He shared this video with me about Addison’s scale that separates rapids or rivers into ratings based on the difficulty, danger, and exposure. Based on this rating boaters can get a much better picture of the true risk involved in a rapid or river.

For example, with the trip I just completed at low flow on the Owyhee, there wasn’t too much difficulty in the rapids, definitely some maneuvering and scouting, so I’d rate it a difficulty of Class III. The danger – risk of injury or death, was also in the realms of 3, however I think some of the portages may have been 4, getting around The Ledge, Half Mile, and Widowmaker involved some serious rock scrambling, lifting and lowering of the boat, climbing…even being very careful I slipped and cracked my tailbone good on one portage. Risk can be high, so I’m inclined to go with a 4. As for exposure, you are far far away from help on the Owyhee. If I had to hike out it would be days to help. I had a Delorum Inreach beacon, so that could have brought help to me, but that could take at least a day as well. So for exposure I would give the Owyhee a C rating. So for the Owyhee at low flow I give it a Class III-4-C rating.

Now for my gear list. I definitely had some extras that I should have brought, 4 pairs of socks??? Don’t know how that happened. I brought 2 throw bags, didn’t need 2. So below is mostly what I brought, but leaving off the extraneous things that I regretting bringing.