A while ago there was a thread about a good progression of rivers for people looking to transition from class II-III to class IV-V. Does anyone have a link to that thread?

Thanks,
Gordon

thanks!

Sweet - I have been out of the boat for a longer stretch than normal and have been thinking I need to get a day in for a little re-fresh.  And a workout to boot. 

Hey Totten,
Thanks for your input on the Green. The side channels, technical moves and boofs that exist on the green are great practice for someone trying to boost their class IV-V skills. I think that most people do not realize what a great practice river the green is.

I however respectfully disagree about your opinion on the sky. There are lots of side channels, and technical moves that exist at a variety of levels. The sky is a great training ground for class III paddlers trying to step up to class IV / V, you just have to know where to look.

Gordo it's all opinion and all with respect ! Question ? how do polished sand stone boulders with moss covering them make it any less forgiving than huge hard giant granite boulders ? Aren't all river beds made of rock ? rocks are your friend ;) even at 800 she had plenty of water to make some sweet water boofs and pillow leans. the same potential for carnage is on any river but what we're talking about is non carnage, the art of avoiding carnage styling moves completely killing being a class III+ kayaker and whooting after moves because it felt so good. the rock is only as bad as you make the student believe it is.

I think at the true green flow of 2,000 and above most are more comfy on the sky at 2,000 and above. "the gorge" still has some mystic and danger for some ? maybe ? but at 2,000 and less it is very forgiving. The green at 800 is very class III -III+ and friendly.

I've paddled both rivers a couple times before and I would say there are far more boofs and interesting moves on the green than the sky. I blow my load on like three boofs on the sky and a couple cool combo moves and poof im at the takeout. The green has a bigger selection of combo to combo moves, longer running pieces of moving water with route finding and dynamic eddying and ferrying that you just can't get on the sky due to it's large volume. but the green holds its water very well as a mid size river.. I agree Ive been down every channel the Sky has to offer and there are some fun zig zags and what nots out there I just get less paddle strokes and less time on the water with the sky but your right the sky is great and has some sweet moves.

all im saying is the green is overlooked and the gorge should be paddled more at these low levels from these kayakers who dont want to do the gorge but will go do the sky? the green is a full "run" set in an incredible gorge and no harder than the sky at 1,500 and below . not that Mt Index isn't cool to look at but? it is opinion and you have your sky people and your green people.... but the green at low water is way better than the sky at low water !!! my opinion... except for the one glory boof and cruse through boulder? but what we're really talking is progressing as a paddler not just river grade. dialing in skill shouldn't stop your whole paddling career. when it comes to pure slalom course style training I would rather paddle the green to get better as a paddler. I would rather paddle the sky say before i go to Chile just to drop in massive holes and learned to get beat up a bit and how to flow in big water. Both skills are helpful and both needed for a well rounded paddling ability.

I would challenge anyone to follow me down both runs and tell me which one you had not fun but which one you got the most out of at the end. Ill post next time I go, probably next week unless robes in.



Edited by FLUID - 28 Feb 2014 at 1:04pm

Nailed it Jon, you've been waiting to pull that out for a while..

and to quote Brett form the same post " in the end it's all about making ourselves happy, right?"

Edited by FLUID - 28 Feb 2014 at 3:57pm