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33-769: The drainage water from the Kander Neve (glacier) in the middle of the Bernese Alps at an altitude of 2,301 m (7,549 ft) flows through the Gasteretal westward. 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Kandersteg it turns to north into the larger Kandertal . After 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) it converges in Frutigen with the Engstlige from the left, its second major tributary. The Engstligental with Adelboden at its south end, runs more or less parallel to

66-621: A commercial rafting operator before signing on for that type of trip. The required equipment needed is essential information to be considered. Risks in white water rafting stem from both environmental dangers and from improper behavior. Certain features on rivers are inherently unsafe and have remained consistently so. These would include 'keeper hydraulics', 'strainers' (e.g. fallen trees), dams (especially low-head dams, which tend to produce river-wide keeper hydraulics), undercut rocks, and of course high waterfalls. Typical rafting injuries include trauma from striking an object, traumatic stress from

99-469: A rafting trip using proper precautions is low. Thousands of people safely enjoy rafting trips every year. Like most outdoor sports, rafting, in general, has become safer over the years. Expertise in the sport has increased, and equipment has become more specialized and improved in quality. As a result, the difficulty rating of most river runs has changed. A classic example is the Colorado River in

132-490: A reliably safe basis. Rafters can expect to encounter substantial whitewater, huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, and/or substantial drops that will impart severe impacts beyond the structural capacities and impact ratings of almost all rafting equipment. Traversing a Class 6 rapid has a dramatically increased likelihood of ending in serious injury or death compared to lesser classes. (Skill level: Full mastery of rafting, and even then it may not be safe) The overall risk level on

165-667: A result of the Kander Correction (see below). At the end of the canyon, the river flows into Lake Thun . Between Mülenen and Kandersteg, the river is followed by the Lötschberg railway line on its climb to the northern portal of the Lötschberg tunnel , which passes under the Gastertal on its way to Brig and the Rhone Valley . A road also follows the valley to Kandersteg and beyond into the Gastertal, but unlike

198-569: A small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering. (Skill level: Some experience in rafting) Class 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill level: Exceptional rafting experience) Class 5: Whitewater, large waves, large volume, possibility of large rocks and hazards, possibility of a large drop, requires precise maneuvering. (Skill level: Full mastery of rafting) Class 6: Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous that they are effectively unnavigable on

231-479: A tunnel instead of the unfinished cutting. Work was finished by the end of the year, but in 1714, the river started to enlarge the channel, causing the tunnel to collapse and creating today's Kanderschlucht or Kander canyon. The Kander correction was the first piece of major water course re-engineering in Switzerland and lack of experience subsequently led to problems. The amount of water flowing into Lake Thun

264-692: Is considered an extreme sport and can be fatal, while other sections are not so extreme or difficult. Rafting is also a competitive sport practiced around the world which culminates in a world rafting championship event between the participating nations. The International Rafting Federation , often referred to as the IRF, is the worldwide body which oversees all aspects of the sport. Rafting equipment has continuously evolved and developed significantly from old rubber WW II era military surplus rafts. Modern whitewater rafts are typically made with advanced nylon or Kevlar infused plastics like PVC or urethane; though many of

297-703: Is joined by another tributary, the Engstlige . Below Frutigen the river flows through Reichenbach im Kandertal , where it meets the Chiene , and Mülenen , where it meets the Suld . Finally, near the village of Wimmis , it meets the Simme . The valley downstream of Frutigen is known as the Frutigtal. The last short section of today's river, the Kanderschlucht or Kander canyon, is artificial, having been created as

330-409: Is often a part of the experience. This activity as an adventure sport has become popular since the 1950s, if not earlier, evolving from individuals paddling 10 feet (3.0 m) to 14 feet (4.3 m) rafts with double-bladed paddles or oars to multi-person rafts propelled by single-bladed paddles and steered by a person at the stern, or by the use of oars . Rafting on certain sections of rivers

363-464: Is seen as a more engaging way to enjoy the river trip. When paddles are used in a raft it is referred to as "paddling" or "paddle guiding". Oars are commonly made from the same materials as paddles. Wood, plastic, aluminum, and carbon fiber. Oars are designed for several different rivers with slightly different blade shapes built to handle varying river conditions. Wooden oars are typically built as one solid piece to help retain strength and resilience of

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396-500: The Aare and the Rhine . This article about a glacier in the canton of Bern is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Rafting Rafting and whitewater rafting are recreational outdoor activities which use an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other body of water. This is often done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water. Dealing with risk

429-540: The Allmend and stopping the flooding. At the beginning of the 18th Century, the engineer Samuel Bodmer created plans involving a cutting through the Strättlighügel ridge that separated the river and lake. The plans were approved in 1711, and work began but was delayed by the second Battle of Villmergen . In the spring of 1713 work restarted under the direction of Bern's city architect Samuel Jenner , but with

462-593: The Chilko River in British Columbia , Canada. Like all outdoor activities, rafting must balance its use of nature with the conservation of rivers as a natural resource and habitat . Because of these issues, some rivers now have regulations restricting the annual seasons and daily operating times or numbers of rafters. Conflicts have arisen when commercial rafting operators, often in co-operation with municipalities and tourism associations, alter

495-651: The Grand Canyon , which historically had a reputation far exceeding its actual safety statistics. Today the Grand Canyon sees hundreds of safe rafting trips by both do it yourself rafters and commercial river concessionaires. Rafting companies generally require customers to sign waiver forms indicating understanding and acceptance of potential serious risks. Both do-it-yourself and commercial rafting trips often begin with safety presentations to educate rafting participants about problems that may arise. Depending on

528-480: The International Scale of River Difficulty ) due to the river's numerous rapids and barriers. In 2008, a Swiss Army rafting party's inflatable boats capsized during an attempt to navigate the river; five soldiers were killed. Kander Neve The Kander Neve ( German : Kanderfirn ) is a 6.6 km (4.1 mi) long glacier (2005) of the Bernese Alps , situated south of Kandersteg in

561-812: The Snake River in Wyoming was planned. With no training, experience, or proper equipment, the river was found to be too difficult and dangerous. Hence, it was given the nickname "Mad River". On June 9, 1940, Clyde Smith led a successful trip through the Snake River Canyon. In 1843 lieutenant John Fremont introduced the first rubber raft in US. Later on in 1844 the further enhancements were made by Peter Halkett. These vessels greatly facilitated whitewater navigation. It lasted for many years, with improvements in craftsmanship and safety over time. Otherwise known as

594-662: The canton of Bern . The glacier lies at the upper end of the Gasterental, at the foot of the Blüemlisalp and the Tschingelhorn . It borders the valley of Lauterbrunnen on the east ( Tschingel Pass ) and the canton of Valais on the south ( Petersgrat ). In 1973 it had an area of 13.9 km (5.4 sq mi). The glacier feeds the head waters of the Kander , a river that flows into Lake Thun , and hence into

627-436: The riverbed by dredging and/or blasting in order to eliminate safety hazards or create more interesting whitewater features in the river. Environmentalists argue that this may have negative impacts to riparian and aquatic ecosystems , while proponents claim these measures are usually only temporary since a riverbed is naturally subject to permanent changes during large floods and other events. Another conflict involves

660-506: The International Scale of River Difficulty, below are the six grades of difficulty in white water rafting. They range from simple to very dangerous and potential death or serious injuries. Class 1: Very small rough areas, might require slight maneuvering. (Skill level: Very basic) Class 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require some maneuvering. (Skill level: Basic paddling skill) Class 3: Small waves, maybe

693-628: The Kandertal before they converge into the Frutigtal . Continuing northwards, the Frutigtal makes a long bend to the west in order to get around the Niesen . Between Spiez and Reutigen it converges with the Simme from the left, its major tributary, and turns to the north again and flows into the Lake of Thun after a break through a hill, which used to prevent it flowing into the lake until 1714. Here

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726-403: The area, safety regulations covering rafting, both for the general do-it-yourself public as well as commercial operators, may exist in legislation. These range from the mandatory wearing of lifejackets, carrying certain equipment such as whistles and throwable flotation devices, to certification of commercial outfitters and their employees. It is generally advisable to discuss safety measures with

759-409: The boat called an "oar frame". Oars connect to the frame by either a pin and clip system or a system called oarlocks . Either system connects to the frame via oar towers on either side of the frame. Pins are referred to as "thole pins" or "oar pins". A large metal clip attaches to the oar and clips onto the pin. The top of the pin has a rubber or plastic stopper that prevents the oar from slipping over

792-534: The distribution of scarce river permits to either the do-it-yourself public or commercial rafting companies. Rafting by do-it-yourself rafters and commercial rafting companies contributes to the economy of many regions which in turn may contribute to the protection of rivers from hydroelectric power generation, diversion for irrigation , and other development. Additionally, white water rafting trips can promote environmentalism . Multi-day rafting trips by do-it-yourself rafters and commercial rafting companies through

825-607: The interaction of the paddler's positioning and equipment and the force of the water, overuse injuries , submersion/environmental injuries, and non-environmental injuries due to undisclosed medical conditions (such as heart problems). Studies have shown that injury rates in rafting are relatively low, though they may be skewed due to a large number of unreported incidents. Fatalities are rare in both commercial and do-it-yourself rafting. Meta-analyses have calculated that fatalities ranged between 0.55 – 0.86 per 100,000 user days. A rare accident with five fatalities occurred in 1987 on

858-983: The more entry-level low-cost manufacturers still use a glued rubber. Plastic is generally more durable, longer-lasting, and just as easy to repair compared to older rubber rafts. Paddles and oars are the typical means of propulsion for rafts and come in many sizes and varieties with specific river conditions in mind. Paddles are a combination of layered wood, plastic, aluminium, carbon fiber, or other advanced composites. There are many types and combinations of these materials with lower-end entry-level paddles being composed of cheap aluminum and plastic. Higher-end models are constructed of high-end composites and mostly utilized by professional rafting guides, raft racers, and expedition paddlers. The basic paddle design for rafting consists of 3 parts: Paddles are typically utilized by rafters in smaller and lower volume rivers where rocks and other hazards can damage larger oars. Paddles are typically used by guests on commercial trips as well since it

891-517: The oar while it is strained under a load. Composite or metallic oars typically are made in three parts: All of these parts are interchangeable and can be upgraded and altered in many ways to make rowing more enjoyable. Oars are generally used on wider flatter rivers of higher volume to facilitate moving more efficiently across long slow-moving pools, though anglers will often use shorter oars on smaller rafts in low volume rivers to help them maintain an advantageous upstream position while anglers cast from

924-483: The person using the oars to continue downstream. Oarlocks look like a pin topped with a U-shaped metal flange. The oars slide into the gap between the U-shaped metal pieces and can be held in place with a plastic stopper called an oarlock. The oarlock allows the oar to maintain its position on the oar at a correct length for rowing. Whitewater rafting can be traced back to 1811 when the first recorded attempt to navigate

957-424: The raft. When a raft utilizes oars it is called "rowing" though many people typically incorrectly refer to this as "oaring" or "oar framing", however, these terms are incorrect and often suggest inexperience when used in conversation with members of the rafting community. Oars typically use one of 2 systems to attach to the boat, but in either case, they interface with the boat through a large metallic frame strapped to

990-411: The railway this is a dead-end, with no through road route across the mountains. The Kander originally flowed through the low lying Thun Allmend area and entered the Aare between the city of Thun and Uttigen . As a result, the Allmend was repeatedly flooded. As the river flowed within a few hundred meters of Lake Thun , there were early proposals to divert the river into the lake, thus avoiding

1023-701: The river crosses the A6 motorway . The source of the Kander is fed from the Kanderfirn glacier in the Blüemlisalp massif. Initially the river in an easterly direction, until it turns sharply north just south of the village of Kandersteg . This section of the valley is known as the Gastertal. In Kandersteg, the Öschibach , a tributary stream that drains the Oeschinensee , joins the Kander. The river then runs north through Kandergrund as far as Frutigen , where it

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1056-443: The top of the pin. The bottom of the pin connects to an oar tower designed to hold the pin in place. This system is an older system though it is useful for certain types of river running namely big, dangerous Class 5 rivers that require your oars to stay in place as much as possible. Oarlocks or locks are a more common form of attachment for oars as they allow the rower to "feather" the oar back and forth as they row making it easier on

1089-465: Was increased by 60%, with a commensurate increase in outflow through the city of Thun. This caused flooding and bank correction, which has been addressed over the years in different ways, including channeling of the Aare in 1716, a more major correction of the Aare in the 1870s, and a flood relief tunnel in the early 21st century. With respect to rafting , the Kander is classified as unrunnable (level VI on

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