An Iola, first descent, 25th October 2009

A spell of torrential rain overnight had brought all the burns in Lochaber into a big spate.

Most were too high to consider as we drove south out of Fort William. We made it as far as the Esragain and it was flowing at a level which covered all the boulders!! After looking elsewhere and finding a tree filled ditch, we picked out the An Iola which flows down into Loch Creran. A drainage I had never noticed before, with a realistic gradient, a manageable flow and the prospect of a good paddle. To cap it all, I had forgotten my deck, so we set off up the river with Stephen's boat and deck to scout it all. The river was beautiful. We met the local farmer at the start who said "this is my river" and "never seen anyone paddle up here", so I responded by asking him, "do you mind if we paddle it?"

Stephen paddled most of the run and I did a stretch in the middle part. We ran with no portages from the obvious tributary that joins the river about 1.5kms up from the bridge.

Here Stephen takes one of the steeper drops........

..... and boat scouts the way ahead.

Here Chris running a typical section. One large ledge and hole had a tree obstruction below it and then another tree across the river below which Chris just managed to get under on the left side.
A good mix of grade 3, 4 and 4+ rapids all the way down the run. A great flow level.

Stephen blasts through a narrow and steep section near the end of the run.....

....and through the final staircase rapid just above the main road bridge.

We will be back to the An Iola!!