M.I.A.: Fish, Ryan, Eric, Zack

[iYak]

They were heading to Beach Creek yesterday, with Richland as a backup plan. I'm thinking that they are on Beach but we're not for sure. Nobody has heard from them since Wednesday, and it is now 10:30 am on Thursday.

There is a group heading towards Beach Creek to look for them. I'll be heading out at noon to go help.

Did anyone see them yesterday that could give us more info on their exact location?

Rob
4 79 806 2 six 1 7

[iYak]

They have been located

Ryan just called his wife Sarah and told her that he had just hiked out of Boss Hollow and he was calling from someone's house to let her know they are OK. One of them has a hurt foot, but that is all I know right now.

[akkayaker]

Im glad to hear they are ok...man I about lost it there worrying about em!!

ak

[lobbylady]

Thank God they are okay!!!!

[okieboater]

Like others, I am sure glad to hear they are okay.

Now, there has to be a epic story of what happened to them.

[jim johnson]

glad everyone is accounted for.
ditto okieboaters comments
jim

[Jody]

omg that scared me to death. Thank God they are ok.

Now we can just harrass them...can't wait to hear this epic adventure story.

[Zach]

As horrible as it must have been last night, I'll bet they are glad it is late summer and not the middle of winter.
Glad to hear they made it out safe.

[Ryan Viser]

Well of course they haven't been heard from. Every time we get this kind of water, you either hear Fish talking about how he can go paddle all these crazy creeks, or you just don't hear anything from him, which is your cue that there will be some super wild, epic, multi-thread, thousand year tale because he's been out in it for days and not anywhere near a computer. Then again, they are yakkers, and yakkers are pansies, so I guess there was reason to worry after all

[Cathy]

Thanks so much for the update Rob.

-Cathy

[okieboater]

The suspense is getting to me!

Fish, Ryan or anyone with the status of everyone on the over night epic please post a update and spare me the drive over to Fayetteville

[A Savage spanke]

Wo, I just called zach, and I heard part of the story and the highpoints, and this by far the most Epic Story every.
I cannot wait to read what fish writes.

[Ryan Center]

Then again, they are yakkers, and yakkers are pansies, so I guess there was reason to worry after all

Ryan, I will show you pansie.
Thanks for the people that were worrying about us. I will let Fish tell the story for that is what he is good at. I think I'm done with creeking for a while. I thought I had lost two of my favorite boating partners last night but all ended fairly well. And yes Zach, thank God it was Summer, we would have not made the night if it was a little more cooler, but then again I would have been more prepared. I think I'm going to carry certain supplies in my life jacket for now on since two of the boats that had the items we really needed in them were either pinned under a tree or somewhere down river. For anyone wanting to run Boss there is a river wide strainer about 100 yards below the big under cut rock at the start of the super long slide. At high flow there is no stopping unless you are supper lucky.
Thanks Tom and Steve for the help today.

ps If you have never slept on the ground covered in poison ivy and rain beating on you all night you are lucky. Nothing worse than trying to sleep in a mud puddle with nothing but your paddling gear on.
I will post what few pictures I have soon.

[Fish]

Do not, I repeat, do NOT, ever insult a hurricane. 36 hours of bad boating karma later, we are all licking our wounds. Ran some huge stuff on Boss before the second surge came down. Then we unreasonably reasoned that we could still paddle out before dark. Five minutes later, with one boat destroyed, one missing, and every member of the group searching in the twilight for the others, we had learned much about our limitations as boaters and human beings. 24 hours and one very desperate night spent in the gorge later, we were still pulling all the people and pieces back together.

Everyone is safely back, though Eric has a serious ankle injury (from a swim). We are all banged up pretty good. More details will follow, but suffice to say that we do not want to equal this adventure ever again.

Going to sleep,
Fish

[Danimal]

Glad you guys are safe. Can't wait to hear the details. Dan-o