My experience from when I was out west for 2 years is that there is not only a difference between East and West, but also on withing the same region. BC seems to rate the same difficulty between 1/2 and one grade lower than Washington. Also types of water seem to factor in. Up in Eastern Canada, where big water is more prominent than steep creeks (generalizing here) big water seems to be a bit lower graded than creeks when compared to lets say the Southeast, where steep creeks outnumber big water rivers. Also Eastern Canada as well as to a lesser extent eastern US is more drop and pool than Western rivers which in general are more continuous. Something to do with what people are more familiar and comfortable with and vice versa. Different hazards and familiarity with them plays into it as well. Again generalizing here, but in the west wood is way more of a factor than out East, where in certainregions again sieves and undercuts are way more prominent than in the Western rivers I have paddled. But generally speaking, if you stay within the range of grade you are comfortable with, you will be fine.
Everyone must believe in something. I believe I'll go canoeing - Henry David Thoreau
