Читать книгу Carolina Whitewater. A Paddler's Guide to the Western Carolinas онлайн

36 страница из 66

GRADIENT: We have listed the gradient by breaking it down into an average number of feet per mile. Where the drop is quite rapid it will be listed, for example, “1@300,” which indicates that the section will drop at the rate of 300 feet per mile.

DIFFICULTY: This refers to the difficulty rating of the rapids located within the particular section of the stream. The rating system used below is based on that of the International Scale for Grading the Difficulty of River Cruising Routes. The first column gives the river or rapid rating and characteristics; the second shows the minimum required experience.

Smooth Water

A Pools, lakes, rivers with velocity under 2 mph.

B Rivers, velocity 2–4 mph.

C Rivers, velocity above 4 mph (maximum back-paddling speed). May have some sharp bends or obstructions.

Whitewater

1 EASY—sand banks, bends without difficulty, occasional small rapids with waves regular and low. Correct course may be easy to find but care is needed with minor obstacles like pebble banks, fallen trees, etc., especially on narrow rivers. River speed less than hard back-paddling speed.