How to sink a driftboat in WH....

Mad Mikey · 06-18-2008, 05:29 PM

Pulled this link off of Westfly. Glad they are OK, that's an expensive lesson though. It can happen to the best. However, I suspect this was a first time trip for these fella's and chose not to scout, judging on their entry line and the fact they had no PFD's on.

Most of the DB's I've seen wrapped on O-S rock have the stern pointed to the East bank.

I hope these guys got a lot of their stuff back, looks like much of it came down the right side.

It hurt to watch this but it's something anyone who runs WH needs to see, especially beginners.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=x-IMozM_bno

AndyK · 06-18-2008, 06:01 PM

I hope they survived okay.

Tough lesson to learn. I've seen it happen on the Clackamas...

Slow and Low · 06-18-2008, 07:20 PM

Are you kidding me? Sometimes taking the "V" is a bad thing. Where did he think he was going?

Reminds me of a buddy who once told me he floated whitehorse and didn't know it.

Glad everyone is OK.

BTW, one of my friends dropped a Clack into OS rock November 4 years ago. He has run it over 20 times. That is a bad, bad line.

Mad Mikeys picture with the lines is the only way (in my opinion) to make that run. I like the the line around the Hogs Back.

Bobberman · 06-18-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Mikey

Pulled this link off of Westfly. Glad they are OK, that's an expensive lesson though. It can happen to the best. However, I suspect this was a first time trip for these fella's and chose not to scout, judging on their entry line and the fact they had no PFD's on.

Most of the DB's I've seen wrapped on O-S rock have the stern pointed to the East bank.

I hope these guys got a lot of their stuff back, looks like much of it came down the right side.

It hurt to watch this but it's something anyone who runs WH needs to see, especially beginners.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=x-IMozM_bno

I saw at least one PFD, maby 2. However that is a strange line.

Wingdam · 06-18-2008, 07:41 PM

If it happened this last weekend, I seen Angel heading that way with his crew on Monday. They weren�t up there very long, and we wondered if they couldn�t find or salvage whatever it was. I too have seen many boats parked on that rock or upside down on the bottom. Years ago there was a middle run before the can opener washed down and blocked the route away from oh-shoot. You had to turn sideways after the entrance and pull like the devil towards the east bank. Nowadays, there�s no escape if you go down the middle.

Slow and Low · 06-18-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingdam

If it happened this last weekend, I seen Angel heading that way with his crew on Monday. They weren�t up there very long, and we wondered if they couldn�t find or salvage whatever it was. I too have seen many boats parked on that rock or upside down on the bottom. Years ago there was a middle run before the can opener washed down and blocked the route away from oh-shoot. You had to turn sideways after the entrance and pull like the devil towards the east bank. Nowadays, there�s no escape if you go down the middle.

Not sure but I thought I saw Angel's boat coming south down 97 when I was was coming back from TC. Where does he live?

hooksetter1 · 06-18-2008, 07:52 PM

Holy crap that happened fast! Just goes to show, always wear a PFD.

Two Fister · 06-18-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

Not sure but I thought I saw Angel's boat coming south down 97 when I was was coming back from TC. Where does he live?

S&L,
Mark lives in Redmond, or at least he used to. I can't for the life of me figure out where these guys were trying to go. It almost looked like they were aiming for O/S.

Better to hit it straight on with the bow while trying to row away from it than to hit it broadside. I've been...umm...told that some real expert rowers may have tried this bumper bow technique on their bachelor party float after a bit too much Jager the night before. It's a really technincal move...real advanced stuff. Makes you hit the first standing wave dead a-- backwards. Have to be a real "pro" to be able to do a 360 rail grab right in the teeth of Whitehorse and only leave an insignificant nick in the bow support...

I told my wife that it was the perfect metaphor for getting married. Out of control, slaming into rocks while spinning circles in the middle of a rapid, and nearly getting an icy cold, life threatening dunking, but having everything turn out peachy. 10 years later it's still a wild ride!

Glad they got out of that with their skins. Could have ended up very, tragically, different.
TF

mrett · 06-18-2008, 09:26 PM

Tough lesson we all can learn from.Always scout this drop/rapid. My preferred route these days is slow down the river right bank over the first drop and ferry back to center in the current, with the boat always under control.
A number driftboats appear overloaded and tough to handle in fast heavy water.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Mikey

Pulled this link off of Westfly. Glad they are OK, that's an expensive lesson though. It can happen to the best. However, I suspect this was a first time trip for these fella's and chose not to scout, judging on their entry line and the fact they had no PFD's on.

Most of the DB's I've seen wrapped on O-S rock have the stern pointed to the East bank.

I hope these guys got a lot of their stuff back, looks like much of it came down the right side.

It hurt to watch this but it's something anyone who runs WH needs to see, especially beginners.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=x-IMozM_bno

TallFlyGuy · 06-18-2008, 10:27 PM

Ouch. The oarsman, doesn't do anything. He is just bopping along, until...Oh zhit!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1tNn...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGWMr...p;feature=user

AlseaAssassin · 06-19-2008, 03:17 PM

That sucks!! It kind of looked liked the guy must not have seen that rock or something!? Looked like he didn't even try to manuver around it.

AlseaAssassin · 06-19-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TallFlyGuy

Ouch. The oarsman, doesn't do anything. He is just bopping along, until...Oh zhit!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1tNn...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGWMr...p;feature=user

I hit the Lochsa in 2007 and it was by far and away the best white water ride I've ever had. Can't say enough good things about that river. The falls at 13 grand was killer!!

Wingdam · 06-19-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

Not sure but I thought I saw Angel's boat coming south down 97 when I was was coming back from TC. Where does he live?

I believe he lives in Redmond.

GraphiteZen · 06-20-2008, 01:35 AM

He obviously had no idea the boulder was there... You can see it... He's moving his body slow, bouncing down the current (not looking ahead even in the least) his oars are out of the water for 3 seconds before he hits and then BAM into the rock and everyone gets dumped... So sorry, pay attention.

Ryan Pultz · 06-20-2008, 03:45 AM

Wow down Quick looks like it would be a fun ride if done with the right person behind the oars rp

dirtyCut · 06-20-2008, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Wow down Quick looks like it would be a fun ride if done with the right person behind the oars

I've only done it 3 x's, all with a skilled oarsman and it was cool. pretty fast really, was over quick and without even a bump.

That vid of Lochsa, HOLY $#!+.... thats just nutty!

Slow and Low · 06-20-2008, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KleanCut

I've only done it 3 x's, all with a skilled oarsman and it was cool. pretty fast really, was over quick and without even a bump.

That vid of Lochsa, HOLY $#!+.... thats just nutty!

I've run it lots of times and it is a pucker factor of 8 to 9+ depending on flows. At current flow rates there is zero room for error. At the high water levels we have had, it is scarey but the only real danger is swamping your boat. Again reference mad mikey's photo above. These are the only "safe lines in this rapid.

flyin chrome · 06-20-2008, 08:03 AM

Nice post Mike. I see just as many go down about a mile down stream at the strainer. These guys obviously did not know what they were doing and probably would have gone river left at he stainer and got....well...stained!

Be in your neck of the woods tomorrow! I can't wait! You truely live in Gods country.

TallFlyGuy · 06-20-2008, 03:17 PM

Interesting to see how the river pulls him river left against the rock. If you look at the pic of the routes, he appears to head in just left of the far left red line down into the V. Does that seem right? Way to left!

Slow and Low · 06-20-2008, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TallFlyGuy

Interesting to see how the river pulls him river left against the rock. If you look at the pic of the routes, he appears to head in just left of the far left red line down into the V. Does that seem right? Way to left!

No he's nowhere near that line. He's in the big V farther left. He's all screwed up. Oars out of the water way too much, bow going the wrong direction.

Ryan Pultz · 06-20-2008, 08:12 PM

Wow the lochsa looks insane rp

Fish Killer · 06-20-2008, 09:35 PM

Great videos - I like the music too.

rowmanholiday · 06-21-2008, 06:03 AM

WOW! What a ride!

Catch 22 · 06-21-2008, 08:12 AM

Remember, it's 5 times harder to see a rock from upriver. The camera has a great view of the actual rock, so it's easy to wonder why he didn't see it. But all he most likely saw was the water that was rolling over it from upriver.
Yes the answer is scouting. He took the big V, which is the right thing to do 90% of the time. Unfortunately, not here.

He didn't look too experienced by the way he was oaring with one oar at a time, kinda looked confused. Maybe the run snuck up on him and he realized it a little too late?

jordanb38 · 06-22-2008, 01:24 PM

good argument for running a river with someone very experienced a few times first

Zinger · 06-22-2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catch 22

He didn't look too experienced by the way he was oaring with one oar at a time, kinda looked confused. Maybe the run snuck up on him and he realized it a little too late?

Here are some pictures from one of the posts a few years ago that I always send to my new clients before we float the river. Probably the best I have seen for showing exactly how to stay out of trouble. When in doubt, paddle right.

- Zinger

oikophobia · 06-22-2008, 03:48 PM

Lucky guys, could have been a lot worse...

weekender · 06-24-2008, 10:03 AM

I've never been through there, but the first word that came to mind was oblivious. He clearly thought he was going to just bob on through.

JustSteve · 06-24-2008, 02:52 PM

Not sure how much of the issue is the oarsman not knowing the line verses the oarsman not knowing how to drive his boat.

Anyone know this guy? Skills? He just didn't seem to have a plan and when he made attempts to move, he was lilly dipping and out of synch.

IN NO WAY DO I IMPLY I CAN DO ANY BETTER OR WORSE. IF YOU'RE ON THE WATER, YOU'RE BETWEEN SWIMS. but at least have an active hand in your own demise. the river just had this guy by the short and curlies.

Steve