Richland holding Sunday?

[perspective7]

Will upper Richland hold for tomorrow?

[canoe]

yes. dale

[Cowper]

Some are meeting at the put in at 10.

(I'm sure others will be there earlier, and others later.)

[Richard]

I have a friend camped at Skull Bluff/Nars area. When the river came up it caught him by surprise. He lost his rental canoe and some other stuff. He is awaiting rescue. Silver Hill Outfitters will try to get to him Sunday morning.

[Cowper]

We saw what appeared to be relatively inexperienced folks putting in at Boxley yesterday; some of the equipment just had that "brand new" look, some were in whitewater kayaks with no helmets, some in recreational kayaks with no skirts (which are needed on "big wave" days). I bet there are many stories to tell up and down the river.

[KimL]

What on earth are outfitters thinking? I know, $$.

[Richard]

Ken Bauer, the one trapped at Skull Bluff is an experience paddler from Alabama. He put on at Pruitt Tuesday morning and the weather forecast was for pleasant weather. I was camped below Baker Ford Wednesday Morning and called Rodger Keesee. He told me that the forecast had changed and to expect 2-3 inches by Friday. As I got out at Grinders it started to rain so I went to Tyler Bend to let them know Ken was somewhere between Carver and Woolum. He planned to spend two nights at Skull Bluff. I was to meet him at Grinders today (Sunday) and we were to paddle together to the White. The forecast at Tyler Bend on Wednesday did not indicate we would be getting much rain. WRONG!

[KimL]

Oh, Richard, how sad for him! Isn't the rule with rising water to sleep with your canoe above your tent? Or am I remembering that wrong?

[Richard]

Kim, that's the rule. It is a rule I rarely follow and obviously he did not either. I just got a call. He is at Silver Hill, in good spirits and heading home. Now I need to decide what to do this week since I won't be paddling to the White.

[Louiscov]

Richard:

Thanks for the report. I have been wondering about Ken since the gauges began rising Friday and am glad he's out OK. Meeting Ken Monday was a treat and I hope to get to paddle with him someday.

Louis C.

[Cowper]

What on earth are outfitters thinking? I know, $$.

It wasn't the outfitters - these were "private boaters", just new ones with what looked to be new equipment.