Dry Meadow Creek Accident 4/17/98???

[kayak...@home.com]

I heard a boater missed an eddy and took a line he shouldn't have,
resulting in, at least, compound fractures of both arms. Does anyone
have the details of this incident?

[Brett Valle]

kayak...@home.com wrote in message <353BFFA2...@home.com>...

>I heard a boater missed an eddy and took a line he shouldn't have,
>resulting in, at least, compound fractures of both arms. Does anyone
>have the details of this incident?

I don't have the full details, but a guy named Bruce from NZ did run the
50-70'+ drop immediately below the seven teacups (of which six are regularly
run, and can be seen in a Patagonia ad and the Savage poster with Corran on
the fourth drop). For those of you unfamiliar, after the teacups is a
portage around three large waterfalls/slides that either slam into rocks or
the opposing wall. Each waterfall/slide is significantly larger than
anything above and pretty much unrunnable because the water slams into pure
granite rather than a green pool (not to mention the vertical in those three
drops equals or exceeds the upper seven teacups). Apparently he became
confused where he was and paddled past the portage eddy despite people
yelling for him to stop. He paddled off, and so I hear almost hit water in
between a rock and the wall, but still hit the rock, and used his arms to
protect his body (where upon he broke both arms). Somehow he managed to get
out of the boat, but could only kick with his legs to prevent himself from
going over the next two drops. Corran was also up there, and saw the whole
thing happen, and got down to him super quickly. The walls of Dry Meadow
are a super polished granite, and the pool the guy was in is a good 80'
below from the last tea cup. Apparently Corran pulled the super sketch rock
climbing move half way down the face to get down there and help him. I
don't know the details of the subsequent rescue, but a bunch of people who
were taking photos went to call for help and the people remaining got the
guy up out of the gorge. They had almost hiked out to the road (a feat in
itself) when the helicopter showed up, five hours later. From what I've
heard, Bruce himself was a major factor in keeping himself going. Last I
heard he was flown to a Fresno area hosptial and had a compound fracture in
each arm. Perhaps Corran or someone else who was there could post a more
complete report of what happened.

Best wishes and a quick recovery to Bruce, his friends, and family,

Brett

[kayak...@home.com]

More than a few people I talked to said they won't run Dry Meadow after
this. I'm not sure how to feel about it. When I first heard the story,
it sounded like Bruce couldn't make the eddy. Though it may detract
from the natural beauty of the run, perhaps some sort of signage is in
order to help prevent this sort of thing again.

[Terry Delliquadri]

My vote is to keep the signs off the rivers and teach people how to
scout or at least the importance of scouting. That drop is obviously
unrunnable and you would think that a heads up boater would not paddle
over an unrunnable drop.

I can see it now: Signs reading "Catch the third eddy on the left."
"Boof right!" "Ferry now!"

What are you going to do? Spray paint a big arrow on the rock "GET OUT
HERE!"

My 2 cents.
Terry DelliQuadri

[Eric Princen]

kayak...@home.com wrote in message <353D5FFF...@home.com>...

>More than a few people I talked to said they won't run Dry Meadow after
>this. I'm not sure how to feel about it. When I first heard the story,
>it sounded like Bruce couldn't make the eddy. Though it may detract
>from the natural beauty of the run, perhaps some sort of signage is in
>order to help prevent this sort of thing again.
>
>
>> Apparently he became
>> confused where he was and paddled past the portage eddy despite people
>> yelling for him to stop.

I heard he just paddled over as if he didn't realize. I myself would
probably place a temporary object somewhere visible as an improvised stop
sign. Obviously nothing perminent should go there.

BTW, let's hear if for local boy Nathan Seeby and Corran for getting Bruce
out of the canyon. Nice job guys.

Good luck on a speedy recovery, Bruce.

-Eric ;-)

[kayak...@home.com]

> My vote is to keep the signs off the rivers and teach people how to
> scout or at least the importance of scouting. That drop is obviously
> unrunnable and you would think that a heads up boater would not paddle
> over an unrunnable drop.
>
> I can see it now: Signs reading "Catch the third eddy on the left."
> "Boof right!" "Ferry now!"
>
> What are you going to do? Spray paint a big arrow on the rock "GET OUT
> HERE!"
>
> My 2 cents.
> Terry DelliQuadri

Thanks for your 2 cents Terry, I need it - the taxman nailed me this
year.

I'm somewhat ambivalent about the signage bit. I'd agree that on this
run, no one without his/her wits fully about them has any business being
there in the first place (or just about on any whitewater for that
matter.) To me, safety is ultimately one's own responsibility.
However, I have noticed there's a warning sign above Royal Flush, and
there's even a cable strung across the dam below the Limestone run. I'm
not arguing for a sign, 'just offering it up for consideration. I don't
run Dry Meadow Creek anyway.

As for my vote, I abstain.
Michael

(Actually, a sign such as, "Catch this eddy, boof right, ferry now!" or
something like that, could have saved me a few nasty thrashings. Maybe
you've got something there.... just kidding, o.k.?)