Re: [Paddlewise] Columbia River Bar Rescue

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Doug Lloyd <dougl_at_islandnet.com>
> To: <PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
> Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 5:39 PM
> Subject: [Paddlewise] Columbia River Bar Rescue
>
>
> > I got to Astoria, Oregon,  and the weather was aweful. A huge SW swell
> > was running, with gale force winds. Dave Kruger was totally
> > uncooperative giving me assistance with tide/current information about
> > the CR Bar (he didn't want to be an "accessory"). I got sucked out by
> > huge tidal currents, and was then pulled bodily from my kayak by a
> > mid-bar breaker. I even had my wet suite booties torn off by the
> > breaking seas.
> >
> > Fortunately, the Coast Guard were out training and were able to recover
> > the kayak as well as me, though I never actually called for assistance.
> > They muttered something about finally having to rescue a real dummy. I
> > tried to tell them it wasn't all my fault, and that in particular, I
> > couldn't fight the current due to paddle slippage and being thrown off
> > balance with my low aspect ratio blades. The skipper, who's name was
> > Niels, was very gracious and said he understood completely, adding that
> > he had heard of similar problems from a host of other wise paddlers.
> >
> > In jest,
> > Doug
>
> An urgent  warning to Any and All paddling the Columbia Bar:
>
> Due to the tremendous tidal currents, which can result in a sudden
> transition from salt-water to fresh-water (or vice-versa), Kayakers
> especially can experience a very grave risk in which one may lose more
than
> just their booties:  Science has proven that salt-water is denser than
> fresh-water, and therefore a paddle's buoyancy will be suddenly affected--
> especially a wooden one.  This can result in a sudden inability to roll,
or
> even worse (when passing from fresh-to-salt), an un-anticipated
> "super-ability" to roll, in which one continues to roll, until tired-out,
> and then drowned.
>
> As seafarers of old carried oil to dump astern to supress following waves,
> please keep a canister of salt at the "ready" during such crossings.
>
>     Harvey
>

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