Using the Downstream Ferry to Successfully Row the Grand Canyon

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[@dennispennell7371]

Your description of Upset is spot on. My first trip I ran the right side, and thought I was home free but I let my boat (16 x 24 Maravia cat) turn pointed downstream. The next lateral wave surfed me right back to the middle of the main flow and I went totally into the big hole. Luckily the boat was super solid. It pretty much completely submerged in the hole, but punched through and out. Good lesson. Next trip I did as you suggest here and it worked fine. Missed the hole by plenty.

[@WandererSoul84]

Thank you for sharing such videos.

[@jeffmichael8796]

Great video Zach! Excited to work on this technique in preparation for my Grand Canyon trip next year!!!

[@Snappy-ut4bj]

That’s right. Get it right. Don’t mess. ❤

[@tfleishman1]

Zach, here in western Colorado we have a rapid called skull and the downstream ferry is "the move" to avoid skull hole or the room of doom. Great ominous names. I used my downstream ferries for many runs in the Grand Canyon, Crystal and Bedrock are prime examples. It is also very useful for catching eddy's behind rocks on high gradient rivers. It is a tool to move you where you want to go. One of the most useful skills to master. Thomas ,Grand Junction

[@seanfraser7738]

Thanks Zach. Really good illustrations and video to back it up. I am a big fan of DS ferry when appropriate. Though I FAILED at it in Bedrock.

[@tatosauce4076]

Awesome video!

[@rtennant]

I've never run Upset on the left, from the late 70s and early 80s to the last couple years. I totally did your run the last two years. Great video about the downstream ferry. I frankly can't understand why Bedrock Rapid is even a thing.

[@petebenson5030]

All good advice. Line up early. Don't be afraid of those little obstacles at the top of your line. Momentum only works for the first lateral. Once you are in the fast water it will pull you. Pay attention to which direction the water is flowing directly under your boat. It changes constantly and in bedrock especially it is counterintuitive. And most important keep your ferry angle. Practice that on an eddy line in a safe place so you can react to being spun around by the current.

[@JAKSAMcNabb]

Great video and advice!

[@jurbanski3]

This is awesome - thank you! Really well explained. I hadn't been aware of how those laterals just kind of feed you down into the V.

[@robgrey6183]

I agree, and have used the downstream ferry in the Grand Canyon in those rapids and many others.

[@jasonpfahl7219]

Thanks for your helpful knowledge. I implemented the downstream ferry on a recent multi day and was amazed on the effectiveness. Definitely a great tool in the box.

[@90Duck]

I think there is something to be said for momentum as well on something like Bedrock; starting a little further out than maybe you’d want to be, but start the move early so you have some speed built up when making contact with that first lateral.

[@AKgrowngal]

I'm just here for the magnetic whiteboard props - where did you get the mini oar rafts!?! Another great presentation, as always!

[@rsberryalta]

Good advice, but I goofed it up in Crystal in 1984.very high water. First lateral carried me out to center, end of story. Practice on the smaller rapids first.

[@BobbyClements]

damn, this was informative in many ways but thanks for letting me know there’s crocs at the Grand Canyon 🐊😂

[@seanfraser7738]

Your water level was generally lower than ours a year ago in June, but it looks bigger because of the brown water you had.

[@777mofo]

You use a downstream ferry because in big water, the boat tracks in the direction its pointed. With an upstream ferry your boat is pointed towards what you are trying to avoid and since the current is moving faster than you can row, it pushes you right into it. The humor is that you are essentially trying to row against a freight train. In bigger water you try to keep the boat pointed in direction you want to go.

[@Sokane]

What actions do you recommend if I'm having trouble pulling through the laterals? I often have to use my entire body to leverage across class 3 and 4 rapids because I have less body mass.