River-Related Terms
|
| Run
|
A section
of river that can be boated. |
| Put-In
|
River
access where a trip begins. |
| Take-Out
|
River
access where a trip ends. |
| Current
|
Moving
water. |
| River
Right |
The
right side of the river when facing downstream. |
| River
Left |
The
left side of the river when facing downstream. |
| Gradient
|
The
"steepness" of a river, measured in feet of elevation loss
per mile of river. |
| River
Rating |
A measure
of the difficulty of a rapid or a river. |
| Flow
|
The
amount of water passing a point in the river, measured in
Cubic Feet per Second (CFS). |
| High
Water |
River
flow above an expected average. Makes the currents faster.
Some rapids get easier, others become more difficult. |
| Low
Water |
Flows
below an expected average. More rocks and obstacles may show,
rapids become more technical. |
| Eddie
|
Water
flowing upstream behind a rock or other obstacle. Eddies often
provide a safe place to get out of the current. |
| Eddie
Line, Eddie Fence |
Where
the water flowing upstream passes the water flowing downstream. |
| Rapid
|
Where
there's whitewater! Water flowing through a shallower, constricted,
or steeper section forms a rapid. |
| Hole,
Hydraulic |
Where
water flowing over a rock or other obstacle flows down, then
back onto itself in an eruption of whitewater. |
| Laterals
|
A wave
or hole peeling off an obstacle at an angle. |
| Standing
Wave, Haystack |
A wave
in a river formed by obstacles on the river bottom, where
the wave stands still relative to the bank. |
| Strainer,
Sieve |
An opening
or openings where water can flow through, but a solid object
such as a person or boat cannot. Usually formed by trees on
the banks, or by rocks on top of one another with water flowing
through them. One of the most dangerous river features. |
| Pool-Drop
|
A type
of river in which rapids are separated by calmer pools of
water, sometimes more forgiving than continuous gradient rivers.
|
| |
Boat & Equipment
Terms
|
| Paddle
|
A paddle
held in the hands, not attached to the boat, used to paddle.
Can be single-bladed (for rafting and canoeing) or double-bladed
(for kayaking, solo cats, inflatable kayaks) |
| Paddle
Boat |
A raft
with a crew of paddlers and a guide. |
| Oar
|
A long
blade, attached to the boat by an oarlock on thole pin, and
used to row. |
| Oar
Rig |
A boat
rigged with oars, so one person sitting in the center of the
boat can row. |
| Stern
Rig, Paddle Assist |
An oar/paddle
boat, in which the guide has oars and frame in the stern,
and thecrew, sitting forward, has paddles. Ofen used on high
water. |
| Bow
|
The
front of the boat. |
| Stern
|
The
rear of the boat. |
| Duckie,
Inflatable Kayak, Funyak, Splashyak |
A one
or two person inflatable boat, usually paddled with double
bladed paddles. |
| Cataraft
|
An inflatable
boat with two pontoons. |
| Solo
Cat |
A one-person
cataraft paddled with a double-bladed paddle. |
| Hoopi
|
Tubular
webbing used for multiple purposes in rigging and preparing
boats. |
| Carabiner
|
A clip,
used to secure items into the boat, and to construct safety
and rescue systems. |
| Wet
Suit |
A neoprene
rubber suit which allows a small amount of water in, to help
retain body heat. |
| Dry
Suit |
A suit
designed to keep all water out, under which any amount of
layered clothing can be worn. |
| Dry
Bag, Day Bag |
A bag
for keeping gear in on the river, to help keep things dry
(but probably not 100%) |
| Life
Jacket |
A personal
floatation device, coast guard approved, and worn like a vest. |
| |
Rafter Terms &
Techniques
|
| Guide
|
The
person who steers the boat down the river, giving paddle commands
to the crew (paddle captain), or rowing (oar captain). |
| Trip
Leader |
A Guide
designated to oversee the smooth running of a trip. |
| Head
Chef |
A guide
who plans the menu for the trip, purchases the food, and helps
prepare the meals with the other guides. |
| Paddle
Captain |
The
guide in a paddle boat. |
| Paddle
Commands |
Commands
used by the guide to communicate to the crew. Some more commonly
used commands are: Forward paddle, Back paddle, Left Turn
or Left Back, Right Turn or Right Back, and Stop. |
| Strokemaster
|
A member
of the crew, usually in the bow, appointed by the guide to
set the cadence, or timing for the whole crew. If everyone
follows the strokemaster, the crew will be efficient and work
together. |
| Agile
Bow |
A member
of the paddle crew, who is assigned to get out on shore and
hold the boat. |
| Flotilla
|
A group
of boats together on a trip. |
| Lead
Boat |
The
first boat in the flotilla, often captained by the trip leader. |
| Sweep
Boat |
A boat
rigged with first aid, safety and rescue gear which usually
runs last in the flotilla. |
| Scout
|
To stop
and look at a rapid before running it. |
| Setting
Safety |
Catching
an eddie, or hiking down the river, past a rapid to be there
for the safety of a boat about to come through the rapid.
|
| Portage
|
To carry
the boats around a rapid, necessary around Class VI rapids
and other obstacles. |
| Boat
Angle |
The
angle of the boat relative to the current. |
| Ferry
|
To cross a current or river, without moving downstream. |
| Flip
|
The
boat turned upside down by a wave, a rock, or other mishap. |
| Wrap
|
A boat
held against a rock or other object by the force of the current. |
| Z-Drag
|
A pulley
system used to give a mechanical advantage when trying to
free a boat from a "wrap" |
| High
Side |
The
necessary act of jumping to the "high side" when coming up
against an obstacle sideways. Always jump downstream, towards
the rock or obstacle. When executed properly, it can help
prevent a wrap or a flip. |
| Swimmer
|
A person
who has fallen out of a boat. |
| Safety
Talk |
A talk
which precedes every trip, in which paddlers learn about safety
on the river. |
| Swimmer's
Position |
Often
the safest way to "swim" in a river or rapid. Feet up in front
of you, visible on the surface, facing downstream, arms out
to the sides for stability and to scull to move across the
current. |
WhiteWater
Glossary 
Current
River Conditions (USGS)
