Another Life lost on Elk

[ollie]

So sad, but it seems like every year the Elk claims someone's life. This time it was on Saturday. Apparently the fire and rescue had to perform 21 water rescues that day alone. WTH goes through someone's mind that they have to put themselves in that kind of danger? How many beers made it alright to make that decision? The water was cresting on Saturday from all the rain we had and I know that river was rolling hard and fast. I know people have been cooped up for sometime, but not around there so I don't buy that excuse. This time the person was from Fayetteville and got pinned under a log jam. The one common thing I see in all the drownings on Elk is high water with no business being on the river to begin with. Plain and simple. I'm wondering how many of those rescues were from people renting a yak or canoe from a livery. I hold those places accountable as well since they should know better than to rent to someone during conditions like that. Almighty dollar trumps all of that it seems like.

[Al Agnew]

12 hours ago, ollie said:

So sad, but it seems like every year the Elk claims someone's life. This time it was on Saturday. Apparently the fire and rescue had to perform 21 water rescues that day alone. WTH goes through someone's mind that they have to put themselves in that kind of danger? How many beers made it alright to make that decision? The water was cresting on Saturday from all the rain we had and I know that river was rolling hard and fast. I know people have been cooped up for sometime, but not around there so I don't buy that excuse. This time the person was from Fayetteville and got pinned under a log jam. The one common thing I see in all the drownings on Elk is high water with no business being on the river to begin with. Plain and simple. I'm wondering how many of those rescues were from people renting a yak or canoe from a livery. I hold those places accountable as well since they should know better than to rent to someone during conditions like that. Almighty dollar trumps all of that it seems like.

Most of the livery people I know are careful not to put people in if they deem it unsafe.  It's usually do it yourself floaters that get into these predicaments in my part of the Ozarks.

 

[tjm]

Right off the website of an Elk outfitter

Quote

 WARNING: Under Missouri law, an outfitter is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in paddle sport activities resulting from the inherent risks of paddle sport activities pursuant to the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Chapter 537 RSMO revised to 537.327 

 

[ollie]

I get it that they are not held responsible and most of them have you sign all kinds of waivers anymore, but still. You know as well as me tjm that most of them around here would rent out a boat to a blind person and wouldn't think twice about it. JMO I know.

[snagged in outlet 3]

12 minutes ago, ollie said:

I get it that they are not held responsible and most of them have you sign all kinds of waivers anymore, but still. You know as well as me tjm that most of them around here would rent out a boat to a blind person and wouldn't think twice about it. JMO I know.

Do you know for sure they were put in by a livery company?   If not, maybe you don’t need to be upset.  Not trying to dog you but the explosion of paddle sports has a lot of people doing it on their own.  

[tjm]

Yes! that was in reply to Al's comment, he has more faith in his "livery" people than I have in the local "outfitters" .  I don't believe any outfitter should have been open on the Elk this weekend but they were. Little Sugar was two feet deep over our bridge and kayakers were saying how good the float was, a fellow told me Sunday how the creek was perfect fishing on Saturday, when I asked if he'd seen any channel cat he said ''oh the water was too muddy to see anything" 

[tjm]

SIO3, we don't know that they were, but 23 rescues over the weekend and 21 on a single day is indicative of a lot more people on the river than one would expect from the few accesses available to diy.

And while the river was below the official "Flood" stage it was carrying about 6-7,000 CFS when the median for this week is about 646 CFS

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, tjm said:

SIO3, we don't know that they were, but 23 rescues over the weekend and 21 on a single day is indicative of a lot more people on the river than one would expect from the few accesses available to diy.

And while the river was below the official "Flood" stage it was carrying about 6-7,000 CFS when the median for this week is about 646 CFS

Okay.  I saw a group last year of at least 25 kids putting in on the Meramec do it yourself.  They all had car carrier racks for the kayaks and rafts.  Of course this was very near the STL metro area.   They didn't clear the ramp in a timely fashion either.  Most were putting on sunscreen when I finally asked of they could move aside so I could take my boat out.

[ollie]

Snagged, I would almost bet most of them were put in by outfitters. You are right though, I can't say for sure, but tjm knows what I am talking about! I actually talked with someone who floated it on Sunday the day after and he said it was a real somber mood for most people out there. He is very experienced though and said his group didn't have any problems. The trickiest stretch he said was after Indian enters the creek and under the train trestle. He did say the water was moving and he knew a lot of people shouldn't have been on there as well. I won't float Elk unless the CFS is under 1000. Have been on it too many times to know better.

[tjm]

 These outfitters don't encourage DIY either of four that  I checked one didn't offer shuttle and two charged the same for shuttle as for rental. I can only think of three places to put in that you wouldn't have to pay. Water had dropped a lot by Sunday, I was flood trapped at home Sat. but got out Sun.