Liard River - Whirlpool Canyon

[Edward]

Hi - I am new to this forum, and to Jet Boating.
Have been doing some reading and yahoo searches about a boat loss at Whirlpool canyon and would appreciate some insight into this river condition, specifically why is this spot so dangerous, and how can you spot these conditions beforehand....
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From an earlier post/quote
If you unfortunate enough to miss beaching at Skook's Landing,............ approx. 1km. below Skook's Landiing is Whirlpool Canyon. This is an extremely dangerous section of the Liard, if you end up going down there, your chances of survival are negligible at best and you can kiss the boats and gear good-bye,........ permanently
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Thanks

[Edward]

http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explorer#view=photo&position=57&with_photo_id=50543739&order=date_desc&user=2925363

[325 wsm]

recirculating holes big enough to hide a school bus, wave trains close to 20 ft. high, pour over ledges, massive eddie lines. Kayaked it a couple times years ago……not a good place for a motor boat

[Riverratz]

Some pics of Whirlpool Canyon.
NOT a place you want to be in a jet boat.


http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt73/lloymar/img_1571-0_zps321702a2.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/lloymar/media/img_1571-0_zps321702a2.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt73/lloymar/53dde269-3096-43ac-8e22-79e0e43afbf7_zps25192d46.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/lloymar/media/53dde269-3096-43ac-8e22-79e0e43afbf7_zps25192d46.jpg.html)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/tt73/lloymar/img_1580-0_zps8c09d188.jpg (http://s599.photobucket.com/user/lloymar/media/img_1580-0_zps8c09d188.jpg.html)

[Edward]

325 wsm and Riverratz
This place is an ominous river condition. I read on HBC that an Alicraft Jet Boat was lost here lately, fortunatly everyone onboard survived! Is kind of close to home for me as I recently purchased an Alicraft and am learning how to handle it. 325 I understand what recirculating holes are - Whirlpools...right but dosen't a jet boat have enough power to escape the cycle, I am in awe of this much suction...What is a wave train?, I am familiar with an eddy current , but never heard of a wave line, totally new to me.
Riverratz awesome pictures!, thanks...sounds like you have a lot of experience, I could learn alot from you.
I will check provincial river maps prior to my trips for cautions and rapid conditions.
An experienced kiaker can travel where a jet boat can not, wow ?...Much appreciated to both.
Edward

[Cali]

There has been jet boats both come up and go down thru that spot on the Liard, not a nice spot but also boats sink on lakes.

[Goose]

http://www.panoramio.com/photo_explorer#view=photo&position=57&with_photo_id=50543739&order=date_desc&user=2925363

Amazing photos, thanks for that!!!

Cheers

[Jagermeister]

dosen't a jet boat have enough power to escape the cycle, I am in awe of this much suction.by the time you figure this out, and inexperience will dictate that, it is too late. boats don't move well when flooded even if you still have power.

[325 wsm]

If you want to travel on class 3 plus rivers I suggest you try to find a SWIFT WATER RESCUE course to take and learn some of the basics. Wave train ….lots of waves in a row …. much different hydraulics than you find on a lake or ocean but not as big a threat as a recirculating hole ….some of the recirc holes on that stretch of river could flip any jet boat over and over until it filled with water and spit it out along the rocky bottom. Jets boats can handle most eddy lines but they can push you off your intended direction. good luck.

[Edward]

Research before you travel on any river, and know what you are getting into. Understand mother nature is ultimate.
I would like to see how this spot can be navigated, by an experienced and informed pilot. Great information, much appreciated!

[Brett]

Did a jet boat tour on Niagara river in a 1500hp boat, 3 diesels and Hamilton nozzles that looked 12" wide, flat boat 35' long and 15' wide. Very touristy but a blast, we climbed a rapid with about a 10' drop, pulled out into it and throttled up and over. Just past that point was the "whirlpool" class 6 rapids over 300' deep, we were taken within 100' and told they are the only class 6 rapids in NA not created from water being pushed up from the bottom contour, these are formed from the 100,000 gal/sec flow rate and that trees get pulled under for weeks before resurfacing. Very cool. The boat we were on is hired out in emergency to travel past that point and up to the falls, but only with emergency personnel.. Sorry it was off topic but well worth the money if your ever that way :)

[Edward]

Awesome power, great story, love to see it first hand!
thanks Brett

[argyle1]

Better to stay the hell away from there Edward, until you learn what you need to. Running rapids like that take years of experience, not something you learn on a hunting forum

[Edward]

Good advice argyle1, I have an Alicraft with a 175 sport jet, just learning how to pilot it. Used to run the rivers with my dad and always wanted a jet boat. I have not been running rivers for years but remember the basics, and the times from my past.
Mother Nature rules, dont f*** with her, it can come up on you so fast and before you know it you are in trouble.
Would like to team up with some experienced jet boaters this summer. Anyone interested let me know.