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I know it USED to really suck, when you opened ANY photo (either from the rapids list or from the "Photos" tab). You'd get the photo, and no way to just navigate back to the page you clicked on it from. You could only use "Back" on your browser, and that took you back to the 'main' river page, not the "Rapids" tab or the "Photos" tab. However, (at least for me) it now opens a new instance of the browser (or a new browser tab) to open the photo. Closing that new instance reverts you back to the original page you were looking at, still up in its browser page.
Aside from that . . .
When the 'tabbed' version of the AW website first came out, I was just as disgusted with it as anyone. As a StreamTeam volunteer, I had formatted many of my reaches (sections of rivers) to take advantage of the order and 'flow' of the divisions of data as originally laid out. The description unfolded quite nicely, from flow info, to river description, to the 'detail' data. The tabs destroyed all that 'continuity'. It seemed a major PITA to have to hit all those different 'tabs' to get all the info about the river.
However, I have little by little been 'won over' to the advantages of the tabbed format. Look at all the data that is now organized here! In a fully 'robust' listing, you have gauge data, rapids-by-rapids detail (with provision for GPS coordinates!), an overview map, a shuttle map and detail, and so much more. Stringing all this out the 'old way' would mean a page that you would scroll down and down and down (and down and down . . .). Anyone still on slow connection (dial-up) would have an awful lot of data all being downloaded at once. The tabbed format splits things up to make it much more manageable. Further, some of the tabs ("Rapids", "Photos", "Comments", etc) show a number, a count of how many entries there are within the tab, so you know right away whether to bother clicking the tab. The 'old way', you never knew if there were photos, or comments, or whatever, until you scrolled down (and down, and down, . . .) to find them.
And . . . if you STILL are unimpressed with the tabbed format . . . if you STILL want to see things more-or-less like the 'old way' . . . YOU STILL CAN!!!
A little ballyhooed or recognized 'function' allows you to see (almost) the whole listing in one piece! Pull up any river . . . scroll to the bottom . . . see the "River Info (Mobile)" icon? Click on that, and VOILA! The whole enchilada, all strung out for you! That's right . . . on your 'non mobile' computer, you can click the '(Mobile)' link! It won't blow anything up! Trust me!
Anyway, I understand people having other 'favorite' sites. Boating Beta is AWESOME (for what it covers -- exclusively the Asheville area). Many Missouri and Arkansas boaters are justifiably proud of the Ozark Whitewater page (http://www.ozarkpages.com/). I'm sure there are numerous other pages which do an excellent job of covering some 'local' area. However, I have yet to see any which does as thorough a job of linking as much information together as the AW site does. You get current gauge readings, shuttle maps (which you can enter your home/starting address and get directions from there to the put-in . . . thanks to GoogleMaps!), photos (on many), videos (on many), . . ., the list goes on. Where is there another site that lets YOU add/update your photos and videos, linked to the section of river, for others to see? Where is there another site that allows YOU to add a comment (especially to give TIMELY warning of some NEW hazard)?
I guess maybe that's just too much data for some people to handle! So, they can stick with their 'pet' pages for their local runs, with their limited functionality, with no provision for user input. Totally not meaning to rant or 'dis' anyone. I have a passion for the (AW pages) project. I think it is undeniably the most comprehensive single source for info about whitewater runs across the USA (and beyond! It has expanded to allow info for Mexico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and three provinces of Canada!). It is used not only by whitewater boaters, but by SAR (search and rescue) teams, civic organizations, businesses, power companies, and governmental agencies. (In fact, some of the funding for changes to the site come through grants from such agencies, wanting US to add functionality to help THEM!)
AW is NOT some monolithic, authoritative, single-source entity. AW relies on a TEAM of VOLUNTEERS, dedicated to providing information on the rivers they know best. What "AW says" about some river is virtually NOTHING! It is what a volunteer StreamTeam Member has said, that AW provided the resource for them to be able to do so. Don't think the AW site has it 'right' about some piece of river? Think there's something missing? Add a comment! (The StreamTeamMember or Regional Leader may then opt to incorporate it into the write-up!) Some river/section not listed that you'd like to see? Email a StreamTeam member on record in your state, or email the Regional Leader for your area with (helpful) comments or suggestions, additions or corrections. Or volunteer as StreamTeam Member and you can make the changes or add sections of river yourself!
Yup, the AW website has (repeatedly) gone through some serious 'growing pains'. More changes are on the way. I've seen some of the 'beta site' stuff coming . . . some of it will be really great! (Some need a bit of work or will be less enthusiastically received.) But it's GROWING and changing and adding functionality like no other website I've seen (serving any part of the boating community). And, it is (potentially) what YOU make it.
Rob Smage
(VOLUNTEER) StreamTeam Member
(VOLUNTEER) Midwest Regional StreamTeam Leader
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Does it still work that way for you? Mine opens a new wiindow for photos. New 
BoaterTalk 
