The old saying, “April showers bring May flowers” is true, but not nearly as true as “April showers bring May kayakers.” The increased rainfall and snow melt of early spring swells Missouri rivers and streams creating faster flowing water. It’s a favorite time of year for the experienced and more advanced kayaker who seeks to challenge his skill level.
Novice kayakers and canoers would probably do better and enjoy the trip more by waiting until the end of May (Memorial Day), when the water is calmer and a bit warmer. For newbies, tipping over is to be expected, but be warned that expectations won’t make the plunge into cold water any more pleasant.
White water is rated into different classes based on four factors: obstruction, constriction, gradient, and flow rate. While the first three factors tend to change slowly over a period of time, the flow rate can c
hange quickly. In fact, flow rate can change within a few hours depending on what happens upstream. A heavy rainfall to the north makes its way downstream quickly. A warm sunny day upstream can release huge amounts of snow melt into a stream or river and ramp up the flow rate in less than twenty-four hours. A dam that opens its gates can radically change the flow rate of a stream almost immediately depending on how close you are to the dam. In the United States, the flow rate is measured in cubic feet per second (cfs).
For those who want to increase their kayaking skill sets, Missouri white water classifications upgrade by one level (sometimes more) in early spring. This means that the Class 2 white water you’ve mastered and become accustomed to—dare I say it? Even bored with?—turn into a Class 3 experience. Class 3 rapids become a Class 4.
According to the International Scale of River difficulty, Class 2 white water is recommended for those with basic paddling skills. Here the kayaker experiences some rocks, a little rough water, and a minimal amount of maneuvering. The same river and rapids in the spring upgrade to Class 3 white water which has medium waves and three to five foot drops. A drop is a quick and sudden descent from one level on the river to another. Class 3 white water is not considered dangerous, but does require quite a bit of maneuvering and is recommended for experienced kayakers with better paddling skills.
The same increased flow rate during spring changes the Class 3 white water into Class 4. Class 4 white water is recommended for those with advanced white water experience because those smaller drops become considerably steeper, the waves become higher, and the rapids become longer.
For those wanting to up their white water game, take extra safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet and a life-jacket, learn how to do an Eskimo roll in a swimming pool before hitting the real water, scout out the river beforehand, use a spotter, never go alone, and make sure your equipment is in good working order. When you’ve addressed these concerns, take advantage of the increased flow rate of spring and become the paddler you want to be.
