Bogley

[tanya]

soitgos wrote: I will be one of the instructors, although I have two remarkable young men coming in to do most of it. You'll be shocked at the things these guys can do. Have you ever seen someone mantel the bow of an 18-foot Maravia? It's worth the price of admission just to watch what these guys can do. You'll also be shocked at what you're capable of after learning a little technique. You probably know that from rock climbing . . .


I like the older guys. Who wants to watch youngsters?


I want to see you "mantel a bow" :popcorn:

Do you know OC? I loved his campfire stories!

[soitgos]

Oh, you'll want to watch what these guys can do. I can't come close to mantelling the bow of a raft anymore. But, I can get back in . . .

If anyone is interested in the workshop, send me a mailing address to:

soitgos2001@yahoo.com

and I'll send a detailed flyer.

[tanya]

soitgos wrote: Oh, you'll want to watch what these guys can do. I can't come close to mantelling the bow of a raft anymore. But, I can get back in . . .

If anyone is interested in the workshop, send me a mailing address to:

soitgos2001@yahoo.com

and I'll send a detailed flyer.

What exactly is "mantelling a bow"? :popcorn:

[soitgos]

Actually, being somewhat slow, why don't I just post the information. Lost the flyer formatting, but the info is all here.


River Rescue Workshop
On the Green River • June 8-10

This workshop will concentrate on practical rescue techniques on larger rivers, such as the Green, Colorado, and the larger Idaho rivers.

Offered by Carbon County Recreation (435-637-5092)
& College of Eastern Utah (college credit available)

For more information call or email: info@co.carbon.ut.us

Lead Instructor: Bo Christensen

Workshop fee: $120

Rafts and other group equipment will be provided. Participants must have adequate personal clothing and PFD. Wetsuits are recommended (available to rent). You will be in the water often.

Meet 5:30-6 pm at Ray’s Tavern in Green River on Friday, June 8 for dinner, then move to the John Wesley Powell Museum at 7 p.m. for a classroom session. We suggest if you haven’t been to the museum, come to Green River early and spend a few hours perusing the wonderful exhibits.


(Workshop details on the back of this page)


The workshop will be all day June 9 and will conclude mid-day on Sunday, June 10 • Breakfast and lunch Saturday and Sunday will be provided• You will be on your own for dinners. We will go to Green River Saturday evening for dinner. Either camp on the river or stay in a motel in Green River, your choice.

The course will focus on self-rescue and how to react quickly and competently under pressure. A portion of the workshop will be dedicated to the interaction between rafts and kayaks. Rafters will learn to help a kayaker in trouble and kayakers will learn to assist rafters and swimmers and how all that fits together during an actual rescue. This is a little like CPR. You hope you never need the skills, but just in case, you need to know what you're doing and practice the skills regularly.

The workshop will work under this premise:
Situations change, principles don't.

A successful rescue depends on understanding the principles, having the necessary rescue skills, and being able to remain calm enough under pressure to use your skills to apply the principles.

Some rescue skills that will be taught:
Getting back in your raft
Getting on top of an overturned raft
Dealing with an upside down raft in multiple situations
Swimming in rapids
Helping swimmers from a raft and from shore
Helping kayakers and rescuing abandoned kayaks
Kayakers will learn techniques to help rescue people, kayaks, and rafts
Dealing with a wrapped raft
Working together to execute a successful rescue


Call 435-637-5092 to register
Register early, workshop is limited to 15 participants

[tanya]

The Son! :five:


Can someone swim in a rapid or do you just go where the water demands?

[soitgos]

Mantel a bow

I'm sure most of you know what the rock climbing move is to "mantel". To lift yourself up so you're weight is on your hands.

An 18-foot Maravia has 24-inch tubes. The rocker is probably another 6-8 inches. So, the top of the tube at the bow is 30 inches above the water. To mantel the bow means to spring out of the water and above the tube, so you are holding yourself on top of the tube on your hands. From there it's a simple process to pull yourself into the raft. Of course, there are very few people who can do something like that.

[tanya]

soitgos wrote: Mantel a bow

I'm sure most of you know what the rock climbing move is to "mantel". To lift yourself up so you're weight is on your hands.

An 18-foot Maravia has 24-inch tubes. The rocker is probably another 6-8 inches. So, the top of the tube at the bow is 30 inches above the water. To mantel the bow means to spring out of the water and above the tube, so you are holding yourself on top of the tube on your hands. From there it's a simple process to pull yourself into the raft. Of course, there are very few people who can do something like that.

Maybe fewer that have photos of them doing it! Do you have photos of you or your son doing that?

[soitgos]

Yep, the son. I've said this many times and will say it many more, he is the best I have ever been with. He was 14 when I realized I had nothing more to teach him. He's currently the kayak instructor at Utah State U.

One of the skills we teach and practice is aggressive swimming. A life saving skill. We used to teach the defensive swim position. Not anymore. Save yourself and do it NOW!

[soitgos]

I may have a photo. I'll have to look for it. If not, you can take one during the workshop :-)

[tanya]

soitgos wrote: Yep, the son. I've said this many times and will say it many more, he is the best I have ever been with. He was 14 when I realized I had nothing more to teach him. He's currently the kayak instructor at Utah State U.

One of the skills we teach and practice is aggressive swimming. A life saving skill. We used to teach the defensive swim position. Not anymore. Save yourself and do it NOW![/u]


You have sold me. :2thumbs:

Do you tell campfire stories at the class? That would be the best part.

[tanya]

soitgos wrote: I may have a photo. I'll have to look for it. If not, you can take one during the workshop :-)


I would LOVE to do that!

[soitgos]

Campfire stories is a major part of any river experience . . .

[tanya]

soitgos wrote: Campfire stories is a major part of any river experience . . .

What is your favorite story that does not involve Bo?

[soitgos]

My favorite story that doesn't include Bo? Hmmm . . . most my favorite stories include Bo. But, I have lots of stories.

Zeus, what did I do to piss you off?
By Steve Christensen

Labyrinth Canyon was one of those places I always wanted to float, but for many reasons it never made it to the top of the priority list. After all, it’s flat water. My son has a t-shirt that says “Whitewater” in huge dynamic script, and underneath says, “Because ‘flat’ is a 4-letter word.”

My agency started doing commercial trips in Labyrinth Canyon, and yet I still avoided the trip. It wasn’t because I had something against flat water, and I really wanted to do more canoeing. It’s just that there was always something better to do. The Middle Fork. The Bruneau. The Dolores. Cataract Canyon. The Salt. Good excuses, all. And, of course, Westwater. There is always Westwater.

But, on a September day in 2005 the excuses ran out. I was finally going to float Labyrinth Canyon. I was to row a raft on a commercial trip in support of two canoes. The problem with canoes, especially on multi-day trips, is you need two people per canoe. But, because I had a raft Max was able to tag along, which made it all worthwhile. Max is my 11-year-old Golden Retriever.

It didn’t take long to make me regret all of the excuses I had made over the years. This is a magnificent canyon. A treasure. And, there is something magical about flat water, especially in September. This is as peaceful as life gets.

For the most part . . .

The first night we camped on an island. It started to rain, so we put up the canopy, fixed dinner and sat around the campfire. On these trips people always like to hear river stories. So, I shared a few, not realizing this night would become one of those stories for later campfires.

The rain stopped and it was a beautiful night. Clouds came and went, revealing stars momentarily, then covering them just as quickly. It wasn’t a night to sleep out. Max and I retired to our tent and were soon asleep, dreaming of class 4 whitewater. At least I was. I’m not sure what Max was dreaming about.

Somewhere after 3 a.m. I awoke to thunder in the distance. I love thunderstorms in the wilderness. I just laid there in anticipation of the show. I reached over and scratched Max behind the ears. He rolled slightly toward me, smiled in the way only I know, and continued to sleep.

The explosions got closer and closer until the center of the storm was right on top of our camp. It seemed to hover there. All of a sudden I didn’t like thunderstorms in the wilderness quite so much. The heavens became violent. Hundreds (I'm not exaggerating, I have witnesses) of bolts of lighting cracked around us. Many within a few hundred feet. Some almost deafening. It was like Zeus was standing in the clouds directly over us throwing daggers. “Damn, missed again!” I quickly scanned my memory, wondering what I had done to piss him off so badly. I couldn’t immediately come up with anything, but I knew it must have been awful.

One thunderclap didn't end before another cracked. Several times the ground shook. Although it was too dark to see, I could hear several waterfalls and one raging stream coming from a nearby canyon. I lay there in my tent hoping the others were okay, helpless to do anything. Max isn't bothered very often. Yet, I suddenly felt his presence very close. I opened my eyes to see his nose about four inches from my face with a look on his face like, "What the #%&@ is going on?" All I could think was, "My sentiments exactly." I'm glad I have witnesses. This is the kind of thing you really can't understand nor appreciate if you weren't there.

It was one of two times I’ve ever been scared in the wilderness. The other was when I was caught in a forest fire. The barrage continued for 30-40 minutes. All I could think was, “Zeus, you scallywag, if you hit me, make it direct!”

When it finally stopped I has glad to see everyone and everything was okay. A few things were down the island a few hundred feet, but nothing was lost.

It was one of those moments that literally took my breath away. Several times.

------
Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take, but
by the moments that take our breath away. (George Curlin)

[Bo_Beck]

soitgos wrote: Yep, the son. I've said this many times and will say it many more, he is the best I have ever been with. He was 14 when I realized I had nothing more to teach him. He's currently the kayak instructor at Utah State U.

One of the skills we teach and practice is aggressive swimming. A life saving skill. We used to teach the defensive swim position. Not anymore. Save yourself and do it NOW![/u]

I got the opportunity about 7 years back to attend a 3 day whitewater rescue course for national parks put on by Grand Canyon NP. We had classroom at Lees Ferry on fridayafternoon and night and then practical application on saturday and sunday on the river above and below Paria Riff. It was a blast to practice throwbags, swimming positions, river crossings and practice entering an eddie to get on a rock. Its amazing the power of water and how one should deal with it! Sounds like a wonderful course...Maybe I can get Zion to spring and send me for some training again! :nod: Thanks for info!