Paul Thomas of Forest Hill, MD , reports that a tree about the size of a large telephone pole fell across his party as they waited in an eddy at the base of a rapid. This was followed quickly by a second tree, larger than the first. This tree trapped Thomas’s four year old daughter in his canoe, but he was able to pull her free before the canoe sank. All four canoes were pinned to the bottom of the river and damaged, but were able to be recovered with some work. The group finished the run without incident, but considerably warier than before. (Source: Letter from Mr. Thomas to the ACA.)

ANALYSIS: A freak accident, presented for information only.