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i think the class of the river sections is debatable. i've heard people claim that the rapid "Pure Screaming Hell" on the lower section is class V, and some people claim that all waterfalls, without exception, are class VI (i personally disagree with this, but i've definitely heard people say it).
also, i think that the story about the name of the rapid "Insignificant" isn't necessarilly true - the only people i've heard say that are raft guides, who, in general, are only trying to make the experience enjoyable for the rafters so they can get them to come back or spread the word. i've heard a lot of kayakers and canoeists say that the rapid is named "Insignificant" because that's how it makes you feel. not to mention, the idea that someone would claim that everything above Pillow is Insignificant is thoroughly unbelievable, considering that, with the exception of the big five, those are some of the more difficult rapids on the river.
Class of river sections, and rapids, is always debatable. It's silly to say that all waterfalls are VI; that sounds like something out of the 1970's, and it's hardly worth paying any attention to in the 21st century.
American Whitewater addressed this issue, to some degree, by compiling a list of "Standard Rated Rapids" in 1997-8. See the Class-IV and Class-V sections. According to that survey, PSH is a IV; the major rapids of the Upper Gauley range from IV to V. Thus, AW rates the Upper as IV-V and the Lower as III-IV.
I don't know about the veracity of the story about Insignificant. I figure that the first party may have seen the river at a level lower than the typical Fall release level of 2800 cfs. At 1000, Insignificant loses a lot of its punch, so I believe the story (which, by the way, I've heard from kayakers) may well be true.--RattBoy12:45, 28 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Okay, I looked it up. In the Summer, 1973, issue of the American Whitewater Journal (page 62), Charlie Walbridge wrote:
"Then comes 'Insignificant,' so named because one party,
told that there was no significant rapids above Pillow Rock,
was suitably impressed by this one and gave it a name."
