KAYAKER RESCUED ON POTOMAC

            In October 1996, a National Park Service helicopter was used to pull a boater off the rocks at the bottom of the first slide of the Fish Ladder, a side chute of Great Falls of the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. The boater was not injured. The level was seven feet, and he and his buddy had planned to take out at the bottom of the first slide and walk the rest .He ended up on the rocks after swimming between the first and second slide.

SOURCE: Gil Rocha, posting to rec.boats.paddle

ANALYSIS: 1.  (Rocha) This is the second time this has happened in less than two months. I think it’s time to realize that the Falls and Fish Ladder are serious enough runs that we should always bring throw ropes. Ropes would have eliminated the need for a helicopter in both instances. It’s not enough to have one in the car, as in both cases the authorities refused to allow the stranded boater’s paddling partners to return to their car and get a rope. I’m as bad as anyone about bringing a rope when I run the Falls, but given the negative press we will receive from this, and the fact that both incidents could have had fatal outcomes, I’m not going back without one.

2. (Walbridge) This cavalier attitude is pretty indefensable, and these incidents constitute an unreasonable drain on Park Service resources by people who ought to know better. Boaters must always be prepared to effect their own rescue, and this includes carrying appropriate rescue tools. If this sort of thing happens again it could result in this area being closed to boating.