Adventureizing - Owenglin River, Clifden
Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2010 1:16 am
So yesterdays hike got me back in the mood for finding rivers I might not be familiar with. Myself and Annie (wearing inappropriately healed sandals :-p ) headed for the Owenglin river just outside Clifden. I'd heard that there are three drops in succession called 'Snap, Crackle and Pop', but I'd never investigated.
I looked at the OSI map yesterday and to my surprise there is quite a bit of gradient in one section of it and plenty of catchment area above it...So I Googled the river name and got plenty of pictures.
Heres one of the results: I also looked at the aerial imagery from google maps, yup it looked good.
So we set out today to get some photos and inform ourselves.
Conclusion
There is indeed a rapid with plenty of drops on it, it looks like it could be grade 3+, but its hard to tell without any water on it. Its located west of 'Clifden Glen' holiday houses. The official name for the falls is 'Simon's falls'. I'm not sure if this is what other paddlers call 'Snap, Crackle and Pop'. (If anyone knows can they let me know).
Upstream of 'Snap, Crackle and Pop'.
The main drop
Here are my photos from the day.
Update: See my post below
There are also two other rapids upstream of this section. Its possible to put on at a bridge about 6km west of 'Clifden Glen' estate. This section would predominately be grade 2 water, with lots of bends meandering through some of the most beautiful country side Ireland has to offer (take a look at the photos). I'd be very interested to paddle this river, with the possibility discovering if would it fit into western kayak clubs list of frequently run rivers. I have a funny feeling that this river, with its slow start and exciting finish, would have exactly what's needed for a club trip aimed at almost-intermediates.
Maps & Aerial Photography of the Area
Google Maps
OSI Maps
Using the GPS data from my phone I added some detail of the roads and pathways to Openstreetmap.org
PS. Thanks Annie for coming along and keeping me company.
I looked at the OSI map yesterday and to my surprise there is quite a bit of gradient in one section of it and plenty of catchment area above it...So I Googled the river name and got plenty of pictures.
Heres one of the results: I also looked at the aerial imagery from google maps, yup it looked good.
So we set out today to get some photos and inform ourselves.
Conclusion
There is indeed a rapid with plenty of drops on it, it looks like it could be grade 3+, but its hard to tell without any water on it. Its located west of 'Clifden Glen' holiday houses. The official name for the falls is 'Simon's falls'. I'm not sure if this is what other paddlers call 'Snap, Crackle and Pop'. (If anyone knows can they let me know).
Upstream of 'Snap, Crackle and Pop'.
The main drop
Here are my photos from the day.
Update: See my post below
There are also two other rapids upstream of this section. Its possible to put on at a bridge about 6km west of 'Clifden Glen' estate. This section would predominately be grade 2 water, with lots of bends meandering through some of the most beautiful country side Ireland has to offer (take a look at the photos). I'd be very interested to paddle this river, with the possibility discovering if would it fit into western kayak clubs list of frequently run rivers. I have a funny feeling that this river, with its slow start and exciting finish, would have exactly what's needed for a club trip aimed at almost-intermediates.
Maps & Aerial Photography of the Area
Google Maps
OSI Maps
Using the GPS data from my phone I added some detail of the roads and pathways to Openstreetmap.org
PS. Thanks Annie for coming along and keeping me company.