Spean not high – probably about zero on the gauge under the bridge at Spean Bridge (although the water didn’t quite stretch to the gauge) – but a lot higher than the last few times we’ve run it ! Fairy Steps was bouncy, but didn’t seem to be chucking anyone into the rock or random eddies, and proved easier than I expected.
Andy on Fairy Steps. Photo: Giles Trussell
Everything else also lacked the tightness of lines we are familiar with, and was generally easier, though I did manage to whack into the rock on cauldron and have to roll…

Tight and technical when low – something of a breeze today

Seal launching below Headbanger
We chose to portage headbanger (it did look quite hard, even without the siphon) and also the Constriction, but the rapid after this we had to portage last time as too rocky was fine and easy this time, and the one after that with the tree in the eddy was also very straightforward with the tree well below the water. Indeed, the trip went so well that we adjourned to the Arkaig.
A look over the bridge showed the level much lower than both trips last week, which was a shame as I’d already decided to paddle it in the Flirt, which is fun in big water. In fact, the main event was a lot different. Michael’s line of last week was blocked by a large pointy rock downstream, and almost any boof line on the left looked a bit rocky. Most chose to go right and head centre, avoiding the hole (or, not, as the case may be). I chose to go left, then boof off the central rockslide into the main tongue.

Going for it … right boof stroke would have been better. Photo: Giles Trussell
Unfortunately, I did this a bit aggressively, and probably with the last stroke on the wrong side, which accelerated me nicely right across the tongue and into the edge of the hole. Just a quick spin and out, upright, flat on the water, but looking back upstream – not quite what I’d intended.