I was on shore scouting the drop, when one of our group ran the drop too far to the left. She caught the edge of the hole and was surfed into a place where the hydraulic was backed up by a crack. Bailing out, she was recirculated for some time. Several members of the party tried to reach her, but as they pulled her toward safety she was flushed into a space between two rocks and through an underwater passage. Unable to hold on to the rope, she was pulled out barely breathing. A week later a friend of mine had a boat stuck underwater in this crack at about the same level and barely escaped a similar experience.

The victim was off her intended lines. Although not a particularly scary looking rapid, it’s clearly no place to screw up. In both cases rescue was not particularly effective; the boaters were at the mercy of the river. This group scouted Keyhole, Hartung, S-Turn, and Shoulder Snapper. I think in the future I will suggest that marginal groups scout “Hook” as well. I’ve had lots more excitement here than I really needed!