RAFT STRIKES TREE; TWO OUT OF THREE DIE

Duckabush River near Brinnon, WA : Late May

Gradient 55 fpm; Volume unknown but high; Classification IV+

DESCRIPTION: The Duckabush River is located on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state. Gary Korb's guide to the area rates the section as class IV+; the lower stretch is easier, but with many log jams. A group of three people launched into the river about 3 miles upstream of the Hood Canal in an inexpensive vinyl raft. No PFD's were aboard. Air temperature was in the 70's; the water was snowmelt, probably no more than 40°. The raft flipped about a mile down river and wrapped around a river-wide log. Two people, Rhonda Schmidt and John Paxton, both 20, died. The third person swam to safety and found help.

SOURCE: Postings from Bruce King and others to Rec.Boats.Paddle