Overcoming Fear of Whitewater

lowangle al said:

Now I only fear pinning my boat, getting beat up swimming a long rocky rapid or drowning.

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I should also have mentioned a hidden rock in standing waves.

Whitewater doesn't scare me. It's the rocks and trees that are hiding in that water (very common around here) that scare me. That was the demise of Walt Blackadar on the nearby south fork of the Payette. If you don't know who that is, you should, and it should give you pause.

I have a rule about not paddling anything I'm not willing to swim in. Age and injury have resulted in me not being the strong swimmer I once was, so that has me staying out of anything greater than class 3. And even some of that is sketchy.

Some good questions...

GDahl said:

1. What was the highest class WW you've paddled thru on a wilderness trip?

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I'd say 2+. A 3 was considered, but I chose to line around it.

GDahl said:

Have you ever capsized in a rapid/had injuries or canoe damage?

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Capsized, yes. Injured or damaged, no.

GDahl said:

2. Did you have any instruction before going on your 1st solo back country trip with WW?

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I've seen it said that anything less than 3 isn't really whitewater. By that standard, I have never been in whitewater on a solo trip. Neither have I had what I would call formal instruction. I'm unlikely to run anything higher than 2 when solo with a tripping load.

Steve in Idaho said:

Whitewater doesn't scare me. It's the rocks and trees that are hiding in that water (very common around here) that scare me. That was the demise of Walt Blackadar on the nearby south fork of the Payette. If you don't know who that is, you should, and it should give you pause.

I have a rule about not paddling anything I'm not willing to swim in. Age and injury have resulted in me not being the strong swimmer I once was, so that has me staying out of anything greater than class 3. And even some of that is sketchy.

Some good questions...

I'd say 2+. A 3 was considered, but I chose to line around it.


Capsized, yes. Injured or damaged, no.


I've seen it said that anything less than 3 isn't really whitewater. By that standard, I have never been in whitewater on a solo trip. Neither have I had what I would call formal instruction. I'm unlikely to run anything higher than 2 when solo with a tripping load.

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Thanks Steve, for providing your thoughtful input.

Steve in Idaho said:

Whitewater doesn't scare me. It's the rocks and trees that are hiding in that water (very common around here) that scare me. That was the demise of Walt Blackadar on the nearby south fork of the Payette. If you don't know who that is, you should, and it should give you pause.

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It is definitely the unseen obstacles that prowl my nightmares.

I looked up Walt Blackadar and with all due respect, he was a kayaker . According to the accident report of his death, there were known additional risks. They were warned of an obstruction in the rapids, but did not scout it. Walt was still recovering from shoulder surgery; his strength and mobility were impacted.

This is from American Rivers Accident Report.

That said he did some first descents and was a highly skilled white water kayaker.