Whitewatering Blast! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ranges from 1-6, with 6 being the toughest

Whitewatering is classified on a scale of 1-6. Class 1 whitewater is easy enough for inexperienced paddlers to transit without problems. Class 6 whitewater is extremely dangerous to expert paddlers, verging on being un-runnable. Whitewater class does not say anything about how many rocks are in the water.

It is entirely possible to achieve class 6 whitewater without having any rocky obstructions in the flow. It is also possible to have class 1 whitewater with lots of rocks. The class only applies to how dangerous / challenging to water is.

Answer: It is subjective, imprecise, and subject to change

There is no exact science or procedure for classifying whitewater. Classification is made by consensus of the experienced paddling community, and is done according to a set of general principles known as the International Scale of River Difficulty. A given river can vary in classification depending on water level.

Many rivers that are class 2 or 3 at normal water levels turn into extremely dangerous class 5 or 6 water at flood stage. This is not to say that there is no reliable way to classify whitewater.

The classification system is sufficiently powerful to allow a paddler to make reasonable judgment about whether or not a prospective river is within their skill level. A classification is applied to either a specific rapid or to an entire river.

However, the rating is the same for everyone who runs the whitewater. So, a class 3 river can have an individual class 5 rapid, which would refer to a particularly difficult hole on an otherwise moderate river. Conversely, a class 5 river could have a class 3 rapid, meaning that an expert level river could have a localized spot of moderate difficulty.

Answer: Cubic feet per second

Cubic feet per second refers to the volume of water that passes a given point per second. For instance, a 100 foot wide river with an average depth of 20 feet and a rate of flow of 10 feet per second (around 7 miles per hour), would have a flow of 20,000 feet per second. CFS by itself is not sufficient to indicate a river's difficulty.

The Mississippi River has huge flow volume, yet is not challenging water to paddle. There are many class 5 streams with less than 1000 CFS. Pairing CFS with feet per mile of drop provides a rough sketch of how tough a river is to run.

Answer: A sequence of waves marking the downstream end of a rapid

The wavetrain is pretty much where you want to be. The water is usually flowing forward in a single direction. The waves are evenly spaced and easy to ride through and crest. Most importantly, they are not characterized by features such as hydraulics. Just point downstream and ride.

Answer: The feature on the immediate downstream side of a hydraulic

A hydraulic is what happens when an obstruction, such as a rock, is found in the flow of water. Water flows around and often over the top of the obstruction, speeding up in the process. As a result, there is backward flow toward the obstruction on the surface immediately downstream. Depending on how large the obstruction and how fast the flow, this downstream feature can be highly aerated, which leads to a loss of buoyancy. If the water is aerated enough, a paddler can literally sink in the hole, leading to its name. Holes can be extremely dangerous, extremely fun, or anything in-between, depending on its individual characteristics and an individual paddler's ability.

Answer: Enter an eddy and hold position, often to allow a group to reassemble

"Eddying out" is a basic technique of whitewater paddling. It is basically like pressing a "pause" button on the river. Eddies are features in rivers characterized by recirculating counter-current flow. Basically, they allow a paddler to hold position easily. Eddies are commonly found on the downstream edge of bends in a river, where water is forced to slow down. One should exercise caution crossing an eddy line, as there can be a strong difference between surface and sub-surface flows. Dipping a paddle down into an eddy line can lead to a capsize.

Some eddies recirculate strongly, and can be very dangerous.

Answer: Obstructions, usually trees that can trap and drown paddlers

Strainers are trees that have fallen into the water and become submerged. They are especially dangerous because they can be hard to see. Sweepers are trees fallen into the water that are still attached to the bank. They can be especially dangerous because they can knock a paddler out of their boat if they try to paddle under the sweeper.

When a paddler becomes entangled in a strainer or sweeper, water can pile up on top of them and force them underwater. This is a serious risk even in slow flowing water. Basic paddling principles dictate that water is very heavy. Do not let it pile up on you.

Answer: Get out and portage around the obstacle

Don't get killed for a stupid reason. Just don't mess with sweepers. A lot of times they look like they are high enough to allow a paddler to pass under them. Often they are. Often enough though, they are not. Or, they have a branch that tangles a paddler up as they pass underneath. Either way is a really good way to get drowned.

Answer: Hang on to your paddle, point your feet downstream, and float on your back until to reach a suitable location for self-rescue

Don't ever let go of your paddle. If you get forced out of your boat into whitewater, don't try to swim downstream headfirst. That's a really good way to bash your head on a rock. Point your feet downstream, let your PFD float you, assess your situation, avoid hazards, and then attempt to regain your craft if you have been separated. Don't try to climb out on to a rock! Water flows faster around rocks and has forces that no human can hope to overcome. Unless you have a pre-arranged plan with your party for some people to swim for an eddy in the event of a capsize, don't just swim away. That's a good way to lose your boat, which probably has most of your gear in it. Losing your boat is a good way to have a long walk on your hands at best.

Answer: Donkey

The forward stroke is the basic stroke. It is used for forward momentum. The backstroke is the opposite of the forward stroke. It is used to slow down coming into an obstacle, to turn for maneuvering, etc. The brace places the paddle blade parallel to the surface of the water and is used to push the craft back upright so as to avoid capsizing.