Thunder Canyon Dry Last Friday

You expect the internet to be the home of poignant debate?

The place that brought us 2 girls 1 cup reaction videos and moveon.org, and you expect it to have a point?

I think its time for you to unplug for a bit.

I need to unplug? Ha! Says the guy with over 7K posts...

;)

So what you guys are saying is sometimes it has water and sometimes it doesn't.

If the water isn't draining what is it doing? If adding water isn't filling it up then what is it doing? When they turn on the pumps, the water fills the "canyon". When they turn the pumps off the water drains out of the canyon. Its a stupid thing to argue about but I don't see a better way of describing it.

There are 4 pumps at the top of the lift, then there is 1 other pump under the lift (called pump 5). In the morning the first pump to turn on is pump # 5. Pump # 5 fills up the "pit" or the area under the lift. Then the pit overflows into the platform area filling up all around the platform, since this is the lowest part of the ride.

When the water reaches a certain level around the platform, then you can turn on one of the pumps on top of the lift hill. Then they let that pump run for a while. Then they can proceed turning on the other 2 pumps, but not at the same time. That leaves 3 pumps on and 1 off. They do this because if they turn on all 4 the water flows to fast, if I was told right.Once 3 pumps on top of the lift are on, that brings the water level to the right height and then pump 5 can turn off. Pump 5 turns on through out the day to keep the water level the right height.

Also, the ride does drain once the pumps shut off, but there needs to be drains pulled to fully drain the ride in the platform area. If you have ever been at the ride during an e-stop it is someones job to pull these drains. Hopefully this makes since.

^Makes perfect "since!" ;)

That's pretty extensive info, assuming you're right. Thanks. I'm a big fan of water rides, but I wish they were closer to Soak City so I could knock out all of the water attractions and keep the swim suit in my car :)

It's the best way I could explain it. Worked there all last summer.

I think its pretty cool that it can drain that quickly.

It's not a pointless "debate" at all. To suggest they drain it isn't a matter of semantics, it's just not correct. If you get in the park early enough, you can see them turn on the pumps in the morning, watching from the observation deck. It starts with a little trickle, and before you know it, it's the rushing river you're used to. It seems to stop even faster than it fills.

That Virtual Earth thing is funny, because if you view to the west, you see Maverick under construction, while the other three views show White Water Landing.

Hello? Don't you people read the blog? :)

Tony's blog cleared things up totally. I thought the water was recirculated in the ride, not continuously pumped from Lake Erie. It works just like other flume/rapids rides in that the flume is filled from and drained back into a reservoir. The difference between Thunder Canyon and Snake River falls is that Thunder Canyon also drains it's reservoir every night and refills in the morning where Snake River Falls reservoir is like a swimming pool. It's filled and reused for the season.

Its not very fun when they do turn on the waterfalls when you are doing a test run. You are soaked all day.

I agree with dj. Regardless of how, when, or by what means, the water is still draining. It exemplifies the definition of the the verb to drain, which I would post a link to except I'm too lazy tonight. Now you could say that it's not exactly correct to say they 'drain the pool each night', but rather, 'they stop pumping water in to counterbalance the ongoing draining of the water', but that doesn't change the fact that the water is, in fact, ipso facto, draining. It's water over the drain, under the drain, and through the drain. Without the aid of Drano.

Now I feel drained.

Jeff said:
To suggest they drain it isn't a matter of semantics, it's just not correct.

The fact remains that the ride is empty every night which, as John said, means that the water "drains" out. So yes, the ride is drained every night.

Maybe "they" don't drain it but what's a preposition or two among friends?!;)

tambo said:

^It's not.

It is.

Thanks for the official info Tony.

I must say after reading this thread, I'm totally drained.

Personally, I find it fulfilling.

I don't mean to make a splash or anything, but I think this thread is all washed up ;)

Is it time to pull the plug on this thread yet? ;)

I was hoping to plunge into the test riding fun before closing. ;)