.

I didn’t take many pictures but I will put some on here tonight. In the meantime, I have already put this one as the wallpaper on my work laptop so I'll post that – thanks Dave, an absolutely blinding picture.

Steve

Dave W

What a amazing weekend, I cant remember the last time I had so much fun, I didnt realise you could have such a good time whilst being so scarred and worried. But at least now when people say whats the worst that can happen we can tell them.
The safty course was fantastic, if someone had told me I would willingly throw myself in a fast current over 3 drops and into a big steel grate I would have said they were mad. But I loved every minuite off it.
Then came the paddling which somehow even topped the swimming course, as Steve said I was in my Aproach 10 which handled the rapids as though they were not even there. Even when I crashed into a tree the tree couldnt stop my boat, Then I found its one weekness, we had to paddle through a very tight gap between 2 rocks and because of the leanth of my boat I couldnt turn the corner and got wedged against the bigger rock and turned over.
Then I found because my boat is so big and floats even when upside down, that I could grab the back, climb up and lie on top of it and float down the rest of the rapid that way. As I said a truly Bullet proof unstoppable Boat worth every penny I paid for it.

Dave

LALA

My weekend trip was very emotional.

I thought i was this brave girl who doesnt get scared.

Well i was wrong.

I had a panic attack 3 times. I was so scared it was untrue. I have never been so scared in my life. If you would have asked me yesterday would i paddle this river again i would have said not yet. However if another trip was organised id join in again.

There was a lot of support on the day and i would like to thank everyone for encouraging me, saving me and helping me. Im glad that i continued to run the river as i want to become a better paddler and i feel i little more confident now.

I hit a rock just before a set of rapids started, i tilted my boat away from the rock as i was going to hit it. I was staright over. Chris came to my rescue. I held the front of his boat with my legs up but my bottom just get hitting the rocks below. The water started to slow down and i was able to stand up in flowing water. I couldnt take the pain on my bottom anymore. A big thank you to Chris.

I would like to give a big thank you to Mad Andy as this was my first event where i was terrified. I was stuck in an eddie with a massive rock a few yards away from me. Where the eddie was the water was flowing over some trees and i thought i was going to go down there. I was stuck in this eddie on my own and i just didnt know what to do. It didnt help that i had my small boat out and i was not confident in breakin out and edgin my boat. With the help and guidence from Andy i managed to get past that massive rock with Andy just behind me encouraging me all the way down.

Another terrifing time was when Chris wasnt sure whether to go left or right. I was the 5 person to go down and slightly before, Chris shouted "go left, go left" i tried to get over to the left as fast and hard as i could BUT it was just to late. I was in panic mode. I didnt know what to expect. Anyway i saw one big tree in the way with Dave stuck in it. I screamed and cried. Dave kindly blocked my face from the trees, then he grabed my boat and told me "your ok your not going anywhere". Chris was at the side of the river also ensuring me that everything would be ok. I saw Steve at the side of the river all 3 guys helped me into the side. Thanks guys.

Further down the river again there was a log / tree across the river with a small gap that paddles could get through, again i didnt make the gap. The tree caught me out, i crashed into the log and i went straight over. 1st thought i had, "keep hold of your paddle" which i did 2nd "get the spray deck off" which i did then i was rescued again. Thank again guys. I did seem to be a little calmer during this.

Everyone who was out on the river that day was so helpful, encouraging, life savers etc. I even owe them who said how well i was doing as this gave me more confidence to contiune.

Oh yes and i must not forget our Darren who was stood at the side of the river with his throw line ready to catch me. Well done Darren, the saftey course worked out well for yourself. Unlike me ( i cant throw a throw line, im rubbish) i need more practice.

I want to say well done to the 4 that went down Bala Mill falls. I was so fantastic. I really didnt expect that to be so big and powerful.

Overall i enjoyed being a part of westhoughton canoe club as they are a great bunch of people.

Lisa x

Steve T

Lisa you did brilliantly. I was surprised to see you in your Inazone as the Mamba would have been more comfortable and a bit more predictable. Your paddling was fine, you just got caught out once or twice by the current and by having to find the route through the rocks – you will improve at this the more you paddle as you learn to read the water.

The real problem was trees and we all had our issues with them. We were all relying on Chris (H) who probably knows the river better than the rest of us but of course trees grow and will be different to the last time he was on the river. This is a real problem with natural rivers (as opposed to “managed” sites like Burrs or the upper T) and I always advise staying away from trees if at all possible – they scare me far more than rocks.

At one point you were holding my boat while swimming and I told you to let go as we were heading towards trees. Sorry about that, I could tell you weren’t impressed but you’d have been less impressed if I’d dragged you through the branches.

Don’t worry about being scared, it just means that you are pushing yourself and are outside your comfort zone. Whatever you felt was probably the same as was going through my mind when I was in the eddy above the drop at Bala Mill – that’s right at the limit of what I’m prepared to paddle.

Good to hear that you’re up for more. I hope the next few months will see us take on a few similar rivers if we get as much rain through the winter as we’ve had this summer.

Steve

GrahamS

Bradshaws · Steve's moment of glory

Do you think you have nailed it Steve or are you turning into an American

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZpT1kv6fls

Steve T

woo wooow woooow wwooooooooooooo

matty

Can not me n graham both rescued each other whilst in the our boats fun weekend loved
Unlucky mike for losing ur paddle, lisa u screamed OUCH lol

Speak to u all soon
Want to do them falls now
matty

Lower River Tryweryn - 13/09/09

Steve's moment of glory