Lost Paddler on Richland

[RomanLA]

Energy bars, dried fruit, MM's, etc.

That's no fun...fishing string and hooks!

This is what I keep in my dry bag now. I made my own survival kit for backpacking, but this was just too easy! lol I'll probably carry it on me, when I get a rescue pfd with a bigger pocket.
http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/pro ... ival%20Pak

I also carry stuff like Katadyn Micropur MP-1 tablets, an Aquamira Frontier Pro Filter, and Paracord.

[Butch Crain]

Maybe any training or published material related to whitewater, particularly in wilderness areas, should include instruction in how to obtain and read local topographic maps.

Like they say - (just) don't leave home without it.

[tomcat]

Shelby wrote: "Hike down stream on river left if below Richland Falls."

Hum....Shelby.....are you sure to take river-left? The trail on river-left doesn't start until Upper Screw Up which would be about 2+ miles below Richland Falls. I think you meant river-right????

[bryanpin]

The hiking on River left isn't all that bad. There's several benches you can travel fairly easily, with the steepest and trickiest part of that hike being crossing the devils forks and climbing the bluff on River left of Twin Devils. I've used both, and I'd say it's 6 one way, 1/2 dozen the other. It just depends on whether you want to cross the Devils or Falling Water. (My 4 and3/4 cents)

maybe we should ask for more rain and all go to richland to do some safety hiking testing (aka playin hookey and kayaking!)

[tomcat]

hum....Diane and I hiked the river-left trail some years ago and as I said, it petered out (no marked trail) on us at Upper Screw Up and it was bushwacking from there to the confluence with Twin Devils....requiring you to go high to get around some bluffs upstream of Upper Screw Up. The river-right trail is well used and easy to see and follow....at least from Cindy's Hole down. I admit that I have never used that trail upstream from Cindy's but I think it continues as a well-marked trail all the way to the Twin Devil's confluence and maybe even upstream from there. Does anybody here know how far upstream the RR trail goes from there?

[KimL]

One addition to the emergency kit for every boater that I don't think I saw on this thread: flashlight. You can use it to signal searchers, helicopters, etc., and the LED flashlights are so tiny that even a small boat can carry one with a space blanket. (You can even buy a mummy space blanket.)

[bryanpin]

hum....Diane and I hiked the river-left trail some years ago and as I said, it petered out (no marked trail) on us at Upper Screw Up and it was bushwacking from there to the confluence with Twin Devils....requiring you to go high to get around some bluffs upstream of Upper Screw Up. The river-right trail is well used and easy to see and follow....at least from Cindy's Hole down. I admit that I have never used that trail upstream from Cindy's but I think it continues as a well-marked trail all the way to the Twin Devil's confluence and maybe even upstream from there. Does anybody here know how far upstream the RR trail goes from there?

To clarify Tomcat, you're right. The river right side is surely better marked and easy to follow. But you can hike out fairly easy on river left after you navigate the bluffs near the devils confluence. Water crossings definitely become a concern when it's cold and getting dark too.

[tomcat]

hum....Diane and I hiked the river-left trail some years ago and as I said, it petered out (no marked trail) on us at Upper Screw Up and it was bushwacking from there to the confluence with Twin Devils....requiring you to go high to get around some bluffs upstream of Upper Screw Up. The river-right trail is well used and easy to see and follow....at least from Cindy's Hole down. I admit that I have never used that trail upstream from Cindy's but I think it continues as a well-marked trail all the way to the Twin Devil's confluence and maybe even upstream from there. Does anybody here know how far upstream the RR trail goes from there?

To clarify Tomcat, you're right. The river right side is surely better marked and easy to follow. But you can hike out fairly easy on river left after you navigate the bluffs near the devils confluence. Water crossings definitely become a concern when it's cold and getting dark too.

okay, we'll negoiate like Isreal and Hamas....I challenge you to a dance-off to see which trail is better.









ps: so, if you're a boater hiking out...take the RR trail and use the boat to cross Falling Water Creek.

[Jeremy M]

Firestarter and alcohol prep pads (for firestarter) Double duty here b/c they're handy in your first aid kit as well.

Tyveck (sp?) Light weight, strong..they use it to wrap homes. Makes a great blanket or hot house if someone was hypothermic.

You can use a CD as a signal mirror.

Compass, you can find them with a sighting mirror, which also serves as a signal mirror (double duty again)

Some type of water purification/filtration. Either tabs or a bottle filter.

Thats about all I could think of.

[jclaudii]

RomanLA I think for your workshop you should all design and build your own overnight kit. You could design two: 1 for your person and 1 for the boat.

The one for your person needs to have the necessities in it, fire starting capability, tinder, water purification (filter straws), space blanket(there reflective for rescue), glow stick(no batteries), rescue whistle, and anything else that is easy to stuff in a pocket of your life jacket, sew or tape it to the side or back or under your spray skirt. This way if you get seperated from your boat, you still have something.

For the boat kit you can be more comprehensive like a small first aid kit, extra food, extra paddle or a means to construct one yourself (some duct tape and tarp material taped between a forked tree branch would work somewhat), a small fishing kit, etc.

I think everyone would build one to suite them and the places he or she may go. But you can stuff a whole lot into a empty Nalgene container and stuff it behind a float bag or cut some foam out so it can fit in nice and neat.

You also need to demonstrate how to use them. I would hate to be stressed out and just then learning how to use my flint/mag fire starter.

Sounds like a fun class.

[Tim Eubanks]

Been reading all these posts with much interest. As an open boater (most of the time) we always carry an extra paddle and most of us generally carry extra clothes, etc, because we have room (maybe because we come out of our boats more often?).

As far as food, someone will no doubt correct me if I'm wrong: you might feel hungry, but we all have plenty of reserve energy (other than my brother and Tin Man) as long as you don't go too hard or too fast . Aren't we talking about one day at most "in the wild"? The "survival" guys we see on Discovery Channel spend lots of energy to get protein. All we'd really need is water.

Seems like staying warm/dry if you have to stop would be top priority.

Given that I have dependants who'd like me to be there for graduation and weddings, I only jump on "wilderness" runs with a group of capable, experienced paddlers. Maybe some day I'll be lucky enough to be considered one of that group.

There's a thread on Boatertalk about survival kit contents as well. They don't seem to be quite as serious as we are. Whiskey and doobies (never cared much for their music ) were considered must-have's.

[Dale Dailey]

Tom cat, River right trail goes all the way to richland falls.

[KAYAKN]

I always make sure one of my paddling buds is bigger than me in the group. Thats why i always try to get Harlan to go, wouldnt want to get eatn first.

[CapnTom]

I always make sure one of my paddling buds is bigger than me in the group. Thats why i always try to get Harlan to go, wouldnt want to get eatn first.

Wow, after running the Tot with Harlen I thought he was only good for fish-bait.
Never thought about Da Bears.

[CapnTom]

I always make sure one of my paddling buds is bigger than me in the group. Thats why i always try to get Harlan to go, wouldnt want to get eatn first.

Wow, after running the Tot with Harlen I thought he was only good for fish-bait.
Never thought about Da Bears.