Kayaking can be dangerous!
The only official Swan Canoe Club activities are the guided Upper and Middle Murray paddle trips.
If you want to paddle with an SCC instructor, you must register with Elaine.
If you don't want to be guided, or want to go mountain biking or hiking, you do so at your own risk. SCC strongly recommends that you only paddle/hike/bike in a group of people with whom you feel comfortable.
If you are not officially part of a guided group but paddle in the vicinity of the guided group, you must understand that the SCC instructor�s primary responsibility is to the guided group and can only assist other paddlers once he-she has made the guided group completely safe.
All trips require the wearng of PFDs and helmets. A spraydeck is also required if using a kayak.
In case of a capsize in a kayak, paddlers must be competent in their capsize drill i.e. safe exit of an upside down kayak with a spraydeck fitted.
Boats must also have good buoyancy. Large volume kayaks should be fitted with additional buoyancy via airbags (Club can provide these for club boats). Boats also need to be fitted with hand grabs (safe end loops) and foot braces should be checked to make sure they can be properly adjusted to suit the paddler.
A spare thermal top and some high energy type food is recommended to be carried in a drybag (that is safely secured in the boat), especially if conditions are wet and cold. Suitable secure paddling footwear is recommended.
This is Grade 1 to 2 water. Can be done in longer plastic boats if paddlers are confident in paddling these boats on moving water. As well as some fairly straight forward easy to negotiate rapids (Grade 1/2) there are also some short ti-tree sections (not bad) and faster flowing current sections depending on the water level on the day. This trip takes several hours and involves some longer flat paddling sections. Total trip is around 12K. [Note: Baden Powell Water Spout (Grade 3/4) is portaged river left. This is an easy portage.]
Saturday
Depending on demand, there may be an instruction session (Intro to WW) on Sat for new paddlers or paddlers wishing to practice their ww skills on a small rapids section just upstream from the Nanga bushcamp. Suitable for 'small' boats only - eg Dancers etc.
This will be geared towards paddling the Upper Murray on Sunday.
Sunday
At least one instructor (Elaine) will lead a trip on the Upper Murray.
MIDDLE MURRAY - Nanga Bush Camp to Scarp Road
Saturday
There is also the possibility of Instructor(s) lead Middle Murray trip on Sat which will be open to small groups of competent ww paddlers only, paddling in appropriate w/w boats i.e. boats easy to control on ww. The idea is to stop at suitable rapids and practice white water manoeuvres and 'play' a bit. Minimum entry level is for paddlers who have undertaken an intro to WW course and are confident of their ability to tackle grade 2/3 white water. This is aimed at paddlers who would prefer to go down accompanied with an instructor. Please contact Elaine. [Note: If the water level is considered by the instructor to be too high (i.e. outside of the risk management guidelines) then an instructor lead MM trip may not be available.]
Note: all planned paddles are subject to appropriate water levels. Organised paddles may
be cancelled if conditions are too dangerous, but this is very unlikely.