DDRC River Trip Description


Date: March 24. 2013		Sponsor: DDRC
River: East Fork of the Trinity River near Rockwall, TX		Trip Leader: Dale Harris
Reach: Hwy 205 to the East Fork of the Trinity (4 miles)		Phone: 972-814-2633
*Difficulty: Flatwater - no rapids (See scale below)**		E-mail: dale_harris@sbcglobal.net
Rendezvous: 12 noon @Hwy 205 (see map)		Required Skills: Basic flatwater paddling
Backup Plan: McInnish Park, Carrollton		Confirmation Deadline: ASAP

This trip will be on a Sunday afternoon starting with a picnic lunch. This a new place for an Urban Paddle it looks like a lot of fun but it can be very muddy if it rains before the trip so I have included a back-up location. So please check the DDRC WEB Page or Meetup Saturday night March, 23rd To be sure which location to go to.

We will meet at the Rt 205 bridge at 12 noon. We will have a picnic lunch and get on the water by 12:45 and paddle out to Lake Ray Hubbard (~1 mile). Then paddle a short distance to the East Fork of the Trinity and paddle approximately a mile up the Trinity before turning back. This location is a well used dirt road and parking lot. But it gets muddy and slippery when it rains.

Several members have asked for an Urban Paddle on a Sunday because they work on Saturdays. Hopefully the weather will

Contact Dale Harris for questions or if you’d like to come 972-814-2633.

Gear Requirements:

Just about any canoe or kayak will do - the only hazard may be a little wind on Ray Hubbard for a short distance, life jackets, water bottles, rain gear, folding chair, sun screen.

Meals:

Picnic lunch

Back-up Plans:

If it rains or rain is in the forecast we will move this outing to McInnish Park – check the DDRC WEB and Meetup Saturday night March 23^rd.

Driving Directions:

Rt 205 @ Ray Hubbard:

From RT 635 take Rt 78 to Wylie, TX. Stay on Rt 78 until you get to Rt 205. Turn right on Rt 205 for about 2.75 miles and look for the bridge going over a stream that feeds lake Ray Hubbard. Turn left immediately on to a dirt road into parking lot. See map below.

You can also take FM 544 from I-75 to Wylie and turn left onto Rt 78 to Rt 205.

Alternate, Take I 30 east out of Dallas to Rockwall. Take Rt 205 exit and turn left at light. Follow north through Rockwall to river crossing.

McInnish Park

From RT 35E get off on Sandy Lake going west. Turn into McInnish Park and make an immediate right go under the Sandy Lake Rd bridge and follow the road around to the parking lot. See map below.

You can also take President George Bush and get off at Sandy Lake Rd. Again go west and turn into McInnish Park.

Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight, self-rescue is easy.

Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed.

Class III: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims.

Class IV: Advanced. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must" moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting is necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. A strong eskimo roll is highly recommended.

Class V: Expert. Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to above average endangerment. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is mandatory but often difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is difficult even for experts. A very reliable eskimo roll, proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential for survival.

Class VI: Extreme. One grade more difficult than Class V. These runs often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. This class does not represent drops thought to be unrunnable, but may include rapids which are only occasionally run.

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Last updated March 19, 2013