Setting effective safety from shore: By Nick Wigston

Setting safety from shore is a very important skill for kayakers, and is an area that I see many mistakes. Most people seem to think that if they know how to throw a rope, they also know how to set safety, and they tend to overlook the most important aspect: Where to stand! I can't begin to count the number of times someone I'm paddling with grabs their rope and stands right next to the hole on top of a flat rock (Tunnel Falls). I'll explain why that is a useless attempt at safety.


So, how do we choose a good spot to set safety?
First, you need to choose which hazards are posing enough of an issue to need shore safety, and anticipate what will happen to a kayaker if they "encounter" the hazard.
Second, stand in a spot with the qickest access to the potential swimmer, and that allows the current to aide you in bringing them to shore. This may require more than one person in certain situations. If you set safety up in the right spot, the river should do most of the work.
Okay, now I have laid out the main concept, so let's discuss some specific situations. When your hazard is a pin rock or a strainer, you are probably anticipating that a swimmer could get stuck there with the possibility of flushing past the entrapment and floating downriver. In this scenario, it is best to have someone on the hazard in order to grab a swimmer quickly and pull them out. If you can't get on the hazard then you should be as close to it as possible and slightly upstream so you can communicate and get a rope to the swimmer quickly. Since there is also potential for the swimmer to flush past the entrapment, you will want someone setup further downstream as backup. This is often a kayaker staged in a downstream eddy, and could also be shore safety.
The next hazard I want to discuss is a true keeper hole. Setting safety for a keeper hole is much different than a violent flushy hole, which we'll discuss next. Since a keeper hole is going to recirculate a swimmer, we want to set safety close to the hole. Idealy, you will stand next to the hole and slightly downstream. If your friend is getting recirculated, get visual confirmation that they want the rope before you throw it. Once they grab it, you can pull them downstream towards you to safety. If it's a cauldron type walled- in keeper hole, get directly downstream of the hole if you can. That way you can always see the swimmer and you can throw the rope upstream into the pocket and haul them out using the current to your advantage.
The next situation is a more common type of hole. At least 95% of holes run by kayakers will flush someone once they wet exit, which makes setting safety for them much more dynamic than other hazards. That's because when the hole flushes them, the swimmer is moving quickly downriver until you pull them out or they swim to shore. This is the situation where I see the most mistakes in where people stand with their ropes. Let's go back to the first step: Identify the hazard and anticipate what will happen to a swimmer. In a violent flushy hole, a kayaker may surf for awhile before they swim. When they exit their boat what happens?: they get pushed to the bottom and downstream. Now remember step 2; set yourself up in a spot where you can get to the swimmer quickly AND use the current to your advantage. In order for the current to help you, obviously standing downstream of them is mandatory. Just how far downstream is the tough question. Let's use Tunnel Falls on Gore Canyon as an an example. Tunnel is a typical violent hole that will hold you for awhile if you stay in your kayak. As soon as you wet exit, you'll get pushed deep and pop up about 30-40 feet downstream. Now it's going to take you a second or two to get the water out of your eyes and look for the rope. In that second, you've probably moved another 20 feet downstream for a total of 60 feet or more beyond the hole. If your safety is set up on the river left rock 20 feet below the hole, do you think they even have a remote chance of roping you out? No. Even if they threw the rope down to you, you are going to pull them into the river immediately. I've seen it happen. If they thought ahead and set an anchor, you won't pull them in, you'll just get stuffed under water on the end of the rope until you are forced to let go and take your chances with the river. If your roper is standing where I normally stand on river right about 100 feet below the hole; they will be able to yell to you when you surface, throw the rope to you when you are still upstream of them, and let the river bring you right to them. The main idea is to stand far enough downstream that you can throw the rope to the swimmer while they are pretty far upstream of you. You should be standing in an eddy or on shore downstream of the eddy line. As the swimmer floats towards you, haul them in hand over hand so that they cross the eddy line just before they float past you. If they pass you, the force on the rope is going to increase dramatically as they get further downstream.



This is a sharp contradiction to the old pendelum method, where the roper stands above the eddy, hits the swimmer as they are floating past, and pendulums them into the eddy below. This works sometimes, but the trouble is that it only works with the perfect eddy line. Many times the swimmer stops as soon as they hit the eddy line. At this point there is a huge amount of force on each end of the rope. Someone is going to have to let go. This is also where I've seen many ropers pulled into the river. All of this can be avoided by using the current to bring the swimmer to you.

By no means have I covered every situation. Thee are plenty of times when it's impossible to get far enough downstream because of a cliff or another rapid. But if you do everything you can to set yourself up to use the current, you will increase your chances of pulling your friend out of the river unscathed.
Check out the Downstream Edge river rescue courses to learn and practice these techniques in realistc scenarios. We offer affordable courses designed for expert kayakers as well as beginners and intermediates. DSE rescue classes will make you a more confident and safer paddler, no matter what level of boater you are. We are also doing very inexpensive one-day clinics at paddlefest this year. Http://www.downstreamedge.com

--Nick Wigston

Winter Recap

Although I am sitting here working mid-mountain at Arapahoe Basin with it finally snowing outside, I think the winter is officially over for me. I will get a couple hour ride break, but the car is packed and at 4pm I clock out and Dave Fusilli and I will start the fun cross country drive to the east coast. After spending a couple of days visiting the family, we will roll down to Asheville, NC and start the summer paddling road trip. Plenty of kayaking photos will follow because that is probably what you are wanting to see if you are looking at a kayaking blog, but for now here are some pictures from my 08/09 winter season. Here in Summit County it was not a season with epic snowfall, but everyday cannot be a cliff-dropping powder day, so we found plenty of other adventures to entertain ourselves.

Mark Cohen and Dave Fusilli scouting their lines in Taos, NM

Jahvee and Dave doing snowmobile shuttling on Cottonwood Pass

Early season while most resorts only had a handful of runs open we spent a beautiful day here snowboarding powder.

Dave hiking up the ridge to ride Loveland Pass

Loveland Pass

Skiing Loveland

Dave at Loveland

Dave scouting where to set up camp near Agate Creek on Monarch Pass.

Dave digging a tent pit at our campspot for the night.

I wish we had video footage of us trying to avoid constant post-holing by waddling around on our cross country skiis to gather firewood, etc.

Thanks to being surrounded by plenty of dead wood, here is our campfire, which without would have led to a longer, colder night.

Sunset Ridge, Crested Butte

Maia and Dave cross country skiing up Cottonwood Pass.

Maia is founder of an outdoor advenure company based out of NYC. Check out the website http://www.urbanescapesnyc.com/. It's pretty impressive to see what she has put together in less than a year.

Dave emerging from our camp spot on Cottonwood Pass into 8" of fresh snow. It might look like he is coming out of a rabbit hole, but it's a pretty cool spot inside. We at like kings and I spent most of the night trying to figure out how to keep cool.

Dave skiing back down Cottonwood Pass

Rough ascent to the ski hills at Beaver Creek

Trying to become a better jib monkey at Beaver Creek

Dave powder skiing (yes really!!) at Beaver Creek

Try to spot Dave boofing

Big smile!

There is my winter in short.

Wear your kayaking thick skins to keep you warm in the snow, but try to wash them a couple of times prior or else you will smell like a dirty kayaker and that certainly is NOT steezy.

Winter Training

Out here in Northeastern Oregon there are four complete seasons. Winter is one of the longer ones. About once a week I grab a snow shovel and dig around until I find my kayak. Then I sit in it and ponder the infinite wonders of the universe:

Hmmm... Snow-Yaking...

(Photo: Lilli Tichinin)

Unless there's lots of powder, I don't recommend trying the Helix. 

After a few yard-sales on the slopes, I wondered to myself:  "When was the last time I paddled anything this gnarly..."

Hmmm... Mesa Falls...

(LJ Groth boofing a fifty-footer, Photo: Conor)

That would be LJ Groth launching the right line at Karl Moser's Bachelors' Party. He landed on a rock on the bottom, but was ok. I reccomend the left line.

Hmmm... Karls Wedding...

(Photo: ???)

 ??????????????? Hmmmm... ???????

...About this time I realize that there has to be something worth 

paddling on the local river.

And there is!!!

The only real rapid on the Grande Ronde happens to border Riverside Park on the north end of town, and it was formed aeons ago when a huge cement bridge collapsed into the river and was later formed into an irrigation ditch. It's a park and, well, huck--if you use the term lightly. The character is a little like the Numbers on the Arkansas, if the numbers had been formed solely by collapsed bridges and irrigation takeouts. The best play wave on the river is about thirty feet above the seven worst strainers on the river. These strainers mark the beginning of the Riverside rapid.

After every lap I tried to get a little big boat rodeo action in the final hole. I think I stuck a windowshade or two.

(Riverside Photos: Ben Woodruff)

Quote of the Day: "Spring is a comin'!"

 -Farmer Neilson, after his toolshed burned down last week.

Little White Cam + Columbia River Logistics

Hi Everyone,

For more info check out: www.thecolumbiaexperience.com
Or our "Live" site at www.thecolumbiaexperiencelive.blogspot.com
We're also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=49194613482

Thanks to the sponsors and everyone who helped us put this together!

* Adventure's Edge * AT Paddles * Caliproduct * ECHO * Golden Temple * Gorge Delights
* KEEN * Kokatat * NeoSport * Next Adventure * Paddle Humboldt * River Drifters * River Hardware * Sotar * Turtle Island Foods

Keel Brightman Photo. Rob Bart Styles Boulder Sluice, Little White as Cody films w/ a Cable Cam - Footage coming to www.Huckinhuge.com

Summary update (site has more photos)

The Bad News:
The Source is frozen, so we’re forced to start below Mica Dam. This cuts off the first 200 frozen miles and will hopefully allow us to begin paddling March 1st. We will paddle from Mica Creek to the Ocean, then go directly back up when the Source has thawed and complete the journey.

The Good News:
Everything looks good to go. We’ve now created a “Live” site with a SPOT tracker and a webcam. Tons of parties and community floats are coming together for anyone who would like to join us on the way:

The Great News:

Keel tracked down a trainer kite and 7meter kite, wonder how kitecatarafting will work…

Cody hooked up a zipline on the Little White and got some awesome video while Keel took photos. Cody will be posting the footage at huckinhuge.com

Please Join us along the Experience:
Directions for trips below and more at http://www.thecolumbiaexperience.com

Paddle:

March 27th: Hanford Reach - Vernita Bridge to the Ringold Springs Fish Hatchery. Meet at Vernita Bridge Rest Area below Priest Rapids Dam at 10am. We will go from the Vernita Bridge to a camping spot on the Dunes ~25-30 miles. Either camp with us near the Take-out this day or take-out at the Ringold Springs Fish Hatchery.


March 28th: Hanford Reach - Ringold Springs Fish Hatchery to Pasco. ~15 miles. If you paddle with us the day before we will wake up and paddle across the river from our campsite to the Fish Hatchery and meet anyone who would like to join us for this section. If you are just going to paddle with us from the Hatchery to Pasco please meet us at the Hatchery boat ramp at 10am.

March 29th: Pasco to Wallula Gap. ~25-30 miles. Either float the entire stretch or plan an earlier take-out on your own.

April 4th: Little White Salmon. Class V. If you need more info you should probably sit this one out. Drano at 10am.

April 6th: Little White Salmon - Eagle Creek. Class V. Paddle with us on the Little White then float down the Columbia to the Confluence of Eagle Creek just east of the Bonneville Dam.

April 7th: Eagle Creek - Class IV-V. Skoonichuck, Punchbowl, Metlako and a handful of other amazing rapids/drops. Hike-in as far as you'd like, Skoonichuck is most likely as far as we'll go ~6 miles. Easy Trail. Family and friends welcome to hike w/ us. Great photo/video oppurtunities.

April 10th - EF Lewis Race Warm up

April 11th - EF Lewis Race - Race details are still being figured out.

May 1-3rd - Post Expedition - Forks of Salmon, CA. Cal-Salmon Nordheimer Race and Celebration Party.

Party:

Friday, February 27 - Seattle, WA: Risen Sun Premier, Bands, and more, High Dive in Seattle. Show starts at 8:30.

Saturday, March 28th - Pasco, WA: Risen Sun Premier, Music, and more. Movie starts at 8:30pm. Details coming.

Saturday, April 11th - EF Lewis Race- Race details are still being figured out.

Saturday, April 4th - Hood River: Film Premier and much more. Details coming.

May 1-3rd, Post Expedition - Forks of Salmon, CA. Cal-Salmon Nordheimer Race and Celebration Party.

Benefiting:

American Whitewater
American Whitewater restores rivers dewatered by hydropower dams, eliminates water degradation, improves public land management and protects public access to rivers for responsible recreational use.

Columbia Riverkeepers
Columbia Riverkeeper's mission is to restore and protect the water quality of the Columbia River and all life connected to it, from the headwaters to the Pacific Ocean.

Because of Columbia Riverkeeper efforts, 95 percent less dioxin (chlorine breakdown product) flows into the River today than did 15 years ago. Heavy metal pollution has also decreased significantly due to industry-level technological improvements encouraged by Columbia Riverkeeper. Hanford Nuclear Site cleanup has become the best funded of any Superfund site in the country. Real accomplishments have been made that have improved the health of the river and saved millions of taxpayer dollars.

Sun Catchers Project
With this project we hope to create a global consciousness and universal desire to protect our natural forests by creating awareness of successful available energy alternatives to burning trees. We exist to improve the quality of life and health of people globally with the development of solar energy through cooking. By working with children all over the world, we strive to create a universal understanding and respect between our cultures at an early age. Our goal is to connect our communities and environment by actively engaging in education, research, development, and the application of attainable solutions through solar cooking.

Here we go, T-2days.
Paul

Eastern Oregon: soon...

The setting is perfect: steep gradient, waterfalls, slides, gorgeous mountains, pagan ritual sites and plenty of bears. Twelve miles in and only twenty-four out. All we need now is some sweet sunshine, and some snowshoes.Few kayakers would think to venture into the brush out here in Eastern Oregon. For me, it's personal. I grew up in the little town of La Grande, and having spent the last few months living back home and exploring the area, I think there just might be some paddling after all. The cover of the phone-book has a clean 15-to-30-to-10 foot triple-drop on it, and years back our sleepy little church-camp of a settlement was home to the likes of Josh Bechtel (Hey dude, congrats) and other perhaps lesser known white-water heroes. I did spot a few waterfalls while scouting, and I hope they look a little cleaner once they melt. I wonder what the rest of the runs look like under all that snow.

For now I'm just waiting for the snow to melt, and cruising to Hood River whenever I get boof withdrawals. Then I boof it like it's Colorado hot-mank. Observe: 

To the Right: Big Brother at stupid low. Photo: Kim Russell 

Above, Right: the author getting his scout game on.

So long everyone, I'll post more as soon as this stuff starts melting. And Mansfield, if you're alive still, I've got the creek for you...

---C.R.

The Big Ditch

It's been a long time since I rapped at ya, but the Mank Crew remains busy, busy gettin' life done day after day.  Most recently, we made life conform to an entirely too short 15 day trip down the Grand Canyon.  The trip got mighty Western in water, scenery and campfire tales of lore.  Here Diane and I roll in style down to the get-in:

So the first days, I thought to myself, "Damn, this place is enormous."  Yet, I had no idea exactly how enormous it would get as things floated by early in the trip.  
I must say that rafting is a sport near and dear to my heart.  Believe it or not, I guided in infamy near Buena Vista for years.  I still know how to keep the black side down:
But never fear, the Mank Crew remains on the attack and we even found a 1st Known Descent right on the shores of the Grand Canyon*.  Chris stuck'er first and I liked his line enough to giv'er myself.
*If you'd like to claim running this drop first, feel free to complain to the editors.  We named the drop "Crikin' in the AZ."
Like I was saying earlier, this place is enormous.  Oppressively, devastatingly enormous.
A trip through the Grand features the most amazing conversation pieces around the living room.
There's something so nostalgic about rafts tied up in a beautiful eddy.  Just thinking about it and I can't get the smile off my face.
The canyon plays so many tricks on your senses with the subtle smells and unfathomable distances, but I liked the way it messed with the light reaching your eyes.  I've visited Vegas, but I never seen lighting like this.
It's hard to imagine a better place to spend the night - stars, good friends, a warm fire on the beach and a touch of whiskey sloshing in the brain (drink responsibly please).  After all it was New Years - 2009!
Ever heard of a Grease Bomb?  I first learned of these while standing under the stars on an Arkansas River beach.  Of note, that fire pan is almost 2 feet off the ground.  Licensed professionals only please.  
I definitely had time on this trip to sit back, enjoy, and realize that the major stresses in my life are a bit trivial in the scheme of things.  "Stressin' the stress free."
You know, it's really unnerving how big we're talking here.  Take the biggest points in Cataract or triple the biggest ones in Westwater.  Now extend those cliffs for every bit of 226 miles - you've probably still not fathomed how big this place is.  
Note the full size cottonwood trees in the foreground.  This shot also brings up a point.  The only thing people seem to want to know about a Grand trip in January is "Was it cold?"  Does that have any bearing on whether you'd go or not?  It's one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Anyway, my answer is no to both questions.  But I will admit that I was wearing a drysuit or down jacket at all points in time and Diane never changed out of all 5 of her layers.  However, there was generally snow on the horizon at the relatively few points where we could see above the first 1,000 feet of vert.  I will also mention that for months up until the put-in date, I discussed with my journal the exact extent of the pain and suffering I was expecting.  But at least I managed to convince our fabulous cook, Jace, to bring 20lbs of bacon.  Then, I never doubted our survival even once.  
The water in the Grand also had it's own magic.
And enormity.
Chris worked a little magic on the water, too.  I will say the rapids were interesting.  We hardly took any pictures of them, which I think is pretty telling of the Grand.  The rapids will flip rafts, but you come for the superb hiking and scenery.   However, take caution by making sure that someone rides the bull on your raft through Lava to "giv'er the horns."  Otherwise, you may risk disaster.  I think the eddies, whirlpools and oceans on the river were the most interesting features.  Our only kayak swim came on an eddy line...
This shot is looking out of Red Wall Cavern.  I can't imagine a more beautiful, breathtaking, undercut, eddy wall of doom.  Like everything in life, it all depends on flow...
To get an idea of the grand, imagine this scene for the entire 15 days.  A quote from my Grand Canyon Journal reads, "The peace of this place - just the sluggish ebb and flow of life down here - is overwhelming, crushing, maybe even suffocating."  
Like my boys Gov't Mule would say, "On the banks of the deep end.....you gotta hold on to a piece of dry land."

After a few days on the river, the group gets a bit goofy.  By the time you're drying boats at the git-out beach, the group has just lost it.  I wanted to give a shout out to Christian for TLing one hellva trip.  At this point, I should also take credit for winning the World Cup Grand Canyon Dirtoff Championships.  Tom was tragically disqualified from the competition on day 8 after accidentally getting soap on his skin.  
Most of these shots (the good ones) were taken by Tom Janey, seen here in self portrait.  Ladies, can you believe that this guy is currently single?  Holla at your boy!

And my parting shot for those fans (especially lotsawater) of my very favorite kayak company:  Jackson Kayak.