Put-in at Cobb Brook |
I was paddling the annual
fall release on the West River (Ball Mountain Dam to Jamaica State Park – 1,500 cfs.) with the usual crew (Andy, Pat and Paul). We were on our third run, and the rest of the crew decided to hike up to the dam to run the first rapid –
Initiation. I decided to pass, and found a spot about half way down the rapid to take
some pictures instead.
David running Initiation |
With 2-3 foot
standing waves interspersed with rocks, Initiation is the biggest rapid on
this section of the river. About a half-mile long, the rapid drops quickly from
the dam dumping much of the flow into a pile of boulders on the right side
about half way down. Most people catch an eddy on river right above the
boulders, and then ferry to the left the finish the run on the left side.
I found a rock
downstream that gave me a good view of the section below the boulders. Dave came down first catching the eddy
on the right. He just hit the left side of the boulders before styling the rest of
the rapid.
Andy's long swim |
After Dave, I watched
as Paul and Pat hit the eddy above the boulders. I then saw Andy’s boat head
toward the eddy. Andy was obviously in the water, but I didn’t see him until he
bounced over the boulders into the nasty hole below. Fortunately, it flushed him
out quickly, but he was now swimming down the middle of a long, fast-moving
rapid. Pat was in front of him chasing the boat,
and Paul was behind him, but there really wasn’t much they could do.
I watched helplessly
as Andy floated not 10-feet from me. It was another quarter-mile before the end
of the rapid, and I knew that Andy would be swimming the whole way. If I had my
throw bag, it would have been and easy throw, and would have saved
Andy the long swim, but I didn't. Live and
learn.
Heading to the take-out |
Links: