Suggestions for this weekend

[Marlo Krueger]

We had quite a day on the Caddo. Weather was great, cool water, clear sky, warm temps--must be going to be a good day...well, that's yet to be determined. It didn't start off so great when Jim got his truck stuck on the Narrows gravel bar. Fortunately, one of the outfitters took Edgar back to the take out so he could get his vehicle and pull Jim out. It didn't take long and we were on our way...Jim, Ann Davis, Edgar Morrison, and I.

Last week's flood made several changes in the river. It got rid of the root ball at lunchtime rapid, but put another one in an S-curve downstream that proved dangerous.

The water was at 6.2, but it was at a good level. Rocks covered but a little slow in the holes. We stopped on river right just before lunchtime rapid. We had a nice lunch and stretch of the legs then we were off again. Edgar got some good shots with his camera.

We worked our way on downstream only to notice a wad of folks pulled over just before the first of 2 big S-curves. Word was there was a serious injury and the ambulance was on the way. Apparently, a 15-year-old with her church group had rounded the curve at the top of the S-curve with some frisky current pushing her into a root ball. She flipped and got pinned between her canoe and the root ball. Exact details are up for debate. We heard several stories. From the guy who pulled her out, "she was underwater for a quite a while." Others said that as more paddlers rounded the corner they got pushed into the situation before they could stop--supposedly they just kept hitting the pinned canoe which in turn hit her head. She was barely breathing when we got there. Jim and Ann went to help while I played traffic cop to get folks to one side so they didn't add to the problems. Fortunately there were two nurses and an EMT already on scene. Ann was relieved not to have to be lead rescuer again, but had to use nearly all her 4x4 gauze pads again. The girl was packaged up and floated across the river on a canoe to the ambulance, then off to Med-Flight. We hope to hear how she is doing in the next day or so. Not overly encouraged; our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family, friends and teacher. Will post back here when we know more. As we left, we heard a chainsaw upstream. Later learned the outfitter was dispatching the root ball.

We finished out the day without further incident. When Jim and Edgar went to get their trucks, some other guys were stuck on the gravel bar and had been all afternoon. Edgar's vehicle and Jim's chain pulled them out before the day was truly over. It will have been a great day if the girl is ok.

Be careful out there!

[johnnybiggun]

the ouachita was up ! we had some really good rapids & the planes were great... jr. is about 15 hours in on a pilots license so he really enjoyed it...

[Jim Krueger]

I'd just like to add my many thanks to Ann for always trying to be as prepared as possible, and her willingness to try and assist others!
And to Edgar, thank you very much for dragging me back off that gravel bar. :) It was a real 'Oh Shoot' moment for me after I decided to venture out there

Best Regards
Jim Moose

[bcthompson]

ACC members,

I came here to post a thank you for the wonderful work you guys did on the Caddo yesterday.

My name is Brian Thompson and I was in the group that stopped just after you guys. If you remember the gentleman on the four wheeler, he came back with a chainsaw and myself, one of the EMT's, and a Caddo River Outfitters gentleman, got the majority of the root ball and other logs cut free, so hopefully it doesn't happen again. I am trying to find out about the girl but so far haven't seen anything come up on any news feeds yet.

If I do find anything I'll keep you posted, and if you don't mind, doing the same.


Thanks,

Brian Thompson
brian.chesley@gmail.com

[Jim Krueger]

Brian,
We just did what everyone else did...just did what we could to help. Doesn't feel like much. Thanks to you and the others for your help in getting that root ball out of the way so no one else gets hurt!
Marlo