> On Thu, Dec 20, 2007 at 09:45:36AM -0800, Bradford R. Crain wrote: >> As I discovered, the only way to survive this is to swim downwards with >> the current (not exactly instinctual) and eventually you pop up >> downstream. >> It's not possible to swim towards the surface alongside the headwall >> because >> the downward current is just too strong. Rich Kulawiec replied: > > What you encountered there is a hydraulic -- from your description, > a particularly strong one, perhaps bordering on "terminal". And swimming > downwards to exit (after other attempts, like trying to swim out one end > or the other) is one of the ways to escape without assistance. > > All novice whitewater paddlers are taught to look for these. Developing > the judgement > necessary to know which are fun play spots, which can be punched, and > which must be avoided at all costs is one part of the learning process. > > Personally, I don't think these should be posted. Anyone who lacks > the knowledge and experience to know about them and avoid them probably > shouldn't be on the river. Floating down the Clackamas River in summer is an urban show, with the ramps only a dozen or so miles from the city. It attracts many more recreational rafters and tubers than kayakers or canoeists, usually young and packing beer, noisy, etc. There is a general party atmosphere all summer. I believe the kayakers and canoeists generally recognize most of the dangers, such as strainers and rocks lurking just below the surface or above the surface. But I'll bet hardly any of them appreciate the hydraulics and dynamics laying below large vertical or overhanging rock formations, of which there are many. I know our white water canoe class never covered such things. Anyone can float down the Clackamas. There is no permit required, no fee, no training required, you don't even have to be sober, and many are not. There is a bit of a river patrol, but they are understaffed and generally focus on reducing noise, breaking up fights, and removing the most obvious drunks and people who use unacceptable language. In other words, accidents on the Clackamas are inevitable and fairly frequent. Amazingly, some of the casualties on the river couldn't swim. BRC *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Dec 20 2007 - 15:24:22 PST
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