Scout it Out

By Ben Morton, Precision Paddlesports

[Editors Note: On Thursday, February 4th at 7 pm PST, Ben Morton kicks off our Take Out Talk series with a course on Foundational Concepts for better boat control. Designed exclusively for the LCCC, the course includes a presentation on boat control concepts and techniques, along with a discussion of this article, and one more titled Seeing Obstacles Differently.

You must be a member of the Club to participate; joining is easy and gets you access to all of the Take Out Talks we’ll host this year. We will distribute a Zoom link to all LCCC members just prior to the talk. Whether you paddle a canoe, kayak or SUP, are just starting out or have been at it for years, Ben’s course on Foundational Concepts is for you! Check out Ben’s intro video, join the Club if you haven’t already, and we’ll see you online on Thursday, February 4th at 7 pm PST.]

MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS IN AND OUT OF YOUR BOAT

“I want to scout the next rapid” is probably something you’ve heard, or said yourself, while paddling. Or perhaps, before you’ve even launched, a member of your paddling crew says something like, “There’s ____ (x amount) of scouts on this section.”

I want to expand your perception of what scouting looks like and entails. And I want to be clear; I have no problem with scouting as it is generally understood. I absolutely encourage it.

My issue is that most of us likely perceive scouting to mean one thing – getting out of our boats, walking on shore, and ‘land scouting.’ While in reality the phrase, and the very concept of scouting, can and should bring to mind much more.

… scouting involves gathering information in order to make informed decisions.

In order to best unpack my issue with this relatively singular mindset, let’s first define scouting in its most basic form. I believe that scouting involves gathering information in order to make informed decisions. If we can agree (at least for the sake of discussion) on that definition, then numerous types and methods of scouting become available to us. For some this expanded definition may introduce new concepts, while for others it may simply present an opportunity to revisit frequent practices in a new light.

With this expanded definition of scouting established, methods to gather information and make informed decisions include:  

SCOUTING REMOTELY

You can use guidebooks, local knowledge, online resources, etc. to gather information about a river section. By using all the information that’s accessible, you are able to make thoughtful decisions regarding whether or not you should pursue paddling a particular section of river. Consider factors such as recommended water levels, old/new hazards, access points, etc.

SCANNING AND PLANNING OR READING AND RUNNING

Scouting by reading and running is dynamic. From your immediate position and vantage point at any given time on the river, you gather information, process it, and make decisions. In fact you are constantly doing this as you paddle through rapids and down a section of river.

You also gather information from your paddling peers. This is particularly true of those ahead of you. By observing their experience in a particular rapid or stretch of river, you begin developing a mental model of what’s downstream. And that in turn helps you more easily process what you encounter when you see it for yourself. 

… you need to be able to effectively see the features that you might encounter.

BOAT OR EDDY SCOUTING

The big difference between boat scouting and reading and running is that with boat scouting your momentum is generally stopped or slowed. Paddle in place backwards above a feature, or use an eddy or another river feature that stops or slows you down in order to effectively scout. 

LAND SCOUTING

Land scouting is the type of scouting that is likely most familiar to you. This involves getting out of your boat to gain a better perspective of a rapid from land. 

In order to make thoughtful and informed decisions, you need to be able to effectively see the features that you might encounter. If you are unable to process everything in front of you because of your speed or the quantity, size, or complexity of the features, then it is best to slow the decision-making process down by employing one of these scouting strategies. 

… select a method of scouting that matches the environment.

To recap, select a method of scouting that matches the environment if you can’t see what you need to, a rapid or line looks overly complex, or you are simply moving too fast.

Scouting allows us to be more deliberate and mindful in our paddling. By using thoughtful scouting practices to clearly identify and select a ‘line’ before proceeding through a rapid, we’re able to more objectively assess our performance.

The objective in sharing these thoughts is to encourage paddlers to broaden our perceptions of scouting, and to realize that with an expanded definition of scouting, we can and should do it constantly.  

QUESTIONS TO INITIATE REFLECTION

1.    What is your scouting process? Do you ask yourself specific questions, use a “scouting acronym”, etc?

2.    Do you scout the same way every time? If not, what prompts the change in your scouting process?

3.    Based on your current scouting practice, are there any areas that need improvement (e.g. a consistent scouting process, competency of hydrology, etc.)?