Reading Holes

Getting worked by a big nasty hole is probably a fear we all have from time to time, but it doesn’t have to be so bad if you have the skills and mindset to deal with it. The number one rule to remember is that no matter how bad things seem don’t panic or give up; you never know when you might get lucky. In reality the most difficult aspect of learning to deal with holes is learning to deal with our own fears; the techniques involved are no more difficult than any other aspect of kayaking, but the mental barriers we will have to confront can be huge.

While the hot new playboat designs have helped to spawn a huge interest in playing in holes, I still see a lot of paddlers who come unglued when they become stuck in a hole that they didn’t intend to play in. This doesn’t seem to be something that is only performed by newer first or second year boaters either; I have witnessed well seasoned veteran paddlers ace a class five drop only to completely fall to pieces in a pourover hole at the end. With this in mind there are a few things that any paddler can do to deal with the worst-case scenario. Here are some of the most common things that lead to trouble, and some solutions to get you out of there!

Doing some analysis of the hole you’re about to drop into can really pay off here, as it will tell you some critical details for planning your escape. You want to evaluate what type of hole you are dropping into: the steepness of the drop, the shape and steepness of the backwash, weather or not the hole feeds towards an exit, or if there is a jet somewhere to paddle to; these are all things that help to tell us how difficult and/or dangerous the hole is. Learning to evaluate and read holes is an acquired skill like all river reading, but here are a few specific questions to ask that should help to demystify all of that froth:

-How far downstream is the boil line?

The “boil line” is simply the line marking the downstream edge of the backwash; this tells us how pronounced the backwash is. Look for an upwelling of water and note that everything downstream is flowing down river and all the water upstream of that boil is flowing back into the hole. This is a good thing to learn to spot quickly, as it will tell you how far downstream you will have to travel to be clear of the hole. Obviously the further downstream this line is the more serious the hole is.

-How steep and tall is the backwash?

By judging the angle of the backwash from it’s base to its peak we can tell how strong and powerful the hole is, although not necessarily how dangerous. A steep and tall backwash will tend to be very strong and often chaotic, but may or may not be all that sticky depending on all of the other characteristics of the hole. Keep reading…

-How steep is the drop into the hole?

This will tell you a lot about how much control you will be able to have if you find yourself stuck in the hole. The steeper the drop, the more difficult it will be to control. You will find yourself needing a much greater amount of downstream edge to avoid getting flipped. With more of your weight centered over the downstream edge you will find that you have less energy available to utilize your paddle strokes to their maximum effect. The one thing that can be good about a steeper drop into a hole is that in general it will be much easier to “boof” over.

-What shape is the seam?

The seam here is the line where the “green water” entering the hole meets the “white water” of the reversal current. The shapes we want to learn to compare are easiest to visualize if we pretend for a moment that we are a bird flying low over the water, giving us a direct overhead view of the water. From an overhead angle of view, looking at the seam we can see if it is an even line, perpendicular to the river banks, or if it is curving upstream (“frowning”), curving downstream (“smiling”), or angled diagonally, etc. This can tell us some important information about what strategy will be helpful to escape, and how difficult that escape may be. There are no set in stone rules about this, but in general the more that the line is curving with the ends (exits) pointing upstream, the harder you will have to work to get out. If there is not a weaker spot in the middle of the hole, you will have to paddle to one side or another to exit a hole. In order to get to the edge of a frowning hole you end up having to essentially paddle slightly upstream (very difficult).

-Does the hole angle one way or another?

This is again assuming that you are looking directly down on the water; if the seam line is at an angle then the hole will be feeding toward the downstream end of the hole. This is usually a good thing; the more the hole is angled, the less time you will tend to spend in it. This can also be bad if the hole is feeding you towards something dangerous.

-Do you see surges of water pulsing through the hole in any location?

This is the basic way of identifying weak spots in the hole, which may provide an easier way to exit than having to paddle all the way to the side. You can sometimes see this by carefully assessing the boil line; you may notice that it is not consistent throughout the hole. With practice you will eventually learn to identify these weaker spots or jets of current while stuck in the hole. Once you find an exit you’re half way on your way home; now you just have to get your boat to that exit!

Most of us learn to analyze these things from playing around in smaller holes, and suffering through the experience of trial and error, but you can also pick up a lot from watching other paddlers and asking questions too. Finding some safe spots to play around in will start the process of being able to understand holes and learn the skills to control your boat when you find yourself in one (by choice, or by accident). Spending some time on shore looking at holes (while scouting, or driving along rivers) will provide you with a lot more time to ponder all these questions and more. You will be glad that you spent the time learning about them, the next time you find yourself facing a monster hole that you can’t avoid. Once you have done a quick analysis of the hole, recognize what will be needed and start to make a plan…