No, this in not the most difficult rapid in the world, though a difficult big water run it is, people have done it, as well as more difficult and dangerous rapids and waterfalls. Many more would run it if it were legal. It is class five by every official whitewater source, the guides just say it is a six because they don't want people who have gone rafting once on class four runs like the Gauley and been told they are class fives running it and dieing.
@Energiserr ....actually class 6 does exists, it's considered UNRUNNABLE.... the highest RUNNABLE level is 5+ and that alone will make you sh** your pants, assuming "whirlpools" are your biggest challenge is EXTREMELY unlikely for a class 6 rapid... remember you can't see what's underneath and unless your a salted river runner I sincerely doubt water reading skills are good enough to diagnose the underwater features...
@WanabeWingsuitPilot "actually class 6 does exists, it's considered UNRUNNABLE.... the highest RUNNABLE level is 5+ and that alone will make you sh** your pants"
That's not considered true anymore. People started running stuff that was formerly rated class VI so they opened the scale. Nowadays class VI rapids are ones that are at the utter fringe of boatability. A new "grade" has been created beyond class VI which encompasses rapids that are not humanly possible to negotiate.
@AlSwearengen15 Strange that I can't find any information to back that up (any links?).. Nothing about it on the internet, and none of my fellow river guides can attest either. Since the "classifications" ( or grade, their interchangeable but i don't think you know that due to your perentheses) are already based on boatibility I don't see a reason to create a new class for an unrunnable rapid. Usually what happens when a class 6 rapid has been run enough times, it gets dropped to a 5+...
@WanabeWingsuitPilot Try any guidebook that lists something like V+(P). The "P" stands for portage, which is exactly what I am talking about with a "new" grade beyond class VI. The description of the grades in "Colorado Rivers and Creeks" explains it. We have several class "VI" rapids here in colorado that get run occasionally, such as Harmon Falls on South Boulder Creek in Eldo Canyon or Paralyzer on Lake Creek. I taught kayaking for ten years, so I too have some river experience.
"Class VI: Extreme. One grade more difficult than class V. These runs often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. This class does not represent drops thought to be unrunnable, but may include rapids which are only occasionally run."
@AlSwearengen15 Then what exactly differentiates a class 6 from 7? Seems to be the same to me, besides AW even states that their system isn't exact. Sounds like a pompous pride thing to me lol. <-- The idea, not you. You seem intelligent and seasoned.
Also From American Whitewater: "... American version of a rating system...to compare river difficulty ... This system is not exact; rivers do not always fit easily into one category... " quote is a bit longer, wouldn't fit
You are right, ratings are subjective. One person's V is another's IV+, and so on. For me, class VI would be whitewater that is on the utter fringe of navigability. Stuff that puts the classic class V's like the Gauley or Gore Canyon to shame but can still be run by top experts in the best conditions. Class VII I wouldn't call class VII but what guidebooks often list as (P) or (U). Rapids or waterfalls that simply are not and never will be runnable. Anyway, happy paddling!
@SkwisgaarProductions no, these are the most dangerous rapids in the world I reside in niagara falls and hike the gorge all the time to get a close up, down the river is a part called "devils hole" and the rapids reach 10ft + high and are caused strictly by fast water current rushing through a small space, these rapids in the video however are mostly caused by large rock formations and extremely fast water current.
No actually the Tsangpo river in China has the most dangerous rapids.
TheNineveh 4 months ago
No, this in not the most difficult rapid in the world, though a difficult big water run it is, people have done it, as well as more difficult and dangerous rapids and waterfalls. Many more would run it if it were legal. It is class five by every official whitewater source, the guides just say it is a six because they don't want people who have gone rafting once on class four runs like the Gauley and been told they are class fives running it and dieing.
callumbix 7 months ago
isnt that the snake river?
technoobyaful 8 months ago
you can wade across that, easily
stillrob420 10 months ago
wow.. u should shoot for more time.
amit9740 11 months ago
whats that guy on sbout there is such thing as 6 and its class or grade not level
kayakblood 1 year ago
these are not the most dangerous rapids. A river in tibet Called the tsang pao has the largest rapids in the world.
IllShitonYourTits 1 year ago
these are the niagra falls rapids and they are level 6, they dont let people go down them because of all the deaths, so you decide.
Kaybi76 3 years ago
level 6 doesn't exist. the highest level is 5+
I've never been there, but I think the only danger of that rapid are the whirlpools.. (and there are a lot of them)
Energiserr 2 years ago
@Energiserr ....actually class 6 does exists, it's considered UNRUNNABLE.... the highest RUNNABLE level is 5+ and that alone will make you sh** your pants, assuming "whirlpools" are your biggest challenge is EXTREMELY unlikely for a class 6 rapid... remember you can't see what's underneath and unless your a salted river runner I sincerely doubt water reading skills are good enough to diagnose the underwater features...
WanabeWingsuitPilot 10 months ago
@WanabeWingsuitPilot "actually class 6 does exists, it's considered UNRUNNABLE.... the highest RUNNABLE level is 5+ and that alone will make you sh** your pants"
That's not considered true anymore. People started running stuff that was formerly rated class VI so they opened the scale. Nowadays class VI rapids are ones that are at the utter fringe of boatability. A new "grade" has been created beyond class VI which encompasses rapids that are not humanly possible to negotiate.
AlSwearengen15 10 months ago
@AlSwearengen15 Strange that I can't find any information to back that up (any links?).. Nothing about it on the internet, and none of my fellow river guides can attest either. Since the "classifications" ( or grade, their interchangeable but i don't think you know that due to your perentheses) are already based on boatibility I don't see a reason to create a new class for an unrunnable rapid. Usually what happens when a class 6 rapid has been run enough times, it gets dropped to a 5+...
WanabeWingsuitPilot 9 months ago
@WanabeWingsuitPilot Try any guidebook that lists something like V+(P). The "P" stands for portage, which is exactly what I am talking about with a "new" grade beyond class VI. The description of the grades in "Colorado Rivers and Creeks" explains it. We have several class "VI" rapids here in colorado that get run occasionally, such as Harmon Falls on South Boulder Creek in Eldo Canyon or Paralyzer on Lake Creek. I taught kayaking for ten years, so I too have some river experience.
AlSwearengen15 9 months ago
@WanabeWingsuitPilot
From American Whitewater:
"Class VI: Extreme. One grade more difficult than class V. These runs often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are very severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. This class does not represent drops thought to be unrunnable, but may include rapids which are only occasionally run."
AlSwearengen15 9 months ago
@AlSwearengen15 Then what exactly differentiates a class 6 from 7? Seems to be the same to me, besides AW even states that their system isn't exact. Sounds like a pompous pride thing to me lol. <-- The idea, not you. You seem intelligent and seasoned.
Also From American Whitewater: "... American version of a rating system...to compare river difficulty ... This system is not exact; rivers do not always fit easily into one category... " quote is a bit longer, wouldn't fit
WanabeWingsuitPilot 9 months ago
@WanabeWingsuitPilot
You are right, ratings are subjective. One person's V is another's IV+, and so on. For me, class VI would be whitewater that is on the utter fringe of navigability. Stuff that puts the classic class V's like the Gauley or Gore Canyon to shame but can still be run by top experts in the best conditions. Class VII I wouldn't call class VII but what guidebooks often list as (P) or (U). Rapids or waterfalls that simply are not and never will be runnable. Anyway, happy paddling!
AlSwearengen15 9 months ago
@Kaybi76 Except they have been run 12 times now.... legally and illegally by several groups.
LiveLife2thefunnest 1 year ago
is the colorado river more dangerous?
SkwisgaarProductions 3 years ago
@SkwisgaarProductions no, these are the most dangerous rapids in the world I reside in niagara falls and hike the gorge all the time to get a close up, down the river is a part called "devils hole" and the rapids reach 10ft + high and are caused strictly by fast water current rushing through a small space, these rapids in the video however are mostly caused by large rock formations and extremely fast water current.
PhilDesigns 1 year ago