Post by phnx on Jan 5, 2013 20:11:33 GMT
04/01/13
Paddlers:
Dr. T
Hootchy!
Tampon Ali
Elliot M
Tom Hodge
Big Steve
Level: Hard to judge as it doesn't have a guage on WTW but North Esk (lower) was running high. Best way to judge levels is to look at the big rock over the RHS of the bridge at the get out. When we paddled about 4 feet of rock was on show but it can be covered in spate.
A nice bouncy wavey run ideal for playing, eddy hopping practice and a relaxed paddle. No real rapids of note for the majority of the river which should have made it a breeze for our TEKKERS laden sextuplet. Sadly this proved not to be the case as I managed to get teabagged by a tiny stopper after catching an unseen rock and getting a bit of a dicking before rolling at the second attempt. More bouncy wavetraisn followed frequently before we arrived at the first of two rapids of note. The first is nameless as far as I know, large rocks river right look tantalising as the river narrows coming round a bend but the far right line is a spanking waiting to happen so don't be tempted. We didn't really realise this at the time so were peaking at it as we came down only to realise that it wasn't a go-er so some frantic paddling to avoid the rocks. That is except for Dr. T who managed to get end up going down between some of the rocks closest to the centre for the fun line and narrowly avoiding the huge wave/mental rocky mess just beside him.
We all giggled at Thomas and headed on down to the aptly named Wall of Death. Scouting from the left hand side is possible either from the eddy or from getting out onto the bank ( and I think portaging was possible, can't remember as we didn't really hang about) At these levels it was a tasty Gd 4 drop with most of the force from the RHS being pushed across towards the left hand wall which allegedly catches a lot of people off guard, hence the name. Avoiding the left hand line was fairly obvious given the wall, but a series of stoppers made it equally unappealing. Big Steve opted to go first as we ran it lemming style. From up high it seemed like he had ran it fine so Hotchy and myself following. Hotchy nailed the centre line perfectly and I thought I was doing the same, but came too far left and plunged nose first off the drop into a stopper, only avoiding a pasting by throwing in a makeshift high brace/ power roll thing. I came upright to see Big Steve out his boat and unbeknownst to me Tampon Ali was about to get similar treatment. Both had ended up pinned on the Wall and been forced to take swims. After some boat rescue faff and Steve losing a shoe we carried on down to finish.
All in all a good day, not a river for those looking for a hardcore day out but there was never a dull moment at any point, it ain't no Stanley!
The Sesk is Hotchy approved!
Paddlers:
Dr. T
Hootchy!
Tampon Ali
Elliot M
Tom Hodge
Big Steve
Level: Hard to judge as it doesn't have a guage on WTW but North Esk (lower) was running high. Best way to judge levels is to look at the big rock over the RHS of the bridge at the get out. When we paddled about 4 feet of rock was on show but it can be covered in spate.
A nice bouncy wavey run ideal for playing, eddy hopping practice and a relaxed paddle. No real rapids of note for the majority of the river which should have made it a breeze for our TEKKERS laden sextuplet. Sadly this proved not to be the case as I managed to get teabagged by a tiny stopper after catching an unseen rock and getting a bit of a dicking before rolling at the second attempt. More bouncy wavetraisn followed frequently before we arrived at the first of two rapids of note. The first is nameless as far as I know, large rocks river right look tantalising as the river narrows coming round a bend but the far right line is a spanking waiting to happen so don't be tempted. We didn't really realise this at the time so were peaking at it as we came down only to realise that it wasn't a go-er so some frantic paddling to avoid the rocks. That is except for Dr. T who managed to get end up going down between some of the rocks closest to the centre for the fun line and narrowly avoiding the huge wave/mental rocky mess just beside him.
We all giggled at Thomas and headed on down to the aptly named Wall of Death. Scouting from the left hand side is possible either from the eddy or from getting out onto the bank ( and I think portaging was possible, can't remember as we didn't really hang about) At these levels it was a tasty Gd 4 drop with most of the force from the RHS being pushed across towards the left hand wall which allegedly catches a lot of people off guard, hence the name. Avoiding the left hand line was fairly obvious given the wall, but a series of stoppers made it equally unappealing. Big Steve opted to go first as we ran it lemming style. From up high it seemed like he had ran it fine so Hotchy and myself following. Hotchy nailed the centre line perfectly and I thought I was doing the same, but came too far left and plunged nose first off the drop into a stopper, only avoiding a pasting by throwing in a makeshift high brace/ power roll thing. I came upright to see Big Steve out his boat and unbeknownst to me Tampon Ali was about to get similar treatment. Both had ended up pinned on the Wall and been forced to take swims. After some boat rescue faff and Steve losing a shoe we carried on down to finish.
All in all a good day, not a river for those looking for a hardcore day out but there was never a dull moment at any point, it ain't no Stanley!
The Sesk is Hotchy approved!