Clive Williams' Austria paddling trip, July 2011
Myself Clive Williams, you may have seen me coaching at Errwood, and my friend Paul Thompson went on a paddling holiday with “Escape to Adventure” run by Andy Holt (Level 4 coach).
We set off in early July. 9 of us from all over the country crammed in to a minibus for 25hours till we got to Landeck in Austria near the Swiss border.
Day 1 of paddling
We did the River Inn Imst Gorge a G3 river, 12k of big and bouncy water 250 cumecs we seal launched down the steps at the take out.
“To give you some idea of the water level the Tryweryn normal runs at 9 cumecs”
A cumec is a metre cubed per second of water flow.
We then did the River Sanna a G3 low water Alpine style river that flowed past the garden of our chalet and ended at a very convenient bar / pizzeria.
Day 2
River Inn Landeck Gorge G2/3 low water as the Dam wasn’t releasing.
We then crossed in to Switzerland :-
River Inn Scholes Gorge G3/4 medium flow.
Day 3
River Inn Tosen Gorge G4 constant big water.
River Inn Landeck Gorge G4+ Dam releasing all 3 gates very big and bouncy about 300 cumecs.
River Sanna G3 as first day with the bar at the end.
Day 4
Was a lazy morning after a very hot night it had been 36deg in the day.
In the afternoon we did the River Gorge again but this time G3/4 as it was flowing at 300 cumecs.
Day 5
We went in to Germany and paddled the River Losach G3 medium flow Alpine style river and technical very much like the upper Tryweryn but 7k of it.
Day 6
Switzerland again River Inn Garsin Gorge G4+ continuously technical and big volume.
Day 7 we set off home only 23hours crammed in the minibus this time.
The sharp eyed of you may of noticed the River Inn came up a few times that’s because it runs from Switzerland through Austria and in the Germany, one long river with lots of different sections to paddle.
There are a few pictures for you to look at only a few as I have a DVD with over 500 and video too (+ more photos on the pp photo blog)
