River Roy Latest

[chrisdickinson]

Things continue to change on the Roy.
Was in the gorge yesterday at a medium flow.

The siphon at "Headbanger" has got cleaner. See this link for photo.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/speanbrid ... 4047921154

Much of the smaller material has now washed out, leaving the main boulder wedged in the channel and a large gap under it that takes the whole river when it is flowing low to medium. This boulder is not held by much on one side,so it may move again in future. My judgement is that a swimmer might now pass through the siphon and survive, but I would not advise testing this!!! In a kayak the paddler would have a very high chance of entrapment and drowning. This rapid should be portaged routinely, except when river is high enough to offer a line over the top, but be aware that at this level it constitutes a serious grade 5 as the drop involves a kicking hole and a lot of pushy water below.

There is a case for changing the name of this rapid from Headbanger, since it has lost all of its overhanging characteristics and renaming it Achavady Falls in line with the ruin, named on OS maps just above on west side.

A couple of rapids before this, another little known siphon is now showing signs of opening up. A bedrock drop with boily water at thje base of a ramped shoot has water passing behind and through the rocks on right side at the run in. This rock wall is shifting now and may well break off completely and collapse into the rapid sometime soon. The siphon here is now much more pronounced than when I last saw it and is big enough for a paddler to go in there. The water is moving but flat above it at present so no real reason as yet for that to happen. Keep your eyes peeled on this one as it may change any time.

The final siphon that claimed a life ( I call this one "Boof or Die") has a hard move now off left side of the mid stream rock. It is super tight at lower levels and all the more likely to entice someone into the eddy above the siphon. Stay in the eddy on river left and run from there. At higher water the boof off the left side of the boulder gets easier (if you can boof!!!!), but of course the gorge is harder, though arguably safer at this level.

Enjoy the Roy Gorge, it is a stunning piece of river.....but go carefully in there.

Any questions, fire them to me.

Cheers
Chris Dickinson
speanbridge@googlemail.com

Safe paddling

[chrisdickinson]

17th May 2011
Made a trip down the Roy gorge today and took a photo of the ACHAVADY FALLS siphon, formerly known as Headbanger.
At low water this is extremely hazardous. Same applies to the "Boof or Die" drop lower down the gorge where a siphon on the right
claimed a life. Especially at low water please exercise EXTREME CAUTION as these two places pose a threat to life for the unwary.

Here is a link to the picture for you.

https://picasaweb.google.com/speanbridge/ChrisDickinsonKayaking#5607797619596604498

Chris Dickinson
River Adviser Spean

[select-paddles]

Looks awful. Thanks Chris for the updates.

[callum s]

Paddled this recently at medium-high flows, the drop formerly known as headbanger had a cleanish line, flaring of the bedrock hard left. The siphon still obvious but avoidable at this level. Also a good big eddy above it.

Callum.