A powered bass boat washed thru Pearce Ferry Rapid on April 8th. A passenger survived, the driver and boat didn’t.
Mara Whitehead on FB – I was onsite when this happened. We saw the boaters launch from Pearce Ferry and assisted with some of the recovery / rescue. I don’t think it was their intent to run it, I think it was motor malfunction or they got swept in. Woman who survived was wearing PFD at launch. Man was not. Boat found by police helicopter down river. When we left, man was not yet recovered. I’m proud of how my group responded alongside 2 incredible men w/ Fish & Game.
Not sure if it makes sense to share our experience extensively on this forum but wanted to chime to share my reflections from this experience:
-PFDs save lives
-Launching from Pearce Ferry despite signage is seemingly more frequent these days and seems like not a good idea.
Key Aspects of Pearce Ferry
- Location & Access: Situated in Arizona at the western end of the Grand Canyon, it is reached via a 7-mile dirt road.
- Take-out Point: The site acts as the last major take-out for trips departing the Grand Canyon.
- Rapid Development: Due to the falling water levels of Lake Mead, a new, treacherous rapid known as the “Pearce Ferry Rapid” has formed, often considered unrunnable.