Upper

Grade: 4


Trip Reports

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Upper

Level: 0.85  |  Date: 07/12/2024 |  Time: 1hr15

Weather: 6-8 °C, raining, amber wind warning (gusting 69 mph).

Group: Me, Andy L., Nat, Oatmeal, Abi

Level: 0.85 m and lapping the slab at newbridge.

Vibes

Primo levels! No real scraping, all the features were in play and fun. Paddle the upper at this level!

Features

  1. Mad Mile - Delightful, just bouncy read and run vibes. Slabs were non-existent and rocks covered.
  2. S Bend/Lucky Tour - Right side of the island, went hard left. Line of sight is difficult, but I think it wasn't impossible. Good fun to run!
  3. Euthanasia - Most ran down the chute line, going between the rocks at the top and it was grand. One paddler did the boof line and was apparently not loving it. Eddies were present.
  4. Pandora's Box/Surprise Surprise - Read and ran river right and I had such a good time! Bit blind. The holes were sizeable.
  5. Magnetic Rock - Felt like enlarged bimble.

Other Notes

An amber wind warning means trees may be down or go down, making travel difficult. This was a faffless run, but perhaps the wisdom (or lack thereof) regarding paddling such conditions should've been revisited.

Upper

Level: 0.55  |  Date: 08/12/2024 |  Time: 1hr30

Level: 0.55 - 0.53 m.

Weather: 4 - 6 °C, bit windy, sunny.

Group: Andy L., Me, Skipper, Ed G., Abi, Oatmeal

Vibes

Chilly morning on the upper and a scrapey one in places, but not too masochistic. Decent chilled morning on the upper, requiring some rock dodging.

Features

  1. Mad Mile - Boulders were pronounced, but this was straightforward read and run.
  2. S-Bend - We took the right ("s-bend") line, which ran fine, although it wouldn't be as satisfying as it was at higher levels.
  3. Euthanasia - More menacing than the day before (0.85 m), flipping half our party. We all took the chute line and were okay. The eddy before the drop was present. The lead in was unpleasantly boney, but still very navigable.
  4. Pandora's Box - We went right of the island, this was good. The rocks you hit will decide your line and I finished it backwards, plenty of pin opportunities here.
  5. Magnetic Rock - The only time it's actually felt like a feature to me, holes and rocks, but nothing crazy.

Other Notes

A tree was down after (much after) magnetic rock. It was fine. I also took at stupid swim on the very "upper loop" after getting pinned, lol.

Upper

Level: 0.43  |  Date: 26/10/2024 |  Time: 1hr40

Time: 1hr40

Weather: Got up to ~14°C, sunny

Group: Andy L, Me, Josh, Ed, Jacob, Abi

Vibes

Scrapey-ness particularly apparent on lead in and out, the lead-out being the worse of the two. All the features still ran entertainingly. Be vigilant for pin risks! A technical run due to rock-dodging.

Features

  1. Mad Mile - Fair bit rocky, but pretty straightforward, eddies easily caught. Two drops to take pretty left to avoid enjoy it more.
  2. S-Bend - We took the line left of the island, this was preferable, as the more traditional right line didn't have enough water. Technical line, be prepared to make tight turns.
  3. Euthanasia - Pretty fine, both channel and boof lines ran, but the channel had fewer consequences. Pretty automatic at this level.
  4. Pandora's Box/Suprise Suprise - Right (non-slot) line, definitely a good few pin spots, but the better line.
  5. Magnetic Rock - Not much of a feature at this level.

Other Notes

We rushed after magnetic rock, definitely allow at least 2 hrs for sorting a rendezvous with paddlers at Newbridge (if doing a fairly speedy lap).