Re: [Paddlewise] I need some encouragement

>> We tied a rope to each 


end of a kayak and pulled it back and forth across the river and in this 


fashion were able to eventually get everybody's equipment across to the 


beach, where I was. 


   We then tried the same technique to bring a person across, only to find it

was too difficult for a person to stay in the boat with the force of the 


water hitting them broadside (several of the people we were trying to 


evacuate were not part of our group and had no paddling experience). So we 


opted to tie the rope off so the people would have something to hang onto 


while they waded across the four foot deep raging river. It was a bit of a 


fiasco, but everybody eventually made it across safe and sound, if just a 


little bit water logged.<<<





        Interesting!!  This is a situation that would be very unexpected for a
sea kayaker, but not uncommon for a whitewater boater.  S&R courses we teach
in this area include things like crossing open moving water using a paddle (on
the upstream side, as part of a tripod) or groups of people (still basically a
tripod shape).  Also, might have been able to get the kayaks with people
across with a zip-line system.  Might look those up, maybe keep the techniques
in the back of your head...





Joe P.








 


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