RIVER GRETA (Lake District)

[Mark R]

Guide.

[Monkey Magic]

Today/tonight very big should be good tomorrow...

[geyrfugl]

In http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40523 it was reported that there are several tree hazards. Is there any update to this ? Like steve t, we've got the Greta on our programme for October 25th, and we have one or two paddlers we don't know that
well, wanting to come, although I don't believe any are beginners.
How easy is it to protect or portage these ?

I'm guessing that the sharp sweeping corner 100m below the Wall
corner can be protected from the left bank and by paddlers in the
eddy, river right just below the hole. The others I'm having trouble
visualising - I can only remember one weir ! Is the second one in the
channel left of an island which can be avoided by going right of the
island ?

Andy

[callwild]

Unfortunately not been back on the river since my warning post but would imagine they are still there.( Perhaps I'll have quick look for you if I get time).
All trees can be avoided fairly easily if good group control is kept.
They may look different now as less leaves.
The first one after the start could be avoided river right and is on swift flowing but flat water.
Trees on sweeping bend after wall playhole as you say could be protected but there is actually plenty of room here if led river left avoiding play stopper, and a huge eddy on the bend itself. Trees branches are in current which could be swept into if capsized on stopper river right.

Last big tree accross half of river is easily avoided river left but if anyone capsizes just above it could be awkward. The first weir is obvious on river left as you run down more natural rapid on river right under a railway bridge. The tree is a couple of hundred meters below railway bridge.

You are right, the second weir I refer to is often missed as again it is run normally over natural rocks river right of an island.

last set of tree branches ( which will have less leaves now) are well after Forge stopper and on entrance to town. Most water flows under branches and this route is usually Ok but could capsize a beginner. With proper group control they could be led over rocky shelves river left but just have to judge on day.

All are a bit awkward to portage but just need to keep aware rather than paddling in a random free for all.
hope this helps
Stu

[geyrfugl]

Thanks for that. It looks as if the paddlers we don't know very well are
not going to be able to get lifts up, so I think we will have a group with
no beginners and all known to each other, which will make it a little less
stressful :-)

I'll report back - hopefully with some pics.

Andy

[steve t]

Stu - Thanks again

Andy - Maybe see you on the river, we'll be the ones faffing about with no sense of urgency ;-)

Steve

[callwild]

The Greta is now clear of the main tree blockages mentioned in my earlier posts.

1st one has been swept to the left bank.

One below 1st weir has been removed or swept away.

Tree branches on entrance to Keswick appear trimmed.

So mostly clean easy lines again, except bend below the wall play hole and there is plenty of room there.

[will_sheaff]

You need to read this-

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=57340

[Jim Pullen]

There are currently warnings circulating in Cumbria regarding scaffold washed from under one of the bridges on the Great during the huge November flood.



We paddled the river today (November 22) in highish water. At this level we paddled under the bridge without issue – in very high water clearance would be a problem.



Clearly the obstruction previously reported has washed away. However, it is there somewhere and is likely to become uncovered as levels drop.



So, no need for panic but paddlers should be cautious on all Cumbrian rivers until new hazards have been spotted.

I must confess to having paddled this myself on the Saturday afterwards. We were very cautious due to the signs Slime had put up, but saw no evidence of the scaffolding in the river at these high (~1ft above the white line) levels. I would still urge caution, especially at lower levels, untill it becomes apparent as to where all the metal and woodwork ended up!

[Pete K]

Descided to have a walk along this river to check it out ahead of a future trip when I've remembered to bring my kayak. The guidebook refers to the white mark on the bridge as a good minimum level. It was around a foot below today (7th Jan 2011) and in walking the whole river to the park in Keswick I don't think that there was anything that couldn't be run in a kayak, all be it a little stoney in places but do-able. 6 inches below the line would probably be lowest level it was worth running it at. Another few inches and I'd consider running it in the canoe.

The gauge at Greta Bridge in Keswick was showing about 1.1 metres.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/120710.aspx?stationId=5060
The gauge at Threlkeld was about 0.6 metres.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/120710.aspx?stationId=5140

Anyway, main point of the post:

New tree danger: Approx NGR 313248, just after iron railway bridge shortly after the get on.

The tree looks to have snapped this winter, a big one, and dropped down straight across the river to the far bank. There is a gap under the right hand side that could be carefully sneaked through in low water but at the white mark level it would be a complete blockage. Above surface on the right and below on the left. take great care and portage on the left.

Pete Knight
TrueGritInstruction.com

[andy wa]

Paddled this today, good high level I think, it was at the white line at the get on, EA website for Threlkeld said 1.10m.

Tree hazards have gone.