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 top 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 top of Labyrinth
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

Below Dragon's Tooth is a wide flat spot where rafts stop to regroup. Below this Labyrinth starts thru a channel right-of-center.


At the very bottom of the flat spot where Labyrinth starts is a dangerous sieve in the center of the river. This was the site of a near-drowning in September 2006 where a rafter on an RPI (college) Outing Club trip was pinned underwater for a reported 3-7 minutes.


She was freed by several guides from Crabapple Whitewater, revived with CPR, and transported to a hospital. Several guides from Zoar Outdoor later went back and partially blocked the deepest part of the sieve with a large rock.


This sieve is not obvious; it forms a V-shaped slot that gets narrower like a funnel towards the downstream end. Anyone getting sucked in will be trapped part-way thru.


The entrance to Labyrinth is a channel right-of-center. The sieve is to the immediate left of the channel.


With the water low, the funnel effect of the two rocks that form the sieve that traps anything that floats into it is apparent.

Location
Type
Hazard
Difficulty
Class IV
Mile Marker
2.3 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