Re: [Paddlewise] Teenager drowns on Chatooga, retrieval efforts d angerous

Elaine Harmon wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 15 Jul 1999, Steve Cramer wrote:
> > I have to disagree with Larry about the point of the debate, though.
> > Around here, at least, it is about making permanent changes to a
> > national treasure. Those of us who have spent appreciable amounts of
> > time on the Chatooga don't consider it a thing. The river has a life of
> > its own, and for centuries has lived that life independent of man. If
> > the parents want the body recovered and it can be, fine, but let's leave
> > the river alone.
> 
> Agree completely. By the way, the caving community feel much the same
> about body recovery. Most all of us would rather be left in the cave, and
> certainly if any danger were involved in the recovery. And this is what
> often happens. e

I have to agree also. Having been envolved for several years, with search 
and rescue in Alaska, I can say that altho difficult, there is a time to 
back off when you are dealing with a body, as apposed to a rescue.
Tragic as it is, putting more lives at risk or destroying a river, just 
won't undue what has happened.
I know what it's like to leave someone you care deeply about, in an 
inacessable place too. I had the unpleasant task of telling the wife of a 
very good friend, that he and three others were in a glacier and trying 
to retreave the bodies was going to put several people at risk, and 
likely just add more bodies to the mountain. She understood. They do have 
a perfect resting place tho, over looking the copper river valley and the 
wrangells.
Bottom line: wildness has risks, and beauty. Lets not change either.

James, whose ashes will be hopefully drifting down a river in AK someday

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