Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

Sad news
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?secti ... id=6234096" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Since this occurred just a day or two ago, we'll have to follow up later on the sidebar comment that Medical examiners had not yet determined whether or not there was a medical condition that contributed. I suspect that there was, because they billed this woman as someone who was an "instructor" who had run many difficult rivers all over the country. That implies she should know better than to flip over if less than 100% sure of her own ability to pop the skirt and exit the boat if needed.

There's a very fine line we must all walk here. Theoretically, even a stroll through the woods should not be done alone. If you have a stroke or heart attack alone, you may die right there, while if you have a partner then they might help save your life. But at times, a walk alone in the woods can improve your mental health and provide benefits that make it worth the risk; as long as you understand you are making a personal risk-benefit decision then I have no problem with sometimes doing things alone. That said, this story is a good reminder of the "risk" side of that equation; we should not assume risk is ever zero no matter how experienced we are or how familiar the task at hand.

The woman's family and her friends in the PCC have my sympathy.

That hits way to close to home. I spend a lot of time paddling alone and taught myself to roll my flatwater boat. When a friend offered to loan me his whitewater boat, I didn't hesitate to attempt to roll it. It was a tight fit and I hadn't learned to do a wet exit properly (I was going out the back, instead of rolling forward). I nearly drowned within 20ft of shore in a few feet of water with my kids watching. It was a pretty scary experience.

I just read the full description of this in the Sept/Oct issue of the AW Journal.
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conte ... year_2008_

According to witnesses Ms. Herrick's sprayskirt grab loop was tucked inside her boat and the sprayskirt itself was unusually tight and hard to remove. This should serve as a warning for all of us to check the fit of our sprayskirts and to be sure that our grab loops are properly positioned. Many people are paddling new boats with old sprayskirts that don't fit very well, a perilous choice. I'd also encourage paddlers to try out alternate ways of releasing a sprayskirt, such as pushing your knee through the deck or pinching the sides and pulling outward. Each boat to sprayskirt attachment is different, so you'll need to experiment with your own until you find a technique that works.

There was a close call like this at Hoop and Holler a couple of years ago. Somebody new to boating in the 16-18 year range had the rip cord tucked into the inside of the spray skirt. With no roll and not knowing the weak spot area of spray skirts.(right at your hip) He had coffee with Jesus. Very close call indeed.

This reminds me of an incident on Cadron Creek a few years back. An experienced kayaker capsized and could not get out of the boat. The paddler spent way too much time underwater and in fact said that inhaling water was iminent. The problem was not the grabloop being tucked or even the tightness of the sprayskirt. The problem was the paddler was wearing nepprene mittens. Not gloves or poggies but neoprene mittens. I suspect that they were not designed for paddling. The paddlers hands were cold and feeling was not good anyway. With the mittens on and the darkness of the water the paddler could not locate or find a hold on the grabloop. The old wiffle ball on the grabloop trick might have made this a very unmemorable event. Friends don't let friends paddle with neoprene mittens.

Gordon Kumpuris wrote:The problem was the paddler was wearing nepprene mittens.

I had something similar happen wearing some NRS Propulsion Gloves (basically a glove with webbed fingers for hand paddling). In hindsight, I guess I could have just ripped off the gloves though.

That is the reason I boat with pogies, not gloves or mittens!

January 1991, Mulberry River

Always paddle with good friends that know CPR and are ready to do what needs to be done.

okieboater wrote:Always paddle with good friends that know CPR and are ready to do what needs to be done.

I'm glad you said that. I recently got certified as a first responder. I need to get some medical gear for my paddle bag. A CPR mask would probably be a good start. lol

Neoprene mittens??? These should only be used when taking your cake out of the oven while on the river trip.

I tend to wear my hand paddles alot, but have made sure multiple times that I can slide them off regardless of the cold and be able to get to my skirt loop.

Aside from that, I wear pogies cause of the freedom they give my hands..and they still keep them toasty warm.

I do always make it a point to anyone I teach to ALWAYS CHECK YOUR GRAB LOOP! Not just for being on the outside...but for wear and tear..literally.

Joe