When it rains it pours!!

Last weekend the heavens opened and the rivers burst their banks.  Saturday was spent driving around the south lakes looking for something at a reasonable level.  We checked out the Sprint, the upper Lune and lower Rawthey; all MASSIVE!  At this point my starter motor died so after a bump start we decided to head to Brookbank and discuss options for Sunday.

Options discussed, we all met at the get out for Artle beck.  It was a rather large group of 10 so we split into two seperate teams.  The level was high but not a torrent.  The only incident unfortunately involved me, after some lazy boating I got punished by a hole and swam.  My boat disappeared downstream.  After some scrambling up the bank and a 10 min walk downstream I found the group trying to retrieve my boat from under a tree.  Thankfully only slightly dented.  Reunited with my boat we all got back on to team run the big weir at the end.  I didnt GoPro the run as I thought it was a similar level to the run I already have on here.  I wish I had as it was definately alot higher.  I really like this run!!

After the usual get out banter we decided to head off and paddle a rather high upper lune (had droped 1.5m from the day before tho).  It was a good bouncy grade 3 run and probably easier than when it has less water in it.

The Upper Dart

Finally the rain has returned, earlier this week me (Craig),  Atti and Ant went in the hunt of water. So on Wednesday, due to the Met Office reports , we ended up heading to Dartmoor for two days, where we had arranged to meet up with ex Lakesboater Guy Genge. Guy now being a local to the Dart had made it his training ground however, the three of us were new to the Dart experience. We paddled the Upper Dart at low levels on the Wednesday which was disappointing as there had been so much rain. But as we camped up for the night we received lots of heavy rain over night which brought the river up to a good level and it was flowing well. So we took it on again this time enjoying the good levels and even some hero moves and boof’s. It was a great trip and really good to get on a new river in a new area with some good water levels and some great mates.

The new paddle wagon:

Guy on Surprise Surprise (day 1):

Craig Euthanasia (day 2):

Ant contemplating Surprise Surprise (day 2):

Atti Surprise Surprise (day 2):

The Boys are all back home now and back at work, but hopefully with a bit of luck and some wet stuff from the sky, we will be out and about again at the weekend.

Craig

Upper Clough

A lot of rain arrived through the night on Sunday so we decided to head over and have a look at the lesser run section of the Clough on Monday.  The team consisted of me (Anthony), Craig and Sam.  We had all ran the lower Clough many times but Craig was the only one to of done the upper.  His reports of fences underneath bridges on blind bends didn’t particularly fill me with masses of enthusiasm but he reassured us that the levels were much lower this time so they shouldn’t be a problem.

We got on and the first obstacle is a 3m riverwide bedrock slab.  River right is a boof into about 18 inches of water and the left is a bounce down some steps into a bush.  Unfortunately the boof wasn’t on due to the low levels so the bounce down the left was taken.

Craig checking the Depth

Craig bouncing down into a bush

After this we continued down river over several smaller bedrock rapids, and under several bridges which three had fences across.  We had to portage two of these.

2nd fence

3rd fence, trickier in higher water to portage.

After the 3rd fence it was not far until we reached Lemmings Falls, at these levels good fun.  After Lemmings the river continues in much the same nature as before, with small bedrock drops and couple of larger ones underneath bridges.

Larger drop under bridge

Final larger drop at the get out

A good day was had by all, but we all agreed that it could of done with a bit more water.  Not to much tho as Lemmings can get a bit tasty!!