Character: Granite boulders and slabs

Begin by paddling a short section of trib from the road or portage to the main course. First 2km is continuous G3/4 and was a scrape at times. First main feature is a 1m tall river wide pourover which we ran on the left.  This could be a nasty hole in high water.

Next big feature of note is a 4m drop “Left in the Sun” (G4+), nasty looking slot on the right is best avoided and running the left requires a technical sideways boof. A short section of G3 rapidly increases in difficulty with several fun, easily inspected G4 drops and rapids. Watch out for the nasty siphons. There is one cool narrow 3m drop between two boulders.

A blind corner to the right of the channel heralds a 100m portage best done on the left bank (this section can be run by lovers of choss). Put in at the medium size eddy and run “Broken Dogs Leg”(G4+). This is a narrow technical dog’s leg! The pool below the small drop is fortunately fairly deep for those who prefer anti-boofs. A narrow horizon line on the left indicates a drop which needs inspection. This is tricky, we inspected from the rock on the lip. It is a nasty slide you may rather portage.

After less than 1km of G3-4 rapids and small drops you reach a point where a huge rock splits the river. Go right (left takes you into a dead end backwater). A couple of hard to make eddies on the left give you the option to get out for a difficult portage but don’t stop if you want a look at the next rapid as it isn’t possible! Ahead is “The Blind Leading the Blind” (G5). There are some sticky holes and a big teacup eddy on the left which is probably best avoided. As you go around the corner the hardest part is behind you and the valley opens up in front of you. A wide 6m tall slide is the final feature running into a large calm pool. We found it was best run down the middle.

From this point the river drops away steeply and there is a series (at least 3) unrunable drops and slides. We walked out after portaging several of these drops. The walkout at this point was hard work.

 

Put in at the bridge in the village above Ca-Ca below the nasty looking G5 which might run at high levels.

The river is narrow and reminiscent of the Braan or Findhorn in Low water, especially when it enters the gorge. We ran only around 2km which was fun G3, with occasional G4 features all inspectable from the bank.

The first major G4+ is a section with two consecutive drops separated by 20m of fast flowing G2. The first is 1.5m tall and the second is 5m and is best run on the right with a good boof. Egress at this point is possible up the steep rocks on the left then along the track and through the village.

Alternativly continue under the bamboo bridge over a small natural weir and another nasty drop with a powerfully retentive hole and eddy on the right. The drop (G5) is about 1.5m high and is inspecable from river level or the bridge. We did not run it.

 

A pleasant 4-5hr paddle which can be split with an overnight stay at a homestay in Ta-Van by the rapid Karaoke. Reminiscent of the Durance “Sunshine Run”.

The river is a classic G2-4 with continuous fun rapids. There are two main points of interest: The weir at Ta-Van which is unrunnable and best given plenty of space. Portage on the right. 500m further on is a rapid called “Karaoke” (G4) which had a sticky (but easily boofed) hole on the left with a choppy lead in. The valley is open river is easy enough until the take out which is at the red suspension bridge. If you go too far you’ll soon know about it as the character of the river swiftly changes to a steep sided ravine where the rapids are much steeper and harder.

Currently unrun this section is uninspected for around 2km. Contour lines indicte that this section is steep and any decent would be a serious undertaking. Down steam is a phenomenal section which ends in a 10m drop. The high levels we inspected this section at made the drop seem too dangerous, however at lower flows this has epic potential however this beautiful section may never be paddled as there is a dam under construction in the valley around 3km above the major confluence.

 

 

Get on above Gia Long, get off below Dray sap, have amazing fun in between!! :-)