Creeking – The Perfect Extreme Sport For Adrenaline Junkies

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Description

If you are an adrenaline junkie, then Creeking is definitely for you. Creeking is high level extreme sport and one might say that it contains high level of danger. But if you are on the adventurous side and don’t mind taking risk, then this sport is exactly for you.

Creeking which is technically a branch of kayaking and canoeing, involves descending from very steep and rapid Whitewater. It also involves descending from waterfalls and slides or into any steep low-volume river. It tends to be on the dangerous and extreme side of sports as compared to kayaking such as freestyle or sea-kayaking.

Unique Attributes

For Creeking you require very specific water flows as little water in a stream or too much of it can compromise the ease of doing this sport and can put the person in danger. In North America creeks run only in spring as this is the time when the snow melts and rivers are fed by it. Creeks are more of seasonally restricted than rivers because they are run in low volume water while rivers are run in high volume water. In other parts of the world, glacier creeks run in spring, summer and then in fall giving three time window to run in the rivers.

Creeking also comes with its own paddle strokes which needs to be mastered before you creek, for your safety. They are Boof, Tuck, Stomp, Hole Punch, Jet Ferry or Power Ferry.

Equipment

Since Creeking is a dangerous sport, it requires extra gear that is not required in kayaking and canoeing. The equipment comprises of elbow pads, pin kits, throw bags, float bags, repair kits, first aid kits and sometimes a face mask to the helmet.

Dangers

Creeking consists of a lot of dangers and hazards and paddlers need to be cautious of them. Some of them are unique to the sports while some of them also fall under kayaking and canoeing.

Sieves: This is by far the most dangerous creeking hazard. As the water in the creek travels underneath the rocks, the kayak may get sucked into it thus holding the paddler underwater.

Undercuts and pinning rocks: A kayak may get struck between two rocks or under a rock against a wall or on the stream bottom.

Strainers: Strainers or downed trees are often a danger for paddlers as they span the width of Small River.

Holes: Holes in creeks can be dangerous due to steepness of the river. Hole is created by water rising on the bottom of river, and then falling behind.

Waterfalls: Kayakers may break their back if they land too flat on high waterfalls or break their ankle if they land too vertical.

Checking Heads (Rooster Tails): Normally creeks drop on long slides with waterfalls. Some of the slides have rocks that stick up. Now as the water goes off, it creates a blast of water that looks like a chicken head. Chicken heads can damage boats if they hit them in downstream and can hurt the paddler.

Isolation: Since creeks are always found in rough nature, it makes the surrounding areas isolate and uninhabitable. This makes the rescue operations, in case the paddlers get hurt, challenging and difficult. It is also possible that sometimes kayakers had to leave all the gear behind and hike for long distances to get help.

Best places to creek

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