Information about rivers

[genius]

Hello !
My name is Jarek Beszterda
Here is some information about our team http://www.prochnowkajaku.pl
I started my adventure with white water in 1982 on Struma river.This and next years we visited all the parts of Struma river from Zemen to Kresna.I haven't been in Bulgaria since 1987.
So this year we decided to visit Bulgaria again in June.
Would you be so kind to give me some actual information about rivers and accommodation ?
1.We are looking for good place to camp near a Blagoevgrad from which it will be easy to reach( 1 hour by car - 60-70 km) all interesting parts of Struma - upper ( from Zemen and from Nevestino ) and of course lower - Kresna gorge.
2. We are looking for other rivers in this region which have enough water in the middle of the June. I read in DKV furer Sudoesteuropa some information about Bulgarian river.But I am not sure that all this information is really good..
Would you be so kind and give me more information about Iskar, Mesta ,Gradevska reka, Rilska reka ,Bistrica Blagoevgradska,Iztok .
3.If you know other exciting rivers please tell me something about them. Generally we prefer rivers from WW3 to WW 4

Hope to hear from you soon

[genius]

Hi there,

Glad to hear about your plans. Our small group would be glad to help :)
It depends greatly on weather, but I'll try to summarize the options for paddling in June.

Struma river at the Kresna gorge can be run almost the whole year. Class 2-3 rapids, with one class 4 spot. We camp regularly at this spot: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 8&t=h&z=18" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . The river stretch is around 20km, 2x10km sections, with lower being easier.
You can find map here: http://whitewater-bg.org/view/information/113" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Will try to give some info in English on our site soon.

Camping is not a problem in the region, although the mountain west from the road ( river right :) is national park and entering there is prohibited. There are also some hotels in Kresna and the region with prices around 10 euro for a night.

At Zemen gorge, in my opinion, water levels would be too low for paddling, but you can give it a try.

Rilska river is near, situated around the Rila Monastery. Class III-V creek sections. Should be scouted first, because greatly depends on water levels, also there are weirs. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source= ... 8&t=h&z=14" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sandanska river, above Sandanski town. Class IV creek. There is dam above the section and there is water for about 2-3 hours every morning.

Arda river is relatively far from Blagoevgrad. But is one of the most beautiful rivers here. Class III (IV-) depending on water levels. The whole section is above 40km and is far from any roads. Except for the put in and take out, there is only one point in the middle, which can be reached by car. Problem is Rodopi mountain doesn't hold any snow at the time you'll be here, so there will be higher water levels only if some raining occurs. But event at 12 cms it's runnable and always a pleasant experience.
First section: http://whitewater-bg.org/view/information/105" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Second section: http://whitewater-bg.org/view/information/106" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Iskar river is another option in the Sofia whereabouts. Which offers some creeking experience above Samokov town. And in the lower part, from Svoge town downstream there are some nice class III rapids. Although the river and the waters are far from clear in the lower part.

I've never paddled Blagoevgradksa bistrica, and lately no one else did. Steep, small river, with many logs in it, and in June I doubt there would be any water at all.

These are the rivers I can think of now. If you're lucky with the weather and water levels respectively, maybe something else can be run.

Our group is around 20 whitewater kayakers and we would be happy to paddle together and help you when you're staying here. So don't hesitate to write and call.

My name is Nickola, my cell phone is <scramble scramble>. skype: <cencored>, icq: <censored>

For more specific info on the rivers I'll try to put google maps on our site with information in English and some galleries. And if you want I can send you points of put in and take out or whatever info you need.

Best regards

--
Nickola Trupcheff

[genius]

Thank you for information.
I analyse all of them, and be sure I asked you for more details.
At Zemen gorge i was 3 times in September and water level was o.k.
There was a dam upper of Zemen ( in Lobosh ) http://maps.google.pl/maps?f=q&source=s ... 8&t=h&z=13" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; so there was enough water even for raft.
But maybe something was changed.

See you

[genius]

Hi Nicola
Arda river - it is looking very interesting. I sow same pictures on whitewater-bg.org.
But the water level depends of dam and electric factory in Stojanovo. How often they put water down with good value ( min. 12 cbm/sec.?
Have we rally chance to catch good water in June?
If yes it is really worth to visit it.
It is generally impossible to find information about water level in Bulgarian rivers on-line in internet ?
Arda is really far from Blagoevgrad but in this region is more interesting rivers lake Vacha , Jugovska, and Cepelarska .
Are they only spring rivers ? Vacha takes water from electric factory in Devin . In DKV fuhrer I found information that good level is almost all year.It is true ?
Not so far from Blagoevgrad is another river Mesta. I found in DkV fuhrer information that from Iztok river ( 22km) good level is almost all year. And to Gradinska reka ( 49 km) it is WW II+ to WW III with 1 WW IV place.Similar information I found on http://kajak.at/Fluesse/showall.php?info=1&fluss=850" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .In your opinion It is true ?. I although heard that Mesta have a dirty water
Close to Mesta are Cepinska Reka and Dospat. Have you hard something interesting about this rivers ? I sow some interesting pictures of Cepinska Reka on whitewater-bg.org. but maybe it is only a spring river ?
I think it is enough question for today.
If you find a little time please answer me.
But you don't have to be hurry

Best regards

Jarek Beszterda

[genius]

Hi again :)

I haven't answered yet about Zemen, because I need to talk to my buddies to give you accurate information about it.

Hi Nicola
Arda river - it is looking very interesting. I sow same pictures on whitewater-bg.org.
But the water level depends of dam and electric factory in Stojanovo. How often they put water down with good value ( min. 12 cbm/sec.?

Arda is one of my favourites, and it really is worth visiting. I cannot find Stojanovo right now, but it's not the case. There is electric factory, but without a dam. So you can only get info about levels if you call at the hydro-electric factory. This info I can give you on request, but only for the given moment.

Have we rally chance to catch good water in June?
If yes it is really worth to visit it.

Yes and yes :)
Here are some pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/n.trupcheff ... zJCW7-zmYA#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It is generally impossible to find information about water level in Bulgarian rivers on-line in internet ?

Generally no :( There are few sources which we try to use, but one of them is known to produce bogus data, the other one is quite new and I'm not yet sure about the data given. Here they are in respective order:
http://plovdiv.meteo.bg/hydrostations.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - This even doesn't show info about Arda currently.
http://hydro.bg/bg/t1.php?ime=&gr=data/&gn=tablReki" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Second column is river name

Arda is really far from Blagoevgrad but in this region is more interesting rivers lake Vacha , Jugovska, and Cepelarska .

Are they only spring rivers ? Vacha takes water from electric factory in Devin . In DKV fuhrer I found information that good level is almost all year.It is true ?

Vacha is soon to be dammed :( We made last descent the previous week. Although the workers there said that there is time until it's fully submerged, but who knows. Here are pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/n.trupcheff ... 7VychaArda#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ( first day Vacha, second day Arda. The dam wall is there also ). You need a lot of luck to catch Yugovska and Chepelarska at that time, although Yugovska is something unique. Very distant and remote, with one spot which is either class V or unrunnable, because there are huge boulders fallen in the river. But you should be very careful, because bailing out is near to impossible. The road is very far and very high in the mountain. Chepelarska and Chaia is one river, only it is named Chaia after Yugovska joins Chepelarska. Haven't paddled there, can give you more info later.

Not so far from Blagoevgrad is another river Mesta. I found in DkV fuhrer information that from Iztok river ( 22km) good level is almost all year.

There were floods before a couple of years, and Mesta's river bed is completely changed. Hardly class III. Although have to check that also.

And to Gradinska reka ( 49 km) it is WW II+ to WW III with 1 WW IV place.Similar information I found on http://kajak.at/Fluesse/showall.php?info=1&fluss=850" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .In your opinion It is true ?. I although heard that Mesta have a dirty water
Close to Mesta are Cepinska Reka and Dospat. Have you hard something interesting about this rivers ? I sow some interesting pictures of Cepinska Reka on whitewater-bg.org. but maybe it is only a spring river ?

Chepinska has 2 stretches, the upper one being harder. Both are class III-IV. There is currently snow, but I doubt it you could paddle it in June :( My friends use to say it's one of the most technical rivers here, but I haven't paddled it, because it seems little hard for me, and also it seems like garbage disposal :(
Here are some pictures again:
http://whitewater-bg.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=485" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think it is enough question for today.
If you find a little time please answer me.
But you don't have to be hurry

Best regards

Jarek Beszterda

Hope that helps

[genius]

This conversation happened on email, and with Jarek's permission I publish it here, so everyone can post opinions.