Using the Downstream Ferry to Successfully Row the Grand Canyon

Рет қаралды 6,679

Жыл бұрын

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Пікірлер: 39

@tfleishman1 Жыл бұрын

Zach, here in western Colorado we have a rapid called skull and the downstream ferry is "the move" to avoid skull hole or the room of doom. Great ominous names. I used my downstream ferries for many runs in the Grand Canyon, Crystal and Bedrock are prime examples. It is also very useful for catching eddy's behind rocks on high gradient rivers. It is a tool to move you where you want to go. One of the most useful skills to master. Thomas ,Grand Junction

@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын

Yep that's another rapid the downstream ferry is incredibly useful

@dennispennell7371 Жыл бұрын

Your description of Upset is spot on. My first trip I ran the right side, and thought I was home free but I let my boat (16 x 24 Maravia cat) turn pointed downstream. The next lateral wave surfed me right back to the middle of the main flow and I went totally into the big hole. Luckily the boat was super solid. It pretty much completely submerged in the hole, but punched through and out. Good lesson. Next trip I did as you suggest here and it worked fine. Missed the hole by plenty.

@jeffmichael8796 Жыл бұрын

Great video Zach! Excited to work on this technique in preparation for my Grand Canyon trip next year!!!

@seanfraser7738 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Zach. Really good illustrations and video to back it up. I am a big fan of DS ferry when appropriate. Though I FAILED at it in Bedrock.

@rtennant Жыл бұрын

I've never run Upset on the left, from the late 70s and early 80s to the last couple years. I totally did your run the last two years. Great video about the downstream ferry. I frankly can't understand why Bedrock Rapid is even a thing.

@robgrey6183 9 ай бұрын

I agree, and have used the downstream ferry in the Grand Canyon in those rapids and many others. As you suggest I run a lot of technical rivers using the downstream ferry in a smaller raft. It helps. I'll be putting in at Lee's Ferry September 29.

@Snappy-ut4bj Жыл бұрын

That’s right. Get it right. Don’t mess. ❤

@petebenson5030 Жыл бұрын

All good advice. Line up early. Don't be afraid of those little obstacles at the top of your line. Momentum only works for the first lateral. Once you are in the fast water it will pull you. Pay attention to which direction the water is flowing directly under your boat. It changes constantly and in bedrock especially it is counterintuitive. And most important keep your ferry angle. Practice that on an eddy line in a safe place so you can react to being spun around by the current.

@jurbanski3 Жыл бұрын

This is awesome - thank you! Really well explained. I hadn't been aware of how those laterals just kind of feed you down into the V.

@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@jasonpfahl7219 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your helpful knowledge. I implemented the downstream ferry on a recent multi day and was amazed on the effectiveness. Definitely a great tool in the box.

@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын

Glad it helped!

@WandererSoul84 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing such videos.

@tatosauce4076 4 ай бұрын

Awesome video!

@JAKSAMcNabb Жыл бұрын

Great video and advice!

@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

@AKgrowngal Жыл бұрын

I'm just here for the magnetic whiteboard props - where did you get the mini oar rafts!?! Another great presentation, as always!

@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын

They are lego rafts with glued on magnets on the bottom

@90Duck Жыл бұрын

I think there is something to be said for momentum as well on something like Bedrock; starting a little further out than maybe you’d want to be, but start the move early so you have some speed built up when making contact with that first lateral.

@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын

Yes absolutely. I would say angle and position are critical and momentum should be a third priority.

@rsberryalta 8 ай бұрын

Good advice, but I goofed it up in Crystal in 1984.very high water. First lateral carried me out to center, end of story. Practice on the smaller rapids first.

@jimmcgregor4598 5 ай бұрын

I did the same in Crystal in 1984, and took a big ride. An attempt at a downstream ferry cost a life on the Nenana years ago. If the lateral you are trying to break through is big, the angle has to be exactly right.

@777mofo Ай бұрын

You use a downstream ferry because in big water, the boat tracks in the direction its pointed. With an upstream ferry your boat is pointed towards what you are trying to avoid and since the current is moving faster than you can row, it pushes you right into it. The humor is that you are essentially trying to row against a freight train. In bigger water you try to keep the boat pointed in direction you want to go.

@GearGarageTV Ай бұрын

Great point!

@Sokane Жыл бұрын

What actions do you recommend if I'm having trouble pulling through the laterals? I often have to use my entire body to leverage across class 3 and 4 rapids because I have less body mass.

@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын

It may be your oar set up. Do you have the right length oars?

@Sokane Жыл бұрын

@@GearGarageTV our rig is a framed raft with an adjustable foot bar, about 14ft. The oars are between 10-11 feet, I think (it is my dad's setup, and he's 50% bigger than me).

@Sokane Жыл бұрын

@@GearGarageTV we are primarily on medium/narrow rivers like the Deschutes, Rogue and John Day.

@seanfraser7738 Жыл бұрын

Your water level was generally lower than ours a year ago in June, but it looks bigger because of the brown water you had.

@cjwaasdorp2478 Жыл бұрын

Sometimes it's not always about bigger, but what you do with it 😜

@petebenson5030 Жыл бұрын

both upset (right run) and bedrock are harder at low water because that right lane is smaller and harder to hit.

@BobbyClements Жыл бұрын

damn, this was informative in many ways but thanks for letting me know there’s crocs at the Grand Canyon 🐊😂

@GearGarageTV Жыл бұрын

Yep be careful!

@butchbrown8333 5 ай бұрын

Where can I get get some miniature rafts with magnets?

@GearGarageTV 5 ай бұрын

Search Ebay for lego rafts and glue magnets to them

@butchbrown8333 5 ай бұрын

I expected something much easier.@@GearGarageTV

@GearGarageTV 3 ай бұрын

I'm now selling them here riverhardware.com/products/lego-oar-raft

@big1dog23 Жыл бұрын

Great ideas. We just don't need to do it on our rivers, where normal rules apply. A guy made a nice rapid by rapid YT video on every rapid at every water level in the GC and he also emphasizes the DSF. I wish I could have done the Canyon but my WW days are over. Boo hoo. Have fun everyone. Wont be long before you can use the old marinas to take out where the reservoirs used to be.