The paddling since my last post has been haphazard at best with big floods to droughts it has been frustrating to say the least. This has led me to participating in the dark art of multisporting! Climbing in the evening has really helped the upper arm strength and core muscles. Walking and running at the weekends is keeping the rest of me fit. So hopefully once the turkey haas been eaten and the rain starts falling, I can run to the shed get the gear out climb up the steep mountain, paddle down the river, swim through the hard narly bit, and run all the way home! Why not? At least it covers all the boxes! Fingers crossed it will be a wet new year.

Here is one for the photo album.

 I know I will be ready will you?

The Tyne tour took place this weekend. So off we trotted up to Hexham to find the North Tyne. Lots of tales of doom surround this section in particular the Wardens Gorge! Ned and I were in big boats so had a fair chance of survival, but Loungy on the other hand brought his playboat - his chances of survival according to the tales we had heard were slim to non. We hopped on the river soon to discover that big boats were the right choice as comfort on the big flatts was much appreciated. The river bimbles its way down flowing steadily with the odd interesting weir and rapid to keep you moving. The scenery was great, the leaves a grand colour.

As we headed down conversation driffted around paddle sport, various boat designs, the big S and our impending doom down stream. We rounded the corner to see the river disappear and mist rising from the horizon alond with yells of terror.

Nah nothing that exciting! The river does however descend rapidly for 200m ish with some big sweet waves and holes nice long boats helped bur Loungy got some good rides too. At the bottom was a river wide green wave lovely surfing all round. The eddy was of course packed with folk, all etiquet had gone out of the window and a bit busy for my liking but I managed to be polite wait a bit and get some good rides. The worst that could happen in the gorge (more of slight tightening of the river!) is fall in at the top and swim all the way down but everyone was and getting out fine no big drama, safe enough. The rest of the river down to Hexham was calm but moving all the way. A very pleasent day out. Cheers.

The man with a can of spam Dan, has been on the prowl again and has asked me to publish his latest.

River safety and rescue

Written by Dan Toward

The reason I decided to write this, is because I am shocked at the lack of safety cover which I have witnessed between various groups on recent trips out boating.

Before I start, this is only my opinion and my personal thoughts on safety and rescue, and is not the gospel of what to do and what to carry. If anybody gains any experience from this write up, then that’s got to be a good thing.

I feel in general that people are pushing there personal boating to a higher level at present, I feel that this is due to the more fashionable creek boating scene. As you push your limit the risks increase. Your thoughts on safety and rescue should be geared up to your grade. Believe me its not nice seeing someone disappear behind a closed in waterfall for more than 5 minutes.

My thoughts on Kit

Buoyancy Aid - Personally I prefer to always wear a harness buoyancy aid when out running rivers regardless of the grade, I also opt to use a cow tail with the harness, I know there is a big debate over cow tail or No cow tail, I can see advantages and disadvantage for both sides. But believe the cows tail is your LIFE LINE

If you are in a situation, where you need a line attached to you , your karabiner is to hand

Try clipping a line to the back of your harness when swimming in water or pinned in a boat!!

In a life threatening situation, time is of critical importance, having a karabiner to hand on a cow tail, reduces time dramatically.

I think people assume a harness is just for rescuing - not been rescued.

Throw lines - I prefer to carry one line. I use the 20 metre HF spectra line. It’s a good all round rope that can also be used for hauling and climbing techniques. Due to the strong inner spectra core. Expensive but highly recommended.

I know some paddlers prefer to carry 2 lines, I can see advantages to this, but feel that if everyone in the group has a line, than this is more than adequate to cover most scenarios.

Waste mounted throw lines. - I liked the idea of always having the line there, tried it but didn’t get on with it - found it to obstructive. Just get in to the habit of getting your line each time you get out of your boat.

Slings- I prefer to carry a longer but slimmer diameter sling great for anchors around bigger trees, lowering boats etc.

This size sling also doubles up as a sit harness for getting in and out of steep/vertical banks.

Ask Glyn about the gorge on Ingelton waterfall run!!!!!!

Knifes- everyone knows the saying if you carry a rope carry a knife, at present I carry a small serrated folding knife which is kept in my front pocket of my B.A

But I’m considering going back to carrying a knife in a sheath attached to my B.A

Old school or what!! Just going back to time factor do you really want to be undoing a zip fumbling around in a pocket to get your knife out to cut a line.

Again this is just my opinion. But would appreciate peoples feed back on this topic

Karabiners- I carry the following

1 screw gate; on cows tail

1 large snap gate; on sling in pocket

1 extra screw gate; kept on throw line------------remove when throwing

1 extra snap gate; in pocket

Prussic-I carry one fairly long prussic which doubles up as a small sling-

Main uses are for setting hauling systems to retrieve pinned boats.

I also regally use a prussic to attach myself to a anchor line when on safety, we used this method frequently in Norway this year. As a lot of the banks where really smooth and slippery which meant you could prussic down your anchor line to a position you wanted, with out the risk of sliding into the river on your arse. Also when coming back up the bank if you slipped then the prussic would simply lock and stop you sliding any further,

If you are not familiar with the prussic then I would seriously advice you to looking in to using them as there uses are endless and they only cost a few quid.

Pulleys- not an necessity but greatly reduce friction on hauling systems there are a few types available but just boils\ down to personal preference and budget.

First aid kit- one per small group should be fine.

All the above pieces of equipment are only going to work if you know how to use them if in doubt book on to a safety and rescue course.

Out on the river

In my opinion there are 2 sorts of rescue on a river, I call these protected and none protected.

None protected, this is when something just happens. You know the times when you are franticly trying to get your rope out of your boat then running to the victim I think this is one of the worst situations as it boils back down to the crucial time factor. But things will just happen this way, you just have to deal with them calmly with good team work, co-ordination and most importantly not putting yourself in danger

Protected, to me this is usually a harder rapid that our group has scouted and assess the risks. We shall then set safety cover up for the main hazard or what is most likely to go wrong. Only experience of white water can tell you this.

The safety cover may be a simple throw rope/live bait or a chase boater.

In these circumstances if your safety set up is right and something goes wrong you should be able to deal with the situation swiftly.

Over the next few months Jack and I shall gather photos of different safety set ups and try and explain why we did it that way etc……

Again this is no safety and rescue guide it’s only my thoughts. My main aim of this feature is to make everybody more aware of safety issues, which may save some ones life one day.

I would strongly recommend anyone going on a safety and rescue course to gain professional experience

Hope this gets you thinking about safety out on the river.

Cheers

Dan Toward

Our roving reporter Mr Dan has been out and about, here is his latest news.

After a good weekend in Scotland at the wet west fest I was keen to get back in my boat last weekend. River levels were low so Danny and I opted for the Washburn, it was a sunny day and the car park was surprisingly quiet. A pleasant change to Scotland.

The people at the Washburn have made a few changes to the river, they are as follows.

First there is a big concrete access ramp about 5m wide sloping until submersed. This makes getting on much easier and friendlier.

Second there is a new gravel road part built down river left of the river for better access. This is still under construction and there are plans for a car park on this side lower down. This will hopefully save crappy shuttles up and down the road.

On the river there are a few changes too making it more interesting.

The main drop as pictured in Rookies blog is the same but the pool below it has had its out flow reduced to try and make the eddies bigger and deeper. This has worked to a reasonable degree a bit of fine tweaking will complete this. Downstream from here there are more groynes and baskets of rocks in the rive creating more features and eddies. Another concrete ramp has been put in for egress on the left making getting out much easier.

About 100m downstream another weir has been installed similar to the one at the top near the get in. But this one is steeper loosing roughly 1m in height and forms a chewier hole and stickier. This is great for cartwheels and loops. The pool below is nice and deep Danny managed to back loop his Burn whilst I bummed around in my playboat! The eddies however are small so you need to be quick with the roll.

Another 30m downstream V has landed very playful and fun. Watch out for the tree below could be an interesting outcome if a pin occurs.

That’s it for physical changes the people in charge are trying to arrange more releases. Overall great improvements so far let there be more to come. A great weekend had by all.

Cheers, Mr Dan

Well this weekend was wet west thingy doo da so we joined the masses and headed north.

Our campsite next to the Etive was great, the insulation paid off so a good kip was had by all. Josh showed up in the morning and we had a fast blast down the river. 

By the time we got back to the top Dan and Danny joined us so off we went for another blast.

Sunday brought the Moriston more fun giggles and a little swim by me it would have been rude not too!

 A good weekend had by all cheers lads and Sarah for being on camera duty!