C-Forum

East Coat scale/West scale?

I have 'overheard' this comment once before from an eastern paddler visiting western rivers.

I am looking at III-IV (East Coast scale

What is the difference? Is it grade, or is it definition of creek vs river, or ?

I'm a hard up against the mountains and the Pacific ocean west coaster that is interested in paddling east coast U.S.
e

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.

Thanks.
Interesting tour of the horizon.

Agree on the wood issue and continuous rapids; pumps are great, locally.
e