River trips

2.1 metres ........ 19 November 2006

This level is characterised by a remarkable lack of any features in the river, most of the the features that are there are caused by man made obstacles. It is also noticeable that whilst it is quite easy to get the right line, getting the wrong line can dump you with big problems.

Linn

At this level, the Linn provides several interesting possible routes down it.

There are 4 seperate channels over the rocks, each one of which is a significant river in its own right.

The most river left one, the main channel, has the usual significant diagonal standing wave, and at least 100 metres downstream of large whirlpools and boils. Paddleable hard river left, but not for the faint-hearted.

The next channel has a serious stopper along most of its width, however there are two possible routes down it. Hard river left, there is a rather rocky chicken shoot, but if you are more than half a metre from the rock on your left, you will miss the chicken shoot and end up in a nasty stopper. At the river right end, there is fast narrow chute leading into a rough fast stream hard up against the rock wall. This chute is paddleable if your route is spot on, probably best with a bit of a right to left diagonal line to take you away from the rock wall.

The next channel is split by some rocks, and each side of these rocks there is an interesting small grade four route down.

The next channel, the most river right one, has a route down about 2.5 - 3 metres out from the river right side.

Linn bypass

The Linn bypass is running well, and provides a straightforward grade 2 river, however there are obstacles, mostly trees, which need to be avoided, and if the first exit is taken, near the end, there is a neat stopper river left which holds on to you if you want, but is straight forward to escape from.

Wall

Water is coming over the wall.

Wave right hand side of wall

Just about washed out.

Weir

The whole of the weir has water coming over it, and there are stoppers over most of the length of the weir.

The main chute is however smooth and fast, and is the best way down. Provided you come right down the middle, it is quite straight forward.

However don`t be misled by this, the consequences of getting it wrong are severe. The stoppers at the bottom of the weir are not to be messed with - rescues for stuck paddlers would be very difficult.

If there is anyone about whom there is less than 100% certainty that they will get the right line down the weir, they should portage the weir. However this could also lead to problems, as after launching below the weir, you have to get right out to the middle of the river to avoid the groins.

Rapid down to Hell Hole corner

This section is remarkably placid, with few problems if you come down the middle. The man-made groins coming out from the river left bank give rise to significant waves and stoppers which provide good play potential.

Hell Hole corner

The main rapid on the right should be reasonably straightforward, but it may be best approaching Hell Hole corner left of centre, and cutting across to the right as you go round the corner.

The usual playspots just below the drop on the left are getting washed out.

Thistlebrig

Thistlebrig is relatively benign at this level, with the usual turbulant diagonal flow only covering half the width of the river. The river right half of the river is washing straight through.

Wave below Thistlebrig

At this level there are two waves, both of them fast, short, and steep, and surfable with difficulty. If you drop of the first one, you can sometimes pick up the second one.

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