Bogley

soitgos · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Price

Hypothermia and entrapment are probably the two biggest problems. A guide died on the SF Payette this year when he got a foot caught in rocks after a flip and couldn't get out. Drowning occurs occasionally just from someone in big waves who just can't get a breath, but that's pretty rare. There have been five deaths on the Arkansas this year. It will be interesting when the AW reports come out and see what the causes have been.

Just about anything you can imagine has happened at some point. Especially in Utah drowning are pretty rare.

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2413 Location: SLC, UT

soitgos wrote:

Just about anything you can imagine has happened at some point. Especially in Utah drowning are pretty rare.

...unless you want to tube Westwater with no life jacket :eek2: :nono:

soitgos · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Price

Alex wrote:

...unless you want to tube Westwater with no life jacket :eek2: :nono:

Yeah, but (thankfully) even that doesn't happen very often.

The majority of deaths I'm aware of have been due to someone doing something stupid or someone doing something he didn't have the skills or experience to be attempting.

Regardless, we need to realize rivers are dangers and take it seriously. So is driving . . .

tanya · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 5520 Location: Utah

I keep trying to get Steve to talk but all I can think of is how to drown (or not) and his Son for him to post on.......

There must be more! More stories please! Alex and Steve you must have some river stories. :popcorn:

soitgos · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Price

tanya wrote: I keep trying to get Steve to talk but all I can think of is how to drown (or not) and his Son for him to post on.......

There must be more! More stories please! Alex and Steve you must have some river stories. :popcorn:

I can't even remember what stories I've already told. It's a joke among the kids I hang out with. They just laugh at me for repeating my stories. Sometimes one will just say, "I'll take this one . . ." and then repeat my story.

I do wish Bo was writing his stories. He once did Cataract Canyon in 25 hours. That's 100 miles. In a raft, with no motor.

There are stories and trip reports at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/utahrafters/files/

I suggest:

My name is Werner Catsman

Marsh Creek, Middle Fork 2003

Selway Trip, May 2002

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2413 Location: SLC, UT

hehe tanya, here is a good one:

How do you know when a river runner is lieing?

....when his mouth opens :lol8:

tanya · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 5520 Location: Utah

I don't think I could keep up with another group..... I need time to play too. :mrgreen:

:lol8: Funny Alex

soitgos · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Price

tanya wrote: I don't think I could keep up with another group..... I need time to play too. :mrgreen:

You have to join to read the stories, but you don't need to participate. Just choose "No email".

tanya · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 5520 Location: Utah

soitgos wrote: tanya wrote: I don't think I could keep up with another group..... I need time to play too. :mrgreen:

You have to join to read the stories, but you don't need to participate. Just choose "No email".

I have been a member for a long time..... but now I know you are in there I will have to peek in more. :five:

soitgos · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Price

tanya wrote: I have been a member for a long time..... but now I know you are in there I will have to peek in more. :five:

The stories I'm referring to are in the "Files" section. You can read them without searching through emails.

Felicia · Joined: 04 Jun 2007 Posts: 441 Location: So. CA

Several years ago we were running the Kings River, CA in spring. I went out at mule rock. Got sucked down to the bottom. I never open my eyes under water....but I did that day. I was always told to "let your life jacket save you", relax and the hole will spit you out. That is what I did. I remember thinking that it was taking a long time.......I could see the boat above. Then all of a sudden I shot up out of the hole......bumped my head on the bottom of the boat and then back down. Damn...no air. OK...so really, your life does start flashing before your eyes. All of a sudden, up I went again....broke the surface. Forgot to breath and down I went again. Sat on the bottom for a moment.....and back-up I went again. Grabbed by the scruff of my neck (life jacket) and hauled into the boat!!!!! They all swear that I was in the water for less than 2 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime! Had a massive headache. The river was running over 8000 that day.

I do know that it is all about the life jacket.....gotta have a jacket. :-)

soitgos · Joined: 29 Jun 2006 Posts: 113 Location: Price

Felicia wrote: I do know that it is all about the life jacket.....gotta have a jacket. :-)

Actually, what I said earlier is totally wrong. I was thinking of drownings where people are doing what they should be doing, or at least being reasonable.

The number one cause of river deaths is people not wearing a PFD. You're right, it is all about the jacket.

tanya · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 5520 Location: Utah

Felicia wrote: Several years ago we were running the Kings River, CA in spring. I went out at mule rock. Got sucked down to the bottom. I never open my eyes under water....but I did that day. I was always told to "let your life jacket save you", relax and the hole will spit you out. That is what I did. I remember thinking that it was taking a long time.......I could see the boat above. Then all of a sudden I shot up out of the hole......bumped my head on the bottom of the boat and then back down. Damn...no air. OK...so really, your life does start flashing before your eyes. All of a sudden, up I went again....broke the surface. Forgot to breath and down I went again. Sat on the bottom for a moment.....and back-up I went again. Grabbed by the scruff of my neck (life jacket) and hauled into the boat!!!!! They all swear that I was in the water for less than 2 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime! Had a massive headache. The river was running over 8000 that day.

I do know that it is all about the life jacket.....gotta have a jacket. :-)

:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

Did you avoid the river after that?

tanya · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 5520 Location: Utah

soitgos wrote: Felicia wrote: I do know that it is all about the life jacket.....gotta have a jacket. :-)

Actually, what I said earlier is totally wrong. I was thinking of drownings where people are doing what they should be doing, or at least being reasonable.

The number one cause of river deaths is people not wearing a PFD. You're right, it is all about the jacket.

Is it true that those old cheap orange life jackets with the flap at the top are safer than the small and fancy types?

Alex · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 2413 Location: SLC, UT

tanya wrote:

Did you avoid the river after that?

I think the more close calls you have with the mother river, the more you want to get back to her :twisted: