Planet Paddler: The River Mallie

River	Grade	Access
River Mallie	III IV+	The river Mallie is located on the south west side of Loch Arkaig. Drive up the Loch for about 3km then paddle across the loch (1km) to the head of the vally, Walk up a good track for about 4km and put on at a flat section before it steepens out of sight
		WATER LEVELS
		Needs a day of moderate rain to get it going Runs best on a Medium level any more and the upper gorge will be a serious undertaking, If you can get down the River Loy without to much scraping then this will be on
		Video Clips 1 / 2 / 3

DESCRIPTION
The best action starts straight away. the river starts to steepen from the put in and you are into grade 3 territory with small drops with twists and turns for about 150m. there are 2 final rapids (inspect) before the big drop that are 3+/4 with good eddys on river right. The Waterfall itself is about 4 to 5 metres and runs at 4+ there is a last chance eddy on river right above it. We have nicknamed the waterfall Hide and Seek it was a straight forward river left line at the time and has powerful hydraulics at the bottom. beware of the Cave behind the fall. you can protect the fall from river right above. After 100m the walls close in and you are into a sweet grade 3+ technical section for about 100m. The river relaxes now and runs at 2+ with the odd playwave to keep you entertained for 2km before you come to the Track bridge directly under this is the final grade 3+ section a ramp with a hole to punch before a boily slot that bends round to the left a couple of more twists and turns then its back to the loch to tap into your reserves for the paddle back IMPORTANT NOTES The upper section will be running at grade 5 in high water and you will most certainly end up in the cave behind the fall if you get it wrong also the last rapid will have a grabby hole half way down in higher flows PADDLERS Andy Holt and Andy Parley 14th March 2008

DESCRIPTION

The best action starts straight away. the river starts to steepen from the put in and you are into grade 3 territory with small drops with twists and turns for about 150m. there are 2 final rapids (inspect) before the big drop that are 3+/4 with good eddys on river right.

The Waterfall itself is about 4 to 5 metres and runs at 4+ there is a last chance eddy on river right above it. We have nicknamed the waterfall Hide and Seek it was a straight forward river left line at the time and has powerful hydraulics at the bottom. beware of the Cave behind the fall. you can protect the fall from river right above.

After 100m the walls close in and you are into a sweet grade 3+ technical section for about 100m. The river relaxes now and runs at 2+ with the odd playwave to keep you entertained for 2km before you come to the Track bridge directly under this is the final grade 3+ section a ramp with a hole to punch before a boily slot that bends round to the left a couple of more twists and turns then its back to the loch to tap into your reserves for the paddle back

IMPORTANT NOTES The upper section will be running at grade 5 in high water and you will most certainly end up in the cave behind the fall if you get it wrong also the last rapid will have a grabby hole half way down in higher flows

PADDLERS Andy Holt and Andy Parley 14th March 2008

Andy Holt

Andy Parley