Accident Database

Report ID#65080

1997-06-15
accident date
Unidentified Man
victim
0
victim age
East River
river
Upper
section
"Stupid Falls"
location
n/a
gage
Medium
water level
V
river difficulty
Impact/Trauma
cause code(s)
Physical Trauma
injury type(s)
Poor Planning
factors
Private
trip type
Whitewater Kayak
boat type
status?
status

Description

The Crested Butte, Colorado Chronicle describes a situation in which a paddler missed his line at the brink of “Stupid Falls”, a 60 foot drop on the Upper East River. The lucky survivor apparently pinned vertically part way down the drop, bailed out, and washed over the last 30 feet of the drop. Aside from a broken foot suffered in the initial impact the sustained only cuts and bruises. He was treated and evacuated by a local rescue squad.