also what are some good runs to step it up?

 

I think your're ready for the Grand Canyon of the Stikine or the Acobamba Abyss.

 

Westwater's class III

 

Try boating some harder runs, when you are not head ruddering your way down then try something harder. Class 5 has a lot of places where you don't want to be on your head. Try harder moves on easier runs to improve your abilities

 

tj, I've already been trying harder moves on easier runs and I have a strong brace. What are some good class 4 or 4 plus runs then?

 

In durango it is hard to make the transition to class 5 but I like the 3rd gorge of lime creek as a good class 4/+ run but rockwood might be a bit scary for a class 4 boater. maybe the upper a at low flows. caslte creek/slaughter house are good near aspen. clear creek of the ark is a good into to creeking that is 4/+ at 300. upper east is class 4 and daisy is 4+/5-. There are a ton of great 4/4+ runs that I am brain farting on right now. I'm not trying to discourage you but class 5 is dangerous, some people try to step it up to fast (myself included) and get worked. I would rather swim all of the numbers than swim a class 5 rapid. Be safe and have fun, try to find a crew that is running a bit harder stuff than you and watch and learn from them and their technique.

 

Don't listen to tom. He hates because he doesn't know how to roll. What area are you in? Some good stepping stones might be (in no particular order) shoshone, poudre narrows, gore, numbers/fractions/pine creek, clear creek. Some of those are a lot harder than others, and of course you don't want to do any of them alone. Your best bet is to just make friends with a sick boater and get them to guide you down some stuff.

Also, once your local run gets too easy, invent more difficult moves to challenge yourself. Your best preparation is probably playboating, though. The main reason tom is so bad at kayaking is because he never playboats.

 

Ok actually I agree with most of what tom just said. Especially upper east, at low water.

 

thanks guys, i got some good boaters to run with who are competent. leif i am a pretty good play boater as it is. thanks for all the advice guys.

 

Lief's point about finding someone to guide you down is good advice. Be sure you have a good crew that realizes you are stepping it up.

Use your own judgement. There are plenty of boaters who have stepped it up to Class V in their second season. Just keep in mind that you are still green and you could die if you fuck it up.

But if you remember that you could die then hopefully you will also remember to be extra careful, use common sense and use safety. If you do those things you shouldn't die.

 

I think you'll know when you're ready. How high did you run the #s? Can you make hard ferries/ eddies/ lines in class 4 every single time? Do you have a good boof? How much class 4 have you paddled? Remember that making it down class 3/4 is different than running it capably and confidently. The way I learned was to find a big intimidating rapid, preferably with a pool after it, and with minimal consequences other than a beatdown, and practice the hardest lines I could down it. Be patient learning and don't push for class V before it's time.

 

Class V? Probably not yet. The numbers is barely above class three, and relatively safe. I would stay away from any runs that are truly class five until you spend a season running some class four. Remember that it is not only the difficulty of a run that matters but the consequences of messing up.

With that being said, it is a great year to get out on some runs that would normally be class five, but because of low water are now in the class four range.

Also, I am kind of a pussy, so don't take my word for it. Go run a few solid class fours and if you are still bored then step it up.

Also, if you were ready for class five you would probably already be boating with class five paddlers and you could ask them if you were ready.

OK, I am going to get back to not kayaking now.

 

No, you aren't ready for class V. Sounds like you are ready for class IV. Don't ask TJ for class IV runs, because 50 ft'ers in Cali are class III in his book. You'd be better off busting a season of class IV before attempting some IV+/V- runs like gore or Bailey. You wouldn't be the first gung-ho newbie to go too fast too soon, but you should know that the failure rate is way higher when you go too fast. Get a guide book and tick off all the class IV runs within driving distance and then step it up if it feels right.

 

Got to find the balance between confidence and experience 1st; sounds like you have the confidence, but certainly not the experience. This could potentially lead to a dangerous incident (or deadly, for you or your rescuers). I feel you though. Chompin' at the bit and all. My humble suggestion: you shouldn't be in a hurry. If you plan on paddling for a while, then whats the rush? Just check yourself, or you may get served (knock on wood).

 

My second year boating I kayaked the Grand and did the Gore race. Just go for it you'll know if your out of your element when it happens.

 

did some solid fours last season when levels were ragin, ready to make that transistion myself but levels arent cooperating ! headin to paddlefest this weekend - some five light runnin up there. bailey runs at 5 mosta the time -try comin up for baileyfest. might be headin your way soon- slim pickins up here.

 

I don't think asking a bunch of strangers in a chat room on the interwebs is the best place to find out. It sounds like you have plenty of confidence in your skills, so have a solid class V boater FOLLOW (not lead) you down a IV or IV+ and see what he thinks. How long you have been boating doesn't really mean anything. It's about the experience not the time, and the two are not the same.

 

besides your boof, roll, ferry, eddy turn how's the...

rescue skills? An often overlooked but necessary skill for class 4/5 boating

 

Do you have a V crew? If not then you aren't ready. If you do then you wouldn't be asking MBuzz. All the pieces have to come together skills, mindset, crew, safety skills and gear.

 

I am swift water trained. From you guys advice I think I'm going to fire up some 4 and 4 plus run here soon with a good crew. Im a strong paddler and I do agree that I need experience I know what I'm comfortable with and what I'm not. Upper a is close and sounds like a good step up

 

So the question is: "I'm solid in class III, should I move up to class V?". Move up incrementally, not just through the full steps, but also through the partial steps, class III+, IV-, IV, IV+, V-, V, etc. Don't cheat either. Lots of people seem to declare themselves class IV boaters because they ran the numbers at 600 cfs. Run the #s at 2500 cfs and eddy hop your way down all the rapids, and then you can call yourself a class IV boater.

It's silly to be impatient, esp. as a second year boater, unless you're terminally ill or something and then you might want to push it.

 

Many class IV runs - Bailey, Lower South Boulder, etc. have class V rapids on them. It is much better to step up to a more difficult rapid on a run you are comfortable with then to jump into an entire run that's over your head.

 

I'd also like to add that when I hear someone say they are a class V boater it means they consistently run and play on class V. I've ran a few class Vs and consistently play around on class IV and never had a bad line on any of them I wasn't screwing around on...but I only say I'm a IV+ boater.

Don't get caught up in being a class? Boater...most boaters are much more impressed if you say you've styled the big south or barrel springs or black rock versus saying you're a class whatever boater.

So develop the skills to run what you want to!

 

Yeah just because you've run the numbers, doesn't mean you're ready for class V. Someone said "just go do it and find out". Thats terrible advice, you could endanger yourself AND the guys you're with.

If you want to step it up, go run Bailey. It's a class IV creek with three Class V rapids and if you're feelin good, you could probably run the third one (deer creek rapid). The class IV on that run is really fun (especially the steeps) and its a beautiful canyon.

take your time man, no need to be a hero

 

If ya gotta ask you ain't ready boy

 

This blew up faster than a turkey leg. All the advice in here is good. There really isn't much Class IV this season to test your abilities on.

With the current flows, try eddy-hopping Pine Creek rapid on the Ark. Nail the boof on the left a few times. Feeling good on that? Hook up with a competent Gore crew later this summer when flows rise and give'r a go. Walk Gore rapid for the first time out of respect and because a swim there is a huge pain in the ass for everyone involved.