1. WHITE WATER PRACTICE SESSIONS - RIVER READING AND SAFETY
Mike
2nd Orleans

2. Introduction Introduction River Reading Clothing and Equipment
Procedures/Signals
Dangers
Proper “Swimming” Technique
Approximately 50 minutes

3. River Reading What’s really going on down there!

4. Concepts of River Flow Volume – really “flow rate” Gradient Velocity
Amount of water passing a point per unit time
Gradient
Average steepness or slope
Velocity
Speed and direction of current
Depends on volume, gradient, obstacles, river bed, river course, etc

5. Simple River Flow

6. River Formations – Constrictions
“white water” happens when the current speed up
Caused by narrowing of banks, rocks, shallow bottom
Called “white” due to air bubbles – less floation

7. Eddies and Eddy Lines Water passes around rock and speeds up
Water behind the rock actually flows upstream
Line between the water flowing upstream and down stream – sharp near object
Also occur at river edge

8. Obstacles Simple eddy behind a rock
Increased water flow, water pours over rock, becomes a “pillow”
Smooth flowing over rock, shallow

9. Obstacles (continued)
Water flow increases, riffles become “curling waves”, have white foaming tops
Further increase in volume and velocity, larger waves, continuously breaking, upstream direction

10. Obstacles (conclusion)
Holes: flow continues to increase, curling waves create circulating water
Ledges: long structure extending over part of river, drops upwards from 2-3 inches, in the extreme a water fall
Recognized by straight line of foaming water

11. “GOOD” FEATURES
Eddies – play the river by eddy hopping, pause to scout/relax
Downstream “V”s - show deep water channel between obstacles, dark water tongue

12. “GOOD” FEATURES (continued)
Haystacks – waves “bouncing” in regular pattern, deep and slow moving water, often at bottom of V’s

13. Smiling and Frowning Holes
Frowning holes – tend to keep floating objects in centre
Smiling holes – easily wash out the sides

14. Clothing and Equipment
The well-dressed paddler!

15. Equipment List Helmet P.F.D. Whistle Paddle Wet Suit/Dry Suit
Paddle Top
Boots/Gloves
Water Bottle/Snack
Knife
Canoe
Spare Paddle
Bailer
Painters
Throw Bag/Rope
Light

16. Notes on Clothing
Blue Jeans
Sandals
Cotton T Shirts

17. Procedures and Signals
Paddle Signals
Stop, come, go left/right
Whistle Signals
One blast/three blasts
Hand Signals
OK, stop, go left/right
Always point in the direction to go!

18. AVOID! Dangers - Strainers
Allows water to pass through but not objects
Fallen trees, wire fences etc
AVOID!

19. Dangers – Foot Entrapment
Foot becomes wedged between rocks
Force of water knocks swimmer over; prevents him from getting up
DON’T WALK IN MOVING WATER THAT IS MORE THAN KNEE DEEP!

20. DANGERS – BIG HOLES AVOID!
Water pouring over edge re-circulates, holds objects
Man-made objects particularly dangerous
“Maytagging”
Try to swim out
AVOID!

21. Dangers – Canoe Wraps/Pins
Canoe full of water is equivalent to a small truck
Can be crushed by pressure of water
When swimming rapids, stay well to the side of canoe!

22. Proper Swimming Technique
FEET DOWN STREAM
BUM UP
FEET UP – fend off rocks
SCULL with hands
DON’T STAND UP until the water is less than knee deep

23. Throw Bag Swimming Stay in the “swimming” position
Hold rope to your chest
Rope over the shoulder AWAY from the shore

24. River Rescue or What to do when things DON’T go well on the river!
August 22/23/24
Palmer’s Rapids
Instruction by SWAT