RIVER IRWELL (Rawtenstall to the Burrs)

[Mark R]

Guide.

[Jim Pullen]

In low water it is best avoided, as it is a scrappy ride all the way from the weir. If you are there in low water practice your skills above the weir to avoid breaking your face. Then when you are ready GO DOWN THE WEIR which is best run in the centre preferably going sideways for most enjoyment. You may even get some woos and cheers if you don’t swim from passer bys. Most of the features are not there so is not much fun going down. So before you go think about how the low water could spoil your day. It is low normally from April to august.

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Hazard: Theres a bit of a tree/branch thing on the Burrs weir face. Easily avoided and you can see it as you walk past. It doesn't really cause that much danger but the fron end of a playboat might get caught in or whatever. Will probably break away soon.

[peakfreak]

Hazard: Theres a bit of a tree/branch thing on the Burrs weir face. Easily avoided and you can see it as you walk past. It doesn't really cause that much danger but the fron end of a playboat might get caught in or whatever. Will probably break away soon.

Rick, is that the one we cleared away tonight?

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Hazard: Theres a bit of a tree/branch thing on the Burrs weir face. Easily avoided and you can see it as you walk past. It doesn't really cause that much danger but the fron end of a playboat might get caught in or whatever. Will probably break away soon.

Rick, is that the one we cleared away tonight?

Yeah thats the one. Is clear now, but theres another lurking in the pool above the weir!!! ;-)

Edit: It could make a nice grind rail though

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

The river agencies or whoever have been on the phone to Bury Canoe Club and Burrs Activity centre regarding people dumping stuff in the river up at Rossendale. Whatever they dumped in has harmed the environment and killed lot's of wildlife making this quite a high level of pollution.

Make sure your extra careful at keeping your mouth shut. ;-)

[rache]

any ideas on the water level today? everytime I've been recently it's been a scrape!

[rache]

I can answer my own question - paddled it last night. Water is still quite low, quite murky and a bit whiffy. We opted not to run the weir - didn't feel a mouthful of whatever is floating around in there wouldn't have been healthy.

Burrs said that the pollution occured two weeks ago. Not sure if the colour and smell of the water was down to heavy rainfall washing through the nearby farms or not.

[steve hughes]

Noticed today small drop river right bout 200m from weir (full width feature) is now blocked by two trees

Steve

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Has been cleared.

[Ed Lefley]

There are a number of trees that are down and have collected a large amount of debris on the river; can't remember the exact location but they're all towards the end of the river.

Also there is a tree that has washed onto the stanchion of the building over the river; it's on the middle stanchion, and the appeture to the left of it has some pipework from the pub above hanging down into it, one of which is a loop whereas the other is a clean piece of pipe.

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Trees been there for a while, nothing which is a major issue, unless theres new debris with the recent high levels. The bridge in Summerseat, easily passable on the far right or left.

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Hi all. Due to recent high water levels a lot of trees have shiffted around. I've not been upto the gorge for a little while but on the Burrs section there is a large obstruction on the viaduct which is 25m up strea from the big road bridge in Burrs Country Park. Easily passed river left, but please be careful if any of the branches break of a block the river downstream where the section narrows in. Easy inspection of the big blue bridge before getting on.

Have fun.

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Cleared.

[Ed Lefley]

Just seen this on the BBC website... Click here

Looks like it might all be getting a bit of wash!

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Was big today. gorge mahoosive, weir > killer =:-)

Anyone fancy a run down tomorrow? Will have dropped of, but even if there no rain, the gorge will still be on. May go and check a new beck up near Bacup way if anyone fancies a ganders?

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

First thing. 21/11/09 Gorge and river clear of trees and most hazards, theres a clear line down everthing and nothing to watch out for, all bridges are clear to. The only hazard is on one of the first waves on the Burrs site, theres a tree which is just out of the flow and easily spotted and missed, however I don;t know whats below the surface so swimmers beware.

Also, during the week a local paddler got rushed to hospital. His kidneys shut down and they suspect it's Weales disease picked up from paddling in spate conditions on the Irwell. I'm not going into details other than there is lots of chemicals, urine, poo and other stuff running of the fields through Ramsbottom and above the gorge. The level has dropped of now, so should be cleaning up.

Be careful

[paddletastic2]

How's it looking this weekend?

[woodsy]

Should be fine for the weekend.
Its been flowing well all week, medium-ish at the moment

[paddletastic2]

Anyone paddled today? Still ok for water??

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Paddled it today, still okay. Level dropping but the gorge will still be okay for Sunday the 29th. Predicted a bit of rain over night. Enjoy

[paddletastic2]

Good levels today - quite high and some good playspots.

[paddletastic2]

The big weir was not an option on Sunday:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3596317&l=4c4830bdef&id=556620910

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

The big weir was not an option on Sunday:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3596317&l=4c4830bdef&id=556620910

Looks more than runnable!!!

[paddletastic2]

The big weir was not an option on Sunday:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3596317&l=4c4830bdef&id=556620910

Looks more than runnable!!!

After you.....

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Rock, paper, scissors?

[paddletastic2]

Rock, paper, scissors?

I'll stick with go-no-go. Having been hauled out of the stpper at the bottom on the end of a rope (at much less tow back) experience says no.

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

Cool. ;-)

[steve t]

There is a submerged shopping trolley wedged just below the big weir - at least that's what we assumed yesterday from the single wheel sticking out of the water - and it seems to be well wedged from an exploratory wobble.

It's below the stepped section, about 1.5 - 2m from the divide between the steps and the slope. Much more water and it would be all but invisible and could really spoil someone's day if they descended into it.

Steve

[Ricks-Freestyle-Mind]

There will be a chairty paddle on the Burrs site on the 17th of January.

www.northwestcharitypaddle.wordpress.com