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Kayaking Switzerland Early April 16 years 2 months ago #25110

McClure Topic Author Offline New Member Posts: 2 Thank you received: 0	I am trying to decide to book my ticket for Switzerland in early April. I know that levels will be unpredictable due to weather, but on average is it worth it to go through with the trip? or is early April too early for guaranteed good paddling?
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Re:Kayaking Switzerland Early April 16 years 1 month ago #25149

Croft
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I would say yes too early - certainly in the high Alps (Upper Inn, Upper-Rhone, Upper-Rhine) early April is just too early. In the Ticino area you should be able to paddle, also in the Jura. When the melt starts-up it is going to be mighty as many areas have record snow. You would certainly find water to paddle but probably not a lot of the best stuff. In April a lot of Swiss paddlers migrate south - to Corsica, S. France, Slovenia, Greece etc.

May-June is probably a safer bet but it really depends what you want to do - rainfall/snowmelt creeking or the glacier-fed classics.

Having said all that maybe the unpredictable weather will prove me wrong this year!

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Re:Kayaking Switzerland Early April 16 years 1 month ago #25152

McClure
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Thanks for your reply. I have decided to go ahead with the trip, my friends in Geneva have said much the same. The purpose of the trip is not solely paddling it just an added bonus I will hope for good warm weather. I was actually hoping to paddle in the Jura area I would love to be able to paddle some high Alp stuff but it will have to wait until I can visit a little later in the summer. We are planning on visiting Turkey as well does anyone know of any areas that are nicer than others there?

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Re:Kayaking Switzerland Early April 16 years 1 month ago #25158

Croft
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You'll have a great time with Matthias and Elizabeth - they know that area like the backs of their hands and sure they'll find you some excellent boating. Enjoy. Its a small world.

I have just paddled the Coruh in Turkey which is an excellent (if a bit smelly) world classic multiday (6 day) trip. Most of the creek boating goes on the Black Sea coast and the S. Med. coast. Dave Manby is your man for Turkey, see:

www.davemanby.com/Home.aspx

He is organising a big rafting comp on the Coruh in July.

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