5/7/18 First drowning

[ollie]

It has happened again.  Elk has claimed another life this week.  Every year it seems like someone drowns on this river and it could have been avoidable just like the others before.  Some woman was canoeing and came up on a tree across the river and she stood up and the boat of course tipped over.  No life jacket and she got tangled up in the limbs of the tree.  I don't the details of whether or not she rented a canoe from an outfitter or not, but if she did then I would say the outfitters on Elk do not value human life.  That water was probably running at 1400 CFS yesterday since today it is sitting below that stage.  That is fast moving water on that river.  I won't float or fish it at the level.  So many people seem like they think they can handle it, but I don't know how many times I have seen it otherwise.  So sad and the floating season has just begun.

[tjm]

Little Sugar has been at flood til day before yesterday and still is very high, not what I'd like to canoe; especially knowing a fresh load of trees have just been dumped in it.  I doubt an outfitter sent any boats out yet. Not many details yet, but, it said near MT Shira, which is public (MDC)  and she was from Bella Vista, so a local. Always some that like it best at or near  flood stage.

[ollie]

Not sure about outfitters.  I have seen them rent this early before.  Gracies is having a special on floating this weekend for Mother's Day.  I have also read comments from others on a different website that said they have already rented  a raft from one of the outfitters and that was last week as well.  She could have very well had her own boat and was just living on the edge I suppose.  My bet was she didn't have a clue and shouldn't have been out there!

[Al Agnew]

Most of the floatable streams actually get easier with higher flows, but the cost of mistakes gets MUCH higher.  In low water she probably just wades out before being swept into the tree.  It's always a juggling act for the canoe rental people, but most err on the side of caution unless they are convinced you are experienced and responsible.

[ollie]

2 hours ago, Al Agnew said:

Most of the floatable streams actually get easier with higher flows, but the cost of mistakes gets MUCH higher.  In low water she probably just wades out before being swept into the tree.  It's always a juggling act for the canoe rental people, but most err on the side of caution unless they are convinced you are experienced and responsible.

It's the part of the rental people I question.  I still don't know whether or not she rented from an outfitter so I shouldn't make assumptions just yet I suppose. I have just seen ALL kinds of things going on at Elk and it wouldn't surprise me if she was never informed of any obstacles she might encounter.

[tjm]

Thing that strikes me is the river is wide enough  that any tree should have been avoidable.

I wasn't talking about the date when I said I doubted it was by outfitter, I was thinking about the water depth and speed. Risk of lost and damaged equipment. But then I don't know any of the current operators either.  The places near the  bridge in Pineville looked ready for a big weekend when i passed this evening. Water in Little Sugar is ~5' lower than it was Saturday. Elk  still looks pretty full.  same rains that raise Beaver lake flood this drainage.

[Gavin]

Looks the Elk was flowing way high, 1300cfs+, normal is maybe a quarter of that? Won't float many at 3x normal flow. Sorry that someone lost their life.

[Troutnut69]

I've floated the Elk numerous times at those water levels, just yesterday at 1300+. The river was definitely not dangerous at those levels unless someone is totally lacking in experience and common sense. The tree across the river is just above Indian creek and has been partially cutout but is still a hazard. You can easily take the smaller right channel and avoid it entirely.

I am terribly sorry that someone lost their life on the river but don't see how you can blame anyone just for putting people on the river. What's safe for me , with the amount of experience I have, may not be safe for everyone else obviously but that's a personal decision everyone has to make for themselves. Without careful attention and some common sense there are lots of everyday situations that can become life threatening , floating a river is just one of those.

[ollie]

Well, as Dirty Harry said, "A man has got to know his limitations".  I could float that water as well and not have any problems, but I would choose not to unless I just wanted a fun fast float.  Probably alcohol involved as well, but I don't know that.