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First Drop Rapid on the Peshtigo River is a great play
spot and a very exciting rapid. For the uninitiated, this is
where you are most likley to flip your raft. Not to worry, there
is a sizeable pool immediately downstream of the rapid where
you can be reunited with your gear. It is really a blast. It
is usually up to you if you flip or not once you know the rapid.
Some prefer to blast right down the middle and challenge the
rapid outright. That is bold and a lot of fun. Some of the best
pictures and memories come from this. Some might want to skirt
it, but that takes a little effort. Paddle hard or you wil be
headed for the hole.
For it's size, First Drop is a fairly technical rapid. It
is a series of three ledges with a big side curling wave in the
center. The natural flow of the river takes you right into the
hole at most levels. At all but the lowest flows 50% or more
of the boats that go into the hole get buried or flip, and frequently
swims are in order. At some levels it much higher. Understand,
some of us do this intentionally..
After about a mile and a half of rock gardens, the river turns
to the left and then to the right. Just around the corner is
a short stretch of flat water. This is where you will want to
stow gear and make sure your helmet and life jacket (PFD) are
on. At the end of the calm stretch, the river turns left. This
is where you will see the yellow 51 sign. Right around the next
corner is the first drop. You will know you are there by the
horizon line. |
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Area 51?
When you see the gas
pipeline sign, you know that the rapid is about 75 yards ahead.
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The river narrows at the top ledge of first drop.
The majority of water coming over the top ledge goes into the
hole. If you want to go there too, do nothing. Chances are the
river will take you there. Some swim, some don't. That is the
challenge. It makes for some great fun and stories after the
river. Some of the flips can be spectacular, some are hilarious.
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If you make it past the hole, there are still two challenges.
One is a seam caused by the water from the hole folding under
the water in the left chute. It makes a deep hole, and the unsuspecting
often get dumped here. |
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At the bottom of first drop is a backrolling wave that
can catch the unsuspecting boater off guard. It is a popular
surfing hole for kayakers, and some of the guys surf inflatables
in there too. A some levels it gets pretty trashy, and you may
be in for a wild ride. |
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The trick to not swimming or at least not going into
the hole is to paddle to overcome the current that is pushing
you there. Usually a center entrance is the way to the hole.
If you enter on the left, a rock redirects the water, and pushes
you to the center of the rapid. Call it the redirect rock. You
can enter the rapid here, but you need to paddle hard to stay
to the left. The water will catch you off guard and push you
to the center.
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This low water picture shows the redirect rock. The current
turns almost 90 degrees here. If you want to cheat the rapid,
paddle hard and stay left. If you want to hit the hole, go with
the flow. |
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In this overhead view, you are
entering the rapid at either position 1, 2, or 3. Number one
is to river right, and is usually a safe line. Usually.
Line number 2 will take you into
the hole. So will line number 3, unless you paddle hard and overcome
the flow, and run the cheater line.
It isn't as easy as it sounds,
but it sure is fun.
If you beat the hole, watch out
for the deep seam. It will get the unsuspecting paddler. |
Another look at it.. #1 is the enterance on river
right. Number two is the redirect rock. Number three is the center
line to just blast the hole. Number 4, 5 and 6 is a cheater line
that works in lower water. Number 7 is where you should be taking
a breath, because number 8 is the hole. Between 6 and 8 is the
seam.
This picture, one Second Drop picture, and the redirect
rock picture were taken at low water to better show the structure.
Don't look at this and think that this is a mild rapid, The hole
can get 3-6' deep when the water comes up a little, even more
when it is really cranking.
Eventually there will be additional information about
some of the other 6 major rapids on the Peshtigo River. This
is an important one, so it gets far more detailed of a look than
the others will.
This is a tremendously fun rapid no matter how you
run it. Get out ther and have fun!
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