Req 2d — Scout, Portage, Decide
Good whitewater judgment is often simple: if you do not know what is around the bend, do not charge into it. Scouting means stopping to gather information before committing your boat to a rapid. Portaging means carrying your boat around a hazard instead of running it. Both are signs of skill, not fear.
When to scout from shore
Scout from shore when you cannot clearly see the whole rapid, when a horizon line hides what comes next, when a ledge or drop may create a dangerous hydraulic, when wood or other hazards are visible, or when the water level is different from what the group expected. Shore scouting lets you slow down, discuss lines, and identify backup options.
Ashore is also the best place to scout when the consequences of a mistake are high. If a bad line would send you into a strainer, undercut rock, lowhead dam, or long swim through multiple hazards, get out and look first.
When to read while on the river
Not every rapid needs a full shore scout. On familiar Class I or easy Class II water, paddlers often read features from the boat while staying in control. That means spotting tongues, eddies, downstream Vs, and horizon lines early enough to adjust.
Reading on the river works only if you still have room and time to change the plan. If you are too close to the move, it is no longer reading—it is reacting.
How to scout effectively
Start from a safe place where you can see as much of the rapid as possible. Trace the main flow. Identify the clean line, then the hazards, then the recovery options such as eddies or calm water below the move. Talk through where the group will go, who leads, what signals will be used, and where people should be positioned if a rescue becomes necessary.
What to look for while scouting
Focus on these questions before making the run
- Where is the main current going? Find the tongue first.
- What could trap a swimmer or boat? Look for wood, rocks, holes, and pin points.
- What is the clean line? Choose a route, not just a general direction.
- What is Plan B? Identify eddies, alternate lines, or the portage path.
- How will the group communicate? Agree on signals before anyone launches.
When to portage
Portage when the rapid is beyond the skill level of the least-prepared paddler, when hazards are too severe for the group’s experience, when cold water or bad weather increases the consequences, when the line is unclear, or when the route includes a feature that should simply not be run, such as a lowhead dam.
How to portage well
Land early in a stable spot, well above the hazard. Secure loose gear before carrying the boat. Move as a team if the bank is steep, muddy, or cluttered. Choose a route that keeps people away from slippery edges and does not send them through thick brush where boats can snag.
The next requirement asks you to choose the boat type you will use for the rest of the badge. That choice matters because canoe and kayak skills build on different foundations.