Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Crane wrote:My understanding is that deaths in the Grand Canyon are greatly over estimated by the general populace and most are from fools who get too close to edges on the top or on trails.

About 600 deaths have occurred in the Grand Canyon since the 1870s.

According to Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon, 50 fatalities have resulted from falls; 65 deaths were attributable to environmental causes, including heat stroke, cardiac arrest, dehydration, and hypothermia; 7 were caught in flash floods; 79 were drowned in the Colorado River; 242 perished in airplane and helicopter crashes (128 of them in the 1956 disaster mentioned below); 25 died in freak errors and accidents, including lightning strikes and rock falls; 47 committed suicide; and 23 were the victims of homicides.

Yes, I'd say most of the deaths (excluding the plane crashes) are from folks who foolishly overestimate their abilities at whatever they attempt, be it hiking, (lots happen this way, with dehydration and heart attacks being the leading causes here) boating or what-have-you.

Some have fallen while taking pictures, others while just jackassing around, there have been quite a few suicides by jumping as well. You're essentially right, Crane, it's death by foolishness.

Sorry 'bout the thread jack, Rob.

As to whether there will ever be a class for Inflatable Kayaks here... I think you'd probably be welcome to participate in the Recreational Moving Water Clinic that will be held June 6,7, & 8 this year up on the Spring River. Contact Liz Caldwell or Mike Stanley to be sure. BUT, the Rec Clinic traditionally doesn't start accepting applications until after TEFKACS (Canoe School) closes its registration. The Rec Clinic in the past has limited its enrollment to about 35 folks and trys to get instruction to recreational paddlers who aren't allowed into TEFKACS in their particular rec-boats. So... there probably IS instruction available for you offered by the ACC. (You might contact Arthur Bowie to see if your craft would be allowed in TEFKACS... it might, bit I'm not optomistic!!)

Crane wrote:As to whether there will ever be a class for Inflatable Kayaks here...... Contact ... Mike Stanley .... So... there probably IS instruction available for you offered by the ACC.... if your craft would be allowed in TEFKACS...

Larry got it right. Mike Stanley " rvrrunner@comcast.net" is the go to guy for IK, he knows which are whitewater boats or not. We have had IK in the Whitewater classes the last two years. Acceptable boats must be designed and commonly used on whitewater, please refer to
http://www.arkansascanoeclub.com/school ... tType.html

Mike has the say on accept or not for IK.

In fact, if we could just get a little water, Mike or I or any of several other folks would be happy to have you tag along to the Piney or Cadron and use it as a brush-up on our teaching skills... Now, if you could get a little rain into the forecast before next weekend... we might work something out!!