Walt Shipley Drowns on Dinkey Creek, California

[Richard Penny]

I am including below AWA regional coordinator Paul Martzen's report of the
drowning of Yosemite area kayaker and climber, Walt Shipley, on Dinkey
Creek in California. Dinkey Creek is a class IV and V tributary of the
north fork of the Kings River, located at about elevation 5000 feet in the
Sierra National Forest east of Fresno. The Cherry Bomb falls section is in
a deep granite gorge. A series of difficult ledges preceed a sloping class
V maelstrom that leads in to class V+ Cherry Bomb Falls. Steep granite
surrounding the river makes running this section very committing. Paul's
effort to save Walt by jumping into the current above Cherry Bomb falls
was a remarkable act of bravery.

Walt's body was recovered from the gorge on Saturday morning.

We'll miss Walt.

Regretfully,

Richard

-------

Friends,

Walt Shipley drowned Friday on Dinkey Creek in the ledge drops just upstream
of Cherry Bomb Falls.

Walt was paddling with Tom Hagberg, Chuck Estes, Bill Russell and myself (Paul
Martzen). Walt was running fourth behind myself, Bill and Chuck over the
first or second of 4 ledges. Walt entered the drop just as Bill and I peeled
out to run the last ledges and catch the small eddy to scout Cherry Bomb.

Chuck and Tom report that Walt cartwheeled, sidesurfed and backendered for a
long time before ejecting. He continued recycling in the hole for some time
before flushing and dropping into the next worse hole. Chuck tried to give
his stern to Walt, but Walt could not help. Then Chuck got out of his boat on
shore on river left, (a difficult proposition) and got out his throw rope.

At that time Walt appeared unconscious. The throw rope landed over Walt and
snagged him enough to somehow pull him out. Then he floated down into the
lowest and worst hole, but somehow recirculated only three times before
floating free.

Bill was upstream of myself as Walt floated towards me. Bill threw a rope to
me and I lept into the current to grab Walt. The rope swung us almost to
shore and I was able to swim him into an eddy before we both flushed towards
Cherry bomb.

We started mouth to mouth and cpr and continued for about 20 minutes with no
success.

Paul Martzen

--
Richard Penny * Development Director * Friends of the River
128 J St., 2nd Floor * Sacramento, CA 95814 * 916-442-3155 (voice)
rpe...@ix.netcom.com * www.friendsoftheriver.org * 916-442-3396 (fax)

[Alder Creek]

Sorry to hear the news. Our condolences to everyone concerned.

-Steve Scherrer-
Alder Creek Kayak and Canoe
http://www.aldercreek.com

Reply to <aldercreek(at)aldercreek(dot)com>

______________________________________________
Richard Penny wrote in message ...

[JD Paddle]

Very , Very Sad to hear of yet another death. My condolences to all who knew
Walt.
JD Pearl
JDPa...@aol.com
Mason Dixon Canoe Cruisers
http://www.nfis.com/~hartland/index.htm

[KSTRELETZK]

Five weeks in a row now with another report of another river drowning. I hate
Mondays.

Condolences to friends and family of Walt.

- Mothra (aka Kathy Streletzky)