Sunday 26th September 2010 by Dan –
This morning we rose at the campsite below Badger Rapid. My duty of dishwashing at 6:30am was the priority. The four pails had to be filled with river water and then individually heated and treated with soap or bleach so that the dishwashing system was ready. After breakfast of hot porridge we set out on the river again. I needed to get my confidence back after swimming in the rapid yesterday. A few practice rolls went well.
Soap Rapid was the first major rapid of the day. This was a long rapid from top to bottom. We scouted it first and then opted to follow Andy’s line, myself first and then Erin in close succession. Waves were again, HUGE. We entered the top of the rapid from the main downstream ‘V’ or ‘tongue’ as it is known, where all water is converging towards a central point before the big waves begin. The calm before the storm. You don’t usually need to paddle much when you’re in the V, but you do need to make sure you boat is orientated and lined up correctly. There is no turning back at this point. You’re on the conveyer belt that leads directly into the rapid.
I left the bottom of the V and hit the big waves at the top of the rapid. The second wave flipped me over. I setup for a roll, began to sweep and I was up! I didn’t even have a chance to complete my sweep. There were waves breaking all around me. Crazy! I rode out of the rapid following Andy, who made it look easy. The awesome force of the river is in control again, and this time it offered me a freebie - saving me from swimming down a very long rapid.
Lunch brought out the solar charger and my camera battery charge was topped off. It also brought out the helmet-camera. The first test for this was a Seal Launch from the canyon wall into the river. This again gave me the opportunity to practice my roll.
House Rock Rapid was next. This rapid was much shorter than the previous rapids, but again it had huge waves and two giant holes in quick succession. Holes are a whitewater feature formed by water pouring over an obstruction such as a bolder, to form a deep powerful circulating hydraulic on the other side. Not only is the water especially turbulent, but it is possible for objects such as kayaks, people, or even large rafts to become trapped in the holes, spinning wildly out of control. They are not to be taken lightly.
The short length and curved nature of House Rock rapid made a great viewing area from shore on the inner bend for those watching the action up close. Kayaks went first as normal. Erin was following my lead. I flipped at the top hole. I was briefly upside down in the roaring rapid. The river was kind, and I was again rewarded with a successful role. Amazing! I surfaced from the roll in the middle of the rapid, past the first hole, but facing the second massive hole. Everything was happening so fast, I could do nothing else but paddle, and paddle like mad I did. Somehow I made it past the bottom hole, through the surrounding waves and into the eddy at the bottom of the rapid. Wow! It was such a good feeling to have somehow made it through and still be in my boat. Erin had also made it safely though and we were looking across at each other in amazement of what had just happened. It was intense!
The rafts did not fare so well. The first two oarsmen, Sam and Larry, were both thrown out of their rafts. We saw the unmanned rafts race past us with their captains dangling in the water, desperately clinging to the ropes on the side of the rafts. Rescue operations where in progress.
The inflatable Grabner paddled by Andy and Wendy was next. They too flipped and where ejected from their boat. With all other available boaters occupied, my time had come. I left the safety of the eddy and went into rescue mode, paddling to intercept the upturned boat and swimmers. I reached them in the swelling water. They were both holding onto the boat. I positioned my kayak in front of Wendy so that she could grab a hold of it. The river flow was taking us down stream, and the waves were still hitting us, although smaller now. It was the cold water that was the concern. I needed to get them to shore. When I was sure Wendy had a good grip, I chose my target on shore and started paddling, hard. I was pulling Wendy, the Graber, and Andy, all strung out in a line behind my boat. We made it to the rocks near the shore. The water was shallow here, but the currents were still strong. Andy and Wendy were trying to get themselves and their gear orientated on the slippery rocks. My boat and I had now become a cumbrance in the small confines of the rocks. The current pulled my kayak into the Grabner, and I leant away, which was the wrong thing to do. I flipped in the shallows, but managed to get upright again as the river pulled me downstream, leaving Andy and Wendy on the rocks.
The day was not over yet. Further downstream the next unexpected rapid flipped me again. This was followed by several unsuccessful roll attempts and a long swim in cold water. Erin then flipped and rolled back up in another incident after I swam. I was spent. Tired. I needed a campsite. But we were surrounded by sheer rock faces on either side, with no opportunity to leave the river. We continued to float downstream.
We passed through some riffles and were finally rewarded with a great camp site. Warm rocks above the river were a brilliant find. We setup camp for the night at mile 18.
It had been a day of ups and downs, with highs and lows. I’m looking forward to see what tomorrow brings. Today I learned that we are small and inconsequential in comparison to this great river. The Canyon deepens.
1 comment:
I was so happy to see you paddling to our rescue--and it was a perfectly executed rescue, at that!
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