First Rescue Experience - Lessons Learned

In our exciting previous episode, I described our first experience getting wet in strong current when the water was COLD. Actually, it was Kathleen's experience. Here is a sideshot of the scene of excitement courtesy of Andy; as always, click on it for a bigger pic. Note the undulating surface. I don't know enough about river bottoms to know what causes this. We didn't see any rocks and Kathleen didn't touch the bottom anywhere. There had to be some variation in the bottom and a general decline.


Just downstream, where the river was wider and the flow slower, Andy measured the current at 2.4 mph. Definitely not whitewater territory, but way hard to paddle against. I tried measuring the water temperature with my Dakota carabiner UV/temp sensor watch but it didn't adjust fast enough. I'd guess it was 50+/-5 degrees F. You can see the tree stump on the far side of the river about a quarter width from the right edge of the photo. Kathleen's last attempt was on the far side of this tree. Andy figures her getting pushed against the stump, as the current overcame her effort, and an upstream lean was the reason she flipped. The eddy spot was by the bank, on the left edge of the photo, where the light-colored tree trunk is against the bank and going into the water. This is where Kathleen and her kayak ended up.

After getting back home, Andy re-read some of his literature on safety and rescues with renewed focus and intensity. Hear, hear; I second that! Nothing like a real-life experience to demonstrate the relevance of the information.

So, what did Kathleen and I do RIGHT for a river paddle with strong current?

• had PFD's on and cinched snugly
  
• had a bilge pump and sponge
  
• had watched a video that showed a pair doing a self-rescue
• had clothing change in bulkhead
• each had a whistle (not that she used it to get my attention)
• since the water was cold, and re-entry to the boat not immediate, get swimmer to shore first; then worry about the boat & stuff
• Mike had another set of clothes at the car
  

How was Andy better prepared than we were?

• had a tow rope that was pre-tied to his bow handle
• had a spare paddle
• was using paddle & deck rigging to help stabilize empty kayak
  

What did we learn about strong current river paddles?

• lean INTO the downstream strainer (or obstacle), do NOT lean upstream into the current
• do NOT let boaters get too far apart; when things go wrong, they go wrong quickly
• stay especially nearby when trying a tough spot, but boaters need space to make their run; make sure a strong, designated, paddler is last in line
  
• have multiple cell phones, or beacons, if you need to get additional help
• get a sense for the flow rate of the river from USGS water gauges or resevoir release patterns
  

What else should we have done differently?

• each kayak needs a bilge pump and sponge
• have multiple tow ropes
  
• have flotation bags (to make up for lack of front bulkhead)
• have paddle float
• pack an emergency blanket
  
• have dry bags holding stuff in the cockpit
• be more careful about really narrow spots; wider kayaks will have tighter fits & more difficulty getting paddles into the water for effective strokes (same for longer paddles)
  
• practice self & buddy rescues (preferably in warm water)
• experience cold water immersion in a safe situation
• when in warm water, try using a partner boat for emptying a full cockpit; it'll be a lot faster than bilge pumping!

What about clothing? Should we have dressed differently? Kathleen was wearing splash pants and jacket for staying dry in the boat and warmth. Neither of us were wearing insulating layers for the cold water. I do have a neoprene top and farmer john - but I could not imagine wearing them for this warm weather trip. There is the adage of kayakers dressing for water temp, not air temp. And I can see that for sea kayaking and fast water trips. I've worn them on our lake when the air temp was cold too. I know it's risky; not sure where the boundary should be. Distance from shore should be a factor. South Fork wasn't more than 30 feet across anywhere along our trip.

In a previous post, I'd noted that paddling against the current will exacerbate any deviation of your boat from a straight line. The stronger the current, the faster your bow will be turned and you'll be going sideways. When pointed perpendicular to the current, you have the LEAST control over where you go. Be very aware of any nearby obstacles - they affect your options going upstream and you might see too much of them when recovering from a failed attempt. I was hoping to experiment and learn in current on the Broad River right next to the Greenway parking lot with Jeff, who knows the area. We could use more practice.

Regarding the flow rates, we're not quite sure about this one. Obviously, higher than normal CFS or water levels from water gauges says something about general conditions. However, width and depth of the channels does more to influence the current at any particular spot. Andy and I are both looking for more information on this one.

But what if it's just a lake paddle, or an impounded river? I'm not sure I'd drop any of this stuff. The extra paddle? Maybe?