[Awclist] Fwd: Pearce Ferry Rapid Update

[Thomas Robey]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: RRFW Riverwire <riverwire at rrfw.org>
> Date: October 12, 2008 8:20:32 PM MDT
> Subject: Pearce Ferry Rapid Update
> Reply-To: riverwire at rrfw.org
>
> RRFW Riverwire -
>
> Pearce Ferry Rapid Update
> October 12, 2008
>
> River Runners for Wilderness continues to keep our readers apprised  
> of the important changes taking place under what was Lake Mead as  
> the reservoir contracts and changes through years of extended  
> drought. The new Pearce Ferry Rapid is a class 4-rated rapid (on 1-6  
> scale) that developed over the last two years approximately one mile  
> north of Pearce Ferry at river mile 280.8, where the river flows  
> over a saddle between hills and then straight into a hillside  
> consisting of consolidated gravels.
>
> A riffle at the top of the rapid has formed a small pour-over along  
> each bank of the river, with a tongue in the middle of the riffle  
> going into small hydraulic waves. The Pearce Ferry Rapid is  
> positioned just below this riffle. The majority of the river passes  
> left of a rock outcrop and makes a sharp ninety degree turn as the  
> full force of the Colorado slams into a rocky hillside.
> A large outcrop of cemented rocks sits in the middle right of the  
> rapid, dividing the river channel. On the left of the outcrop is a  
> tongue dropping into a small reverse wave, indicative of a submerged  
> rock. This wave is a new development since February of this year.
>
> Once past this submerged rock, the rapid has a sharp reverse-current  
> hydraulic, and a mild eddy on the far left side of the reverse,  
> which appears to be getting larger as it erodes the soft sediments  
> that form the bank at this location. A strong hole has formed on the  
> far left side of the river channel along the left bank at the foot  
> of the rapid. On the right of the outcrop, a fast channel with a  
> sharp but run-able drop has developed.
>
> Additional photos of the rapid taken October 8, 2008, are online at  
> the River Runners for Wilderness Gallery here: http://www.rrfw.org/gallery/ 
> .
>
> This rapid poses a threat to river travel, as a boat could wrap on  
> the mid-stream outcrop. Night floating through this area is NOT  
> recommended. Scouting on river left is highly advisable. River  
> runners should use caution near the edge at the scout location at  
> the top of the bluff on river left. Lifejackets should be worn by  
> all river travelers running this rapid. This rapid poses another  
> risk in that the last rapid, upstream at Gneiss Canyon, is forty- 
> four miles above Pearce Ferry Rapid. River runners should not be  
> lulled into thinking the last rapid has been run once they pass  
> Separation Canyon at river mile 240.
>
> The geologic term for this type of rapid is called a Nick Point.  
> Here, harder bedrock material forms a waterfall which prevents  
> further down-cutting upstream of the waterfall. The Pearce Ferry  
> nick point continues to change. River runners can expect nick points  
> to form both above and below this point.
>
> While a small area is available for camping just above this rapid on  
> river left, a much larger camp is at the foot of the rapid, also on  
> river left.
>
> A synopsis of this rapid with photos from the last five years is  
> found at:
> http://www.durangobill.com/GCTourSuperimposition.html.
>
> A video of this rapid from September can be found at this You Tube  
> link:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqE5eatodSE.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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>
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> .
>
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> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> # # #
>
> River Runners for Wilderness | PO Box 17301 | Boulder | CO | 80308
>

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