South French Alps Water Levels from the River Bank

[Stuart J Woodward]

On an unrelated note, if you feel like having a rest from paddling and want to watch an impressive spectacle, we were talking to some EDF engineers at the Guil barrage today and he said that they are going to be draining the Guil barrage lake next Friday; its pretty cool to watch! (Note, dont paddle the Guil Gorge based just on this info, just in case :). )

Thanks concerning the release off the barrage on the Guil. Please read a copy of the thread posted a week or so ago.

Copy <Just a WARNING over the next couple of weeks the main Barrage on the Guil will be dropped, to allow EDF engineers to flush the accumulated silt out the lake. This will put a huge amount of water in the main Gorge also in the Mount Dauphine Gorge and the lower Durance (Rabioux wave and Sun Run). However when the river has dropped (running under the barrage) to its original bed it gives a chance to paddle the main gorge just below the barrage. A short description of this run is in the New Edition of the South Alps Guide Book. > end copy.

This means if you take this opportunity before they close the barrage and start to refill the lake. You are paddling the gorge without a full lake behind the barrage. However please do not attempt to paddle under the barrage into the gorge. One or both of the sluices have killer tow backs. Access the gorge well down stream of the barrage. WARNING this gorge is a serious paddle for experienced class 5 boaters only. Once in there, there is no escape but down the river.

Stuart.

PS It's also not so a good idea to paddle on the Gorge Dauphin/Sun Run at the start of the release as the water is filthy from the sediment. Its a bit like paddling the WW course at Nottingham (Shit Creek) you could get ill.
.
Also at the moment the expected rain (South French Alps) has not arrived.

Happy paddling.

[Simon Westgarth]

After the Val-Sesia Festival some paddles were putting around that the rivers in the French Alps are closed due to high water.

In running the Valsesia River Festival last weekend, I did not hear of any paddlers saying any rivers were closed due to high water in France, and I spoke to most of the 100+ participates and many other paddlers over the festival.

[Stuart J Woodward]

After the Val-Sesia Festival some paddles were putting around that the rivers in the French Alps are closed due to high water.

In running the Valsesia River Festival last weekend, I did not hear of any paddlers saying any rivers were closed due to high water in France, and I spoke to most of the 100+ participates and many other paddlers over the festival.

That's great, but some people there were telling porkies or relaying misunderstood/miss-interrupted info? At present levels here are nothing short of fantastic.

Stuart.

[Mark R]

Ah, the annual Westgarth-Woodward Alps water levels argument...you can set your clock by it.

[Simon Westgarth]

That's great, but some people there were telling porkies or relaying misunderstood/miss-interrupted info? At present levels here are nothing short of fantastic.

As I said, nothing of the kind was heard at the Valsesia River Festival by my ears. Have fun over there and at your party, for me, Norway calls, and I am a slave to her charms.

[Stuart J Woodward]

Ah, the annual Westgarth-Woodward Alps water levels argument...you can set your clock by it.

errrr.


The expected rain did not arrive; however it looks like a wall to wall blue day.

We will have a report of the Durance Gorge later today

Stuart.

[Stuart J Woodward]

As I said, nothing of the kind was heard at the Valsesia River Festival by my ears. Have fun over there and at your party, for me, Norway calls, and I am a slave to her charms.

Thanks for that. We certainly are having fun over here and will have a great party with many old friends turning up.

Enjoy the North whilst I realise in another hot Mediterranean Summer.

Stuart

[kayakwalker]

Thanks for the updates Stuart. I have just returned from 2 weeks in the alps and there was some cracking levels which were beginning to drop leading up to our departure yesterday. The middle claree was a sweet run but as mentioned beware of the undercut which is looking like an almost grade 5 type move with potentialy serious dangers also about half way down there was a tree fully accross the river we had to boof over so as levels drop this may become a serious problem. Middle guil was pumping when we shot over there on thursday fast and techical water but some powerful stoppers as also was the case in the ubaye racecourse. Make sure its only small groups and good paddlers on these sections as boat rescues proved to be difficult. Briancon gorge on friday was a fantastic run highly recomend it and all the lines are clear, onde was hitting a scrape on friday and the gyronde levels were beginning to drop also friday but a sweet run, the gyr looked completely different on friday to what I remember the previous year I think there has been some major rocks shifted but it was a clean run through. The guisane was all clear to both upper and lower sections. Happy paddling guys and again thanks Stuart for the updates helped alot before we headed out to see what was happening.

[chrisps]

In fairness on page 108 of the WW S. Alps guidebook 3rd edition there is a Warning put in a red box which states rather clearly:

Warnings
Lots of wood and blind bends – suits a small, athletic and experienced team. At the take-out, immediately to the left of the steel ladder is the concrete spillway from the lake, this drops some 100 m vertically. When the lake is at high levels it could be very easy to either slip or even paddle over it!

Ian, totally agree; I was just highlighting that people really do need to check this out, especially as there is a wood jam blocking it at the minute and there is a nice little beach a bit further up the lake that can be used at current levels instead :).

Who stole the alpine sunshine though? :(

[Croft]

No problem - effectively it is useful to know about the contingency option - the beach!

[thetangoman]

In fairness on page 108 of the WW S. Alps guidebook 3rd edition there is a Warning put in a red box which states rather clearly:

Warnings
Lots of wood and blind bends – suits a small, athletic and experienced team. At the take-out, immediately to the left of the steel ladder is the concrete spillway from the lake, this drops some 100 m vertically. When the lake is at high levels it could be very easy to either slip or even paddle over it!

Ian, totally agree; I was just highlighting that people really do need to check this out, especially as there is a wood jam blocking it at the minute and there is a nice little beach a bit further up the lake that can be used at current levels instead :).

Who stole the alpine sunshine though? :(

When we were there last week, I wouldn't have fancied relying on the ladder to get out...



I would have to recommend the beach to the right of the barrage as a better get out as well. Unfortunately our group didn't get that far as they decided to walk off due to too many trees.

Andy

[Stuart J Woodward]

In fairness on page 108 of the WW S. Alps guidebook 3rd edition there is a Warning put in a red box which states rather clearly:

Warnings
Lots of wood and blind bends – suits a small, athletic and experienced team. At the take-out, immediately to the left of the steel ladder is the concrete spillway from the lake, this drops some 100 m vertically. When the lake is at high levels it could be very easy to either slip or even paddle over it!

Ian, totally agree; I was just highlighting that people really do need to check this out, especially as there is a wood jam blocking it at the minute and there is a nice little beach a bit further up the lake that can be used at current levels instead :).

Who stole the alpine sunshine though? :(

When we were there last week, I wouldn't have fancied relying on the ladder to get out...

I would have to recommend the beach to the right of the barrage as a better get out as well. Unfortunately our group didn't get that far as they decided to walk off due to too many trees.

Andy

There is a track down to the lake, take out on right side of the lake (facing toward the barrage) This track leads to the main valley road. However its a very long walk because the barrier at the entrance/top of the track is usually locked, and only allows access for EDF staff.

Who stole the alpine sunshine though? :([/quote]

Sunny this morning after a night of rain.

Stuart.

[Carter]

Quick question about the Briancon Gorge which we ran several times last week - on Wednesday afternoon we paddled round the corner expecting to go down the river right canoe shoot at the barrage but it was 6ft out the water and the barrage was open. The levels looked similar but the water was flowing a lot lot faster and was brown. How much harder does this make the gorge section?

Thanks
Paul

[Stuart J Woodward]

Quick question about the Briancon Gorge which we ran several times last week - on Wednesday afternoon we paddled round the corner expecting to go down the river right canoe shoot at the barrage but it was 6ft out the water and the barrage was open. The levels looked similar but the water was flowing a lot lot faster and was brown. How much harder does this make the gorge section?

Thanks
Paul

Below is a report on the Briancon Gorge from 30 May with a short video.

Earlier report <Excellent water/paddling conditions at the moment. Another blue day with temps in the Durance Valley around +28c. If this weather continues into next week? much of the same. Thunder storm over the Ecrin at the moment. If the hot weather does continue, this will bring on more storms and maybe higher levels?

Short video clip below of paddling on the Durance and Briancon Gorge. All work at the weir (Briancon Gorge section) has been completed. But the landing off the slide past the Barrage is shallow.

https://vimeo.com/43058934 > End report. Perhaps you can compare levels off this Video

If the river is brown its either from rain (last night) - landslide - or road works in the Claree Valley depositing mud into the river.

If that section is whey higher than before perhaps reconsider (dependant on paddlers skill of course), on high flows the consequence's of a swim (especially in any Gorge) is much more serious.

Warning

Be care-full of the Hydro release across the whole river, out of a stone culvert river left after the Gorge.


Hope that helps.

Stuart.

[Carter]

Thanks Stuart - I actually meant when the barrage is open like in this clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQEd5xj3RH0

[Stuart J Woodward]

The last couple of nights and mornings have been very cold. This has dropped water levels on many rivers.

However today has been hot and sunny with more to follow.

Durance Gorge a couple of days ago level on around 8 on the gauge around 9-10 on the old reading. At present the Gorge is clean of trees, even the second rapid prior to the Gorge has lost its log jam. No tree near the portage eddy. Today level low just about runnable. However very pleasant late afternoon paddle on the Upper Guisane

MAIN GUIL GORGE (below the barrage) The barrage has been open since Monday the lake has been flushed out and the river is down to its old bed.

Evidently the barrage is going to stay open for around two weeks!

Find below some video footage filmed yesterday.

https://vimeo.com/44026878 guil gorge video

This is a very committing trip (most of this Gorge is Ni-impossible to climb out of) ) with continues grade 5 rapids and at the water level (yesterday) making the trip far harder than most of the Guil upstream.

Put in is well downstream of the Barrage (do not attempt to paddle under the Barrage the tow back will kill you)

At present this trip is only for class 5 boaters who are psychophysically prepared.

Stuart

[ClareM]

Wow, just watched the video of the Guil Gorge, quite a privilege to see the run. I for one am very happy watching it as a spectator though! Looking forward to getting out there next Thursday for a couple of weeks to paddle some less challenging runs!!

Great updates and videos, keep them coming! :)

[Stuart J Woodward]

Great water levels continue in the South French Alps.

After a few days of light rain and little sun, yesterday a big storm hit the Ecrin. This has put levels up on most rivers flowing off those mountains.

The Guil however has not been effected by the rain, is running blue and at a great paddling level the Ubaye is a good solid medium.

Forecast is some rain today and then warm and sunny for Friday (great for our party), through the Week-end and into next week.

Stuart

[Croft]

Just back from a superb weekend in the French Alps - a great party at Stuart's, and fantastic levels in the rivers.

We ran the Guil (Chateau to lake), Durance gorge and Guisane - all with clear blue water and lovely medium levels.

And there is still some snow left up in the mountains - so the fun ain't over yet.

Thanks Stuart for your usual hospitality - it's always a great laugh.

[Stuart J Woodward]

Just back from a superb weekend in the French Alps - a great party at Stuart's, and fantastic levels in the rivers.

We ran the Guil (Chateau to lake), Durance gorge and Guisane - all with clear blue water and lovely medium levels.

And there is still some snow left up in the mountains - so the fun ain't over yet.

Thanks Stuart for your usual hospitality - it's always a great laugh.

Thanks Ian for your company and quote above.

The fun has certainly continued since our party last Friday (great times reliving river tales with many old friends). This week the Guil in particular has been amazing running at a great eddy down level. The water quality of this river is fantastic from a distance its a deep blue. However do not be mistaken by its clarity and think just because you can see the river bed its low. There are still some very testing sections.

Durance easy sections and Sun run fantastic level.
Durance Gorge still good.
Guil fantastic
All the Guisane good.
Claree good.
The Onde was running well at the start of the week.
The Gyr and Gyronde flows increasing with glacial melt from this very hot weather (29c)
Again with the hot sun expect the Romanche/Verneon to be full on in the afternoon.
Upper Ubaye still ok. Race course section great pleasant run. The main good level gorge only for class 5 boaters.

Over in the west no news on the Drac tribs but the Bonne will be good as fed by the same glaciers as the Veneon.

Once again the South French Alps has proved its prem location for all round ww boating, with great rivers for all abilities.
If we Include the Alpes Haute Provence/Alpes Maratime/Verdon and the Cevannes the South of France rivers have been running since late April.

With more wall to wall blue skies and the sun getting hotter, expect the good time to continue for sometime to come.

Safe and fun paddling.

Stuart

[Stuart J Woodward]

Up until last Sat 30 June the hot weather was still with us, temp's were up to 29c which was creating great melt water from the glaciers. However Sunday and Monday saw light rain over the Ecrin. These two cooler days slowed the melt and rivers dropped off. But yesterday again was very hot and today as well. This has again increased melt off the glaciers feeding the Gyr (then Gyronde) Guisane, Bonne and the Romanche, Veneon which were both very high last Sat.

Sections of the Guil and Ubaye are stiil good, but are losing water due to most of very late snow having melted.

All the easy sections of the Durance are good, but as per usual at the end of June the Durance Gorge has gone (unless we get rain). This is due to the Claree dropping right down (as per usual end of June) and of course the Barrage at Prelles extracting water. Today It's still just about paddlable?? but being very bony between the main rapids. It's a great shame to paddle when low as it givers the gorge no credit. However we have been very lucky that it has maintained some great levels since late May.

If the hot weather continues throughout July and August, we are still looking at good boating until mid August.

Safe and fun boating.

Stuart.

[Ken]

Having a fantastic time out here at the mo, but please note that the Gyr needs careful inspection for trees at the mo, it has more than it's fair share!

[andyakd]

A group of us heading over to Briancon on Saturday, does anyone have any up to date talk about the levels.

Cheers

Andy