The United States is world-renowned for its whitewater, but a debate rages in the background, one that fans of the NBA can understand. East or west? Appalachia or the Rocky Mountains? Both have some of the greatest rivers for paddling in the world, but how do you compare?
Ryan Snodgrass and his brother Jonathan were paddlers in the Southeast for years before moving from Chattanooga to Colorado, picking up their oars again near Clear Creek, not far from Denver. Ryan has been a river guide for over 15 years and now runs his own guide company, Downstream Adventures Rafting. He gave us the rundown on the similarities – and differences – of the regions.
Appalachia
– More slack water, sometimes with enough space to jump out and swim.
– Nearly year-round season because of TVA’s dam release schedule.
– Minimal water level changes.
– Lack of long-distance trips due to dam system.
– Slightly more beginner-friendly, and warmer.
Rocky Mountains
– Because flow is from snowmelt, season is only about 3-4 months long.
– Water level can vary from 1,800 cubic feet per second down to 200.
– Lower in the mountains, you can paddle the same river for days or weeks straight.
– Less erosion on the mountain means less time between rapids.
– Higher ceiling of difficulty for rivers.
– Due to the short season, crowding is a bit of a concern.
Q&A with Ryan Snodgrass
Get Out: You’ve paddled both. What’s your preference for Southeast versus Rockies?
Ryan Snodgrass: They both have their advantages and disadvantages. I’m a bit biased toward the South since it’s my home, but really there’s great whitewater in both.
GO: What’s your favorite thing about our local whitewater, i.e., the Ocoee, Nantahala, etc.?
RS: It’s a prime playground for people learning to kayak to become a great kayaker. There’s a whole array of rivers and runs from beginner to expert. You can paddle year-round, and since the mountains are older, they’ve been eroded down to bedrock, which creates better whitewater for kayaking. For the commercial rafting, though, I have to say I prefer Colorado better. It’s usually more intense for the rafters.
GO: Is there anywhere in the world you’d love to paddle one day?
RS: The Zambezi River in Africa is pretty famous. I’ve known people that have done it, and the pure size of the whitewater is insane. It’s really high-volume.