We always have an eye out for the safety of the general public:
The local Yough River has been runnin' at a bit high level since the beginning of June. Somewhere in the range of 5ft - 7ft. Prime conditions for experienced boaters - conditions that we used to do rain dances to attract. A bit sketchy for the inexperienced - let's say less than the universal, but loose, requisite of 10,000 hours for sake of argument. It's always been our contention that the Lower Yough - the popular whitewater run beginning below the Ohiopyle Falls put in, and extending (unofficially) to the Bruner Run take out - is a solid Class IV river above 4ft level on the official Ohiopyle River Gage (OPG). Reference 'Gage height, feet' on the link for up to minute reading. Our contention considers that the paddler is navigating an 'Open Boat', aka., a 'properly outfitted' canoe; the oft-most onerous of river tripping vessels.
Rivers End Rapid, maybe 5ft OPG, around '92
Somewhere on the Yough (just below 'Double Hydraulic?), maybe 5ft OPG, around '92
Above 8ft (or maybe 10ft) the river is pretty much a washed out flume ride. Don't much recall. Above 6ft we always lost interest.
We're just mentioning this with regard to the latest multiple drownings, near drownings, capsizes with lost boats and gear, washed away fisherman and swimmers and similar bedlam that has recently been brought to our attention.
Above that 4ft level even usually calm and serene downriver sections of the river pose threat for a discombobulated 'Missouri Boat Ride':
(YouTube Video)
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
So check the level. Water visibility as well. If ya' can't see the bottom, or your feet, in let's say maybe 3ft of water, that means search and rescue can't see your body, either. Makes for a long day for those guys.
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Found this brilliant old image while searching the archives:
The mystical 'Bodhidharma' in deep meditation along the banks of the bottom Yough
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