Know How CAMPCRAFT | TECHNIQUE | EXPERT TIP | GEAR | FOOD
Improving your bottom line. PHOTO: JAMIE ORFALD-CLARKE
[ TECHNIQUE ] Line of Least Resistance AVOIDING A PAIN IN THE NECK BY LINING DOWN RAPIDS
Using lines to control the descent of a canoe through moving water is an age-old art that can provide a welcome alternative to portag- ing. Once you’ve come to recognize its poten- tial, you may find yourself lining rapids that you would normally have carried around. First, you’ll need a pair of lines. The rope di-
ameter should be large enough to afford good grip: ¼- to ½-inch braided floating rope works well. The length of the lines is dependent on the river and personal preference. Shorter lines are easier to manage but may leave you grasp- ing for a runaway canoe. Longer lines allow you to move the canoe further into the current but may result in tangles if you only use a frac- tion of their length. Thirty- to forty-foot lines are a good compromise. Storing them in throw
22 SPRING 2011
bags will keep them free of tangles when not in use. When confronted with shallow or slow mov-
ing sections of river, simply tie the lines to the grab loops at each end of the canoe. Be care- ful not to let the canoe slip broadside into the main current or it will capsize. Tying the lines high above the waterline like this makes the boat easier to drag over rocks but more sus- ceptible to flipping over. For deeper, more powerful rapids, the best
way to tie onto the canoe is with a bridle sys- tem. This positions the lines’ attachment point underneath the canoe, helping to prevent capsizing. Here’s a simple way to tie a bridle: Start by folding back eight feet of rope on the end of
your line. Next, tie a double overhand knot halfway up the folded section of rope so that you have a big ‘Y’. Then, tie each of the short ends of the ‘Y’ to either side of the canoe’s seat, positioning the center knot under the canoe at the keel line. With a bridle at both the bow and stern, and the load slightly rearranged so that the downstream end of your canoe is heavier, you will have a very stable setup. Much like paddling rapids, lining is a men- tal game. Practising in light current with only a few obstacles present, you can learn with how the canoe interacts with the lines and the water. You need to work with the river rather than against it. The same can be said of lining with a partner—effective communica- tion is essential. To read more on the subtleties of this tech-
nique, check out Garrett Conover’s compre- hensive book Beyond the Paddle and Bill Ma- son’s classic Path of the Paddle. —Johno Foster is a seasoned Black Feather guide who would rather paddle through most rapids but knows when to toe the party line.
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