I've been whitewater kayaking for a while now, and have paddled a fair amount of Victorian whitewater, and the snowy is one of the classic Vicco touring rivers. That being said, it's one of the most remote and can have some truly gigantic floods (like 15m high). I've got mate who've paddled it at 5-6m above usual flows (kinda sad I couldn't get the time off work).
I know you haven't told us much about how well you paddle or how much practice you've had, and
I don't want to be the fun police, but the way you've phrased a lot of these questions make me think you are just getting into the activity - and that's great.
I worry that you'll end up getting yourself into a sticky situation if you head out without a good crew who known what going on though, as I don't want to be woken up by a search and rescue call out near a river and wonder if I'll end up finding a friend of mine..Why not join a club like white-horse canoe club, north east canoe club, or if you are younger one of the outdoors uni clubs - Melbourne Uni Mountaineering Club (MUMC) or RMIT Outdoors Club (ROC) who can get you going out with people who have paddled for a while longer.
Gunner55 wrote:There is a bit of info I have found but not a massive amount.
Where did you look?
- There is the classic australian canoe touring manual:
https://www.bogong.com.au/paddle-easter ... murry.html - There is the google map:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid= ... 306291&z=9 - There are the Whitehorse Canoe Club maps:
https://www.whitehorsecanoeclub.com/charts.phpGunner55 wrote: Am thinking of pack rafting the Snowy
All rapids on the Vic section of the snowy can be packrafted, though there are 3-4 bigger rapids with sieves that could easily lead to a drowning if you are not aware of where NOT to be.
Gunner55 wrote: ...the Snowy from either Willis campground near the border or McKillops Bridge, to either the Snowy's junction with the Buchan River
Both are reasonable. The hardest section is Tullock Ard Gorge, about 20km downriver of Mackillop's bridge.
Gunner55 wrote: Buchan River (as Bailey Hooley I assume)
Balley Hooley would get more hits on google.
Gunner55 wrote:OR onto to Orbost.
It's a days paddle to sandy point (4wd), and that section is still Class 3, after that it's two days of flatwater all the way to Marlo (good pub).
Gunner55 wrote:Any intel will be appreciated.
You'll need to give a bit more info on what (boat, rivers) you paddle, how well you paddle, if you have swiftwater rescue experience, and if this is a solo mission.
Gunner55 wrote: Specifically in regard to put in and finish locations
Do you have a 4wd? high clearance 4wd or super low slung 2wd? Proper mud and rescue gear?
Will you be going in winter?
Gunner55 wrote:if a pack raft will be tough enough to cope with the river's rigours.
What pack-raft?
A LWD will not cope, but an Alpacka Wolvertine paddled by Daan from NZ kayak school would be undamaged.
Gunner55 wrote:And any side trips for a walk off the river or up side creeks etc appreciated.
How many days will you have?
Nice gorge up rodger river.
Basin creek falls are pretty
Meadow creek has some pretty waterfalls and a small slot canyon at the base.
There is some nice canyoning up near Little River.