5 ms·

I don’t know about in a kayak, but I imagine that the current is too strong for a swimmer to hold on. The water will also suck you down deep underneath, almost

I don’t know about in a kayak, but I imagine that the current is too strong for a swimmer to hold on. The water will also suck you down deep underneath, almost certainly lodging you into one of the tunnels for the short remainder of your life.

Exuma 4y ago
The sides of the rocks are also angled out, so not only do you get sucked down, you get sucked down and out, so there's no chance of even swimming back up.
scubakid 4y ago
Ah, I was wondering about the extent to which it might pull you under. Like, is that quantified at all? Consistent or only in a few sections? And how does it compare with some of the world's other most dangerous rivers?
- dTal 4y ago
  Imagine this filled with churning whitewater: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/USA_10096-7-8_HDR_Antelope_Canyon_Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/USA_1009... You're not coming out alive.
- HillRat 4y ago
  Don't know about quantified, but some of the underwater videos show bubble entrainment in some kind of shear flow 25+ meters down, which indicates a terrifying amount of velocity and power pushing downwards.
  - robotnikman 4y ago
    Got a link to any of the underwater videos? I'm really curious to see what it looks like underwater.
    - Exuma 4y ago
      Go to the 2nd video, first comment on that video. Not sure if that's the same one the person you are replying to is talking about
    - collyw 4y ago
      You will see brownish / white foam. I have kayaked plenty in the UK.
- ineptech 4y ago
  From a kayaker's guidebook: > The Strid (grade 5-) is a long thin section of river where the Wharfe narrows to 5-6 feet in places. The main problems are beneath surface in form of ledges which if you're swept under - you can forget it! At a higher level as seen in pictures, it's runnable. The pictures show med-high water and most of the ledges were covered. I'd have graded it at 5- this day. At lower levels it runs at class 5+ and many would portage, the ledges that trap you need divers to get to you and even good safety cover would be of little use in an entrapment situation. (2 tourists fell in at the Strid last year and one didn't emerge for nearly a week) Portage in this context means get out and carry your kayak past it. From https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/north-east/river-wharfe-barden-bridge-to-bolton-bridge https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/north-eas...
  - Sniffnoy 4y ago
    Sorry, what's the rating system?
    - gerdesj 4y ago
      It's not in the FAQ for the site and Rivers -> Grades is a 404! I suppose we'll have to take up kayaking to find out.
      - ghaff 4y ago
        It's a pretty standard rating system. (I-VI--with the latter not being generally runnable) However, once you get to the highest levels there are unique features that can determine difficulty/danger. For example, if you do dump, is there a quiet section at the end of the rapid or is it miles of the same thing?
    - gregplaysguitar 4y ago
      It tells you how difficult the rapid is to paddle - 1 being basically flat water, 5 generally the highest that can be paddled. This website explains it https://gopaddling.info/river-gradings-simple-guide/ https://gopaddling.info/river-gradings-simple-guide/
nibbleshifter 4y ago
In a kayak if the waters too turbulent (frothy or foamy) you can lose buoyancy pretty hazardously and capsize really easily with poor chances of unaided recovery. There's a few spots near me that are well known danger spots for kayakers due to this phenomenon.

Exuma 4y ago

The sides of the rocks are also angled out, so not only do you get sucked down, you get sucked down and out, so there's no chance of even swimming back up.

scubakid 4y ago

Ah, I was wondering about the extent to which it might pull you under. Like, is that quantified at all? Consistent or only in a few sections? And how does it compare with some of the world's other most dangerous rivers?

dTal 4y ago
Imagine this filled with churning whitewater: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/USA_10096-7-8_HDR_Antelope_Canyon_Luca_Galuzzi_2007.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/USA_1009... You're not coming out alive.
HillRat 4y ago
Don't know about quantified, but some of the underwater videos show bubble entrainment in some kind of shear flow 25+ meters down, which indicates a terrifying amount of velocity and power pushing downwards.
- robotnikman 4y ago
  Got a link to any of the underwater videos? I'm really curious to see what it looks like underwater.
  - Exuma 4y ago
    Go to the 2nd video, first comment on that video. Not sure if that's the same one the person you are replying to is talking about
  - collyw 4y ago
    You will see brownish / white foam. I have kayaked plenty in the UK.
ineptech 4y ago
From a kayaker's guidebook: > The Strid (grade 5-) is a long thin section of river where the Wharfe narrows to 5-6 feet in places. The main problems are beneath surface in form of ledges which if you're swept under - you can forget it! At a higher level as seen in pictures, it's runnable. The pictures show med-high water and most of the ledges were covered. I'd have graded it at 5- this day. At lower levels it runs at class 5+ and many would portage, the ledges that trap you need divers to get to you and even good safety cover would be of little use in an entrapment situation. (2 tourists fell in at the Strid last year and one didn't emerge for nearly a week) Portage in this context means get out and carry your kayak past it. From https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/north-east/river-wharfe-barden-bridge-to-bolton-bridge https://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/rivers/england/north-eas...
- Sniffnoy 4y ago
  Sorry, what's the rating system?
  - gerdesj 4y ago
    It's not in the FAQ for the site and Rivers -> Grades is a 404! I suppose we'll have to take up kayaking to find out.
    - ghaff 4y ago
      It's a pretty standard rating system. (I-VI--with the latter not being generally runnable) However, once you get to the highest levels there are unique features that can determine difficulty/danger. For example, if you do dump, is there a quiet section at the end of the rapid or is it miles of the same thing?
  - gregplaysguitar 4y ago
    It tells you how difficult the rapid is to paddle - 1 being basically flat water, 5 generally the highest that can be paddled. This website explains it https://gopaddling.info/river-gradings-simple-guide/ https://gopaddling.info/river-gradings-simple-guide/

nibbleshifter 4y ago

In a kayak if the waters too turbulent (frothy or foamy) you can lose buoyancy pretty hazardously and capsize really easily with poor chances of unaided recovery. There's a few spots near me that are well known danger spots for kayakers due to this phenomenon.