Hazard Warning: Hazard information may be user-submitted and unverified. Conditions change frequently. Always scout rapids and obstacles yourself.
Hazard MA Class IV

Dangerous Sieve at bottom of Labyrinth

Deerfield - 3) Monroe Bridge to Bear Swamp (MA)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
Deerfield River at Charlemont, MA Downstream Primary
Runnable: ? – ? CFS

Approximate - nearest available gauge. Use as general reference only.

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Photo
Dangerous Sieve at bottom of Labyrinth
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

At the bottom of Labyrinth is a popular play wave with eddys on both sides. Rafts trips usually end here with customers watching the action.


Just above this on river-right is a sieve hidden among the rocks. The particular spot was the site of an accident in July 2006 where an experienced boater (after swimming and climbing out) slipped off a rock and was washed into the sieve. The sieve acts like a body-sized drain hole in a bathtub where it will suck someone down into a hole in the river bottom. The paddler in the 2006 accident was only able to let others know where he was by freeing an arm and sticking it up in the air waving frantically before being rescued.


With the water down the rock sieve is apparent. In the photos at right note the water flowing thru the sieve and appearing at the bottom of the rocks. In the close up shot the "drain hole" appearence of the sieve is apparent.

Location
Type
Hazard
Difficulty
Class IV
Mile Marker
2.4 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
3) Monroe Bridge to Bear Swamp
Deerfield
III-IV 2.5 mi
Hazard — Exercise extreme caution in this area.
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater