Dallas Downriver Club

Cruising the Colorado

Date: January 3rd, 4th, 5th  2014

Sponsor: DDRC

River: Colorado River

Trip Leader: Tom Taylor

Reach: Webberville to Bastrop   

Phone: 214-335-5058

Difficulty: Flatwater – level 1 rapids* (See scale below)

E-mail: tomtaylr@swbell.net

Rendezvous: 9am @ Little Webberville Park

Required Skills: Basic flat-water paddling with Class 1 rapids. If the river gets up to 800CFS it may be a little difficult for beginners.

Backup Plan: We’ll cancel in case of rain or high water.  

Confirmation Deadline: ASAP

 

Trip Description:

This trip will be on Friday January 3rd at 9am. We will run the shuttle (Cooks Canoe Rental) at 10am and be on the water at 11am.  We’ll paddle for a couple of hours and have a picnic lunch. Friday, camp at 'Resort Island', Saturday, 'Freeze Trip Island', take out Sunday at Bastrop 'Fisherman's Park'.  Saturday - Sunday paddlers can meet us at the 969 Bridge west of Bastrop and paddle to 'Freeze Trip Island'.  Use my cell number 214-335-5058 (I'm a rain or shine paddler and camp spots are dry at 500 - 600 cfs) but anything over 800 cfs would be dicey for new paddlers.

See the river gauge:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08159200&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

Please check the DDRC WEB page and DDRC Meetup for cancellation due to high water or heavy rain. After all it is winter time. Contact Tom Taylor for questions or if you’d like to come 972-308-7939.

Gear Requirements:
Just about any canoe or kayak will do. Bring life jackets,  water bottles, rain gear, folding chair, sun screen.

Meals:
We’ll have 7meals on the river starting with lunch on Friday.

Back-up Plans:
There are no backup plans if this trip gets cancelled. Check the DDRC WEB Page or Meetup before heading out.  

Driving Directions:
Take N IH 35 South to Austin to Rt 183 Southeast to E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd going East. E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. turns into Webberville Rd. continue East to Webberville and Little Webberville State Park.

Alternative: Take N IH 35 South to Austin to Rt 130 / 45 bypass around Austin. Take Webberville Rd. continue East to Webberville and Little Webberville State Park.

 

* International Scale of River Difficulty
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 May 10, 2012