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well you cat boaters sure make the Cascade's hardest rapids (of which Bridge Wreck is one) look easy!!
It is interesting how cause and effect works. whitewater history is full of situations where people removed debris known as hazards only to find later that the obstruction in question served a role in making the rapid safer or more runnable. Not sure in this case as I am a new comer to the Cascade, but those photos show some large scale, ugly debris for sure!
"Dimple" Rapid on the Lower Youghiogheney River (in Pennsylvania) is a case in point:
It was traditionally regarded as a class IV rapid, however negotiable. It has a prominent pillow rock to be maneuvered past by making a righthand turn just upstream of it.
Anyway there was a Log stuffed underneath it that raft guides used to climb onto the rock to set safety, and eventually someone drowned on it. The Park Service (Ohiopyle State Park) removed the evil log, only to create an even more evil undercut sieve, diverting the current and thus making it even more difficult to hit the pillow with any forgiveness and ride the current (once abundant, now difuse) around the rock and on downstream. Add a "+" to the IV rating now.
A different situation entirely, yet illustrative of cause and effect. Remeber that when you want to remove wood, don't just discard it into the downstream path, either. THINK. What's downstream and how will it get hung up if it floats down there? Try to think about the potential consequences of sending that tree downstream, or establish some plan to swing it to the bank or get it out of the river entirely.
Clearly in this case "Bridge Wreck" sounds as if it's easier and/or safer. I'm all for the removal of foriegn (manmade) debris. Logs and trees? I generally consider wood to be part of the river environment here in the wonderfull N.W. So there's a new stick blocking your favorite drop? Boo Hoo. It's not like this state isn't chock full of awesome whitewater where ever you throw a rock, you spoiled brats! On the otherhand, if it's easy to remove, it could be a fun challenge if thought out properly and executed with teamwork, patience and communication.
But, as usual, I digress...
Edited by wetmouse - 14 Aug 2008 at 10:56pm
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I have yet to experience a smooth log removal... There is alway some big chunk of yelling and pointing .. then more yelling or guessing, and well....
the ones that end in success are really odd. I have always boated the rapid and though.. wow that was a lot of work, we should have left that log in there.
the ones that end if failure are not odd. I have always putin below and though .. if that log were out would I even care at this point.
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