Tag Archives: rafting

Southern Sierras: Sierra Rescue Expands presence

Sierra Rescue now has a stronger presence in the Southern Sierras. Sierra Rescue’s Zach Byars recently moved from Northern California and now is based in Ventura, California. This move has opened the door for more rescue trainings on southern sierra rivers such as the Kern and the Kawhea. Combined with the fact that both of those drainages hold running water this year, the southern training grounds are prime. Los angeles based Uber adventures has sent numerous participants to the Kern for whitewater rescue training this spring where participants hone techniques for descending Whitewater Class-C canyons. In addition to canyoneers and other outdoor enthusiasts, Southern California rescue agencies are sending personnel to the Kern for training that is a little closer to home.

The Kern provides an excellent and diverse training location with more than 60 miles of accessible terrain. Whitewater rapids ranging from class 2 through class 5+ affords the right challenge for any adventure seeker. The diverse nature of the river corridor is perfect for the wide ranges of classes that we teach. Between the upper Kern and Lower Kern is the town of Kernville, which serves a jumping off point, and base camp for all sorts of outdoor recreation. We are pleased to maintain a more consistent presence the southern sierras and strive to provide the best possible training courses for our students. Find a class and come train!

souther sierras swiftwater rescue- Kern River

Southern Sierras swiftwater rescue- Kern River

Grand Adventure: Riverboarding the Colorado

Riverboarding isn’t all hard work…

Our riverboard trip this year was a combination of past participants, friends, and parts of one of the oldest river running families running in Grand Canyon, the Smiths’. Michael Bronstein Smith grew up as part of a river family, and swamped occasionally for his cousin, Latimer. Mike motivated the friends he played water polo with in College, a few of their friends, and his Mom and Dad to join the trip.

The fitness level of all the participants made it possible to have an active, fun, adventure filled trip. We did long hikes almost every day, and ran all the big lines that the Canyon has to offer. The incredible thing about riverboarding is the learning curve for folks that are fit, and comfortable in the water. Learning to read little features in the river, identify obstacles, and run really big waves comes quickly and easily to folks with a commitment. By the time we ran the gorge, making it to the “duck pond” at Hance, hitting the waves in Sockdolager, and choosing lines through Horn Creek and Crystal were done by individuals on their own. With the amazing professionalism of Harlan Taney as the safety kayaker, Abigail and I were able to keep folks on line and in the fun water. With a little direction, everyone was able to stay on line in Lava Falls, and have a great time.

The most amazing part about riverboarding is the ability to truly feel the river is such an intimate way. There is no rubber or plastic separating you from feeling the swirl of the eddies and the action of the waves. In my opinion, it not only creates a more intimate way to share the river, but also a deeper bond with the other folks in the water.

It is still such a unique experience that so few people have had the opportunity to try. It has the aura of a “radical” or “extreme” sport; but it is truly most suited for big Class 3-4 rivers like the Colorado. As a Swiftwater Rescue Instructor for the past 25 years, I also truly believe that for a fit person, it is one of, if not the, safest ways to enjoy the river. The riverboards have 160 pounds of flotation, and there is no gear! Only you, your friends, and the river. With a full wetsuit, helmet and PFD, the protection is complete.

Riverboarding Lava Falls

As with any Grand Canyon trip, the stories and friendships will last for a lifetime. Thank you fellow riverboarders for being adventurous enough to take the plunge in a unique and wonderful way!

Swiftwater Hazards: Strainer Face

Strainer Face: Up Close and Personal

This past spring our strainer swim self-rescue drill (aptly named ‘Strainer Face’) became a prominent feature in our social media and photo posting. For those of you that have been on the upstream side of the log in the training you can speak from experience. For those of you that haven’t, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” #strainerface gets lots of hype and from a teaching standpoint, is a great way to demonstrate the power of water and the extreme danger strainers present to the unsuspecting swimmer. Avoid anything that acts like a strainer at all costs, and know where the potential strainers locations are on the rivers you run. Here are some standout Strainer Face photos. We have several more albums up on our facebook page and you can come participate in the strainer drill by taking one of our many swiftwater rescue courses. We’d love to see you out there. -ZB 7/2014

We hope you enjoyed the above Strainer Face photos. Strainer Face strives to capture the impact moment of the swimmer and the log and the expression that accompanies that precise moment. Strainer Face is typically captured during the first phase of the strainer drill where students float into the strainer in a feet-first defensive position letting their legs sweep under the strainer. From there they attempt to get up and over the strainer. This segment usually provides exceptional photos of anguish and grimace while the student gives all he or she has to try and defeat the strainer. It truly is and eye-oppening experience. See you on the water!

To Scout or Not to Scout: How to Make the Call

When the discussion of a rapid scout comes up, Students in our courses frequently ask for clarification, hoping to better understand the judgement behind the call to stop and scout, or to run an upcoming rapid. The question usually goes like, “How do you know when to scout and when not to? Its not like you can scout EVERYTHING you run every time…”

While scouting every rapid every time is an impossibility, experienced paddlers will regularly stop and scout some rapids, while just jumping into others. The decision is not always an easy one, but here are five thought paths to consider when making the call to stop and scout or to go for it:

1) When was the last time you were down the run? Do you know the rapids? How do they compare to your skill level and the skills of the other paddlers you are with? Can you self-rescue or help others in case of emergency?

2) Is there any reason to believe things may have changed since the last time you were down? Has there been high water, low water or any recent changes you know of? Is there potential for wood, debris or other river hazards to have accumulated in a particular “hazard” spot?

3) Do you know of others who have been running the river recently? Have those boaters reported changes or new hazards? Did they have “clean” runs? Or did they report new hazards or unexpected challenges?

4) Can you see the rapid from top to bottom and visualize a clear line or is the view obstructed and you cannot see past the first move? Can you see an eddy partway down where you can visually inspect further downstream? Does that eddy have “an out” if you determine from there that the rest of the rapid is too big/ dangerous/ full of hazards/ a portage?

5) Is this a river or rapid that has a known hazard spot or tendency to change with different flows/ levels? Are you prepared to manage those hazards in case of the unexpected? How well do you know the river or rapids at the level you are running it on that day?

Bottom line: When in doubt, it is best to get out and scout! It is always better to scout and wish you had not, than to be in the middle of a rapid wishing you had scouted. Happy padding and play safe from Sierra Rescue!!

Swimming in Whitewater: What Suzie the Swim Coach Forgot to Mention

As whitewater boaters, our goal should always be to stay on line, and keep ourselves, and everyone else IN their boat(s). A swim can be much more strenuous and dangerous than we expect, and can not only lead to exhaustion and hypothermia, but also puts us right on top of all the hidden obstacles just under the water. It should always be our priority to avoid unplanned swims.

Unfortunately, we are not perfect, and often times the little bump on the rock, losing a paddle, or a big wave sends us on an unplanned swim into whitewater. When this happens, our strategy, and that of our companions, becomes critical, and can mean the difference between a pleasant, or very unpleasant, rest of the day. Having a strategy is critical. Here are some tips to keep in mind when Swimming in Whitewater.

Know before you swim: Have a picture in your mind of the rapid, and where things may go wrong so you will have a strategy. Rafters are generally better off on top of, or in their boats. Have a plan. If you can’t swim out, don’t run the rapid unless you KNOW you will stay in the boat.

Ball up: When you are falling from an IK, raft or Cat boat; or going over a drop, Keep your feet close into your body, so you will not be tempted to push off the bottom, and thus minimize the chance to entrap one of your limbs.

Get out of the water as fast as you can: It is hard to see, and easier to get snagged on underwater obstacles.

When swimming: Conserve energy and use strategy, do not allow yourself to get more winded. Basic mind set: Swim smarter not harder.

-The leg muscles use lots of oxygen! Consider only using your arms for movement.

-Look where you are going, and pay attention to your angle.

-At higher water flows, you will need to swim more aggressively to get across eddy lines. This is where a technique like the “barrel roll” can keep you on the surface and keep your momentum going.

Rescue:

Be prepared – For self rescue, but this is the time where everyone needs to be ready to react. Being in the right place with the right skills may be the only thing that assists someone out of the water.

Choose Wisely – Boat with folks that will know you are in the water, and are doing everything they can to safely assist you, and others, in getting out of the water.

River Safety Essentials from Tren Long

One of the most common questions I get, as a rescue instructor is: “What should I take with me on the water?”

This can be a very difficult question to answer on paper because I like my students to learn through the course of our weekend exactly what they need, but there are some fundamentals that should be covered.

Throw Bag – a good rule of thumb is one throw bag per boat. The type of boat you paddle often dictates what size rope you use in your throw bag; rafts carrying the larger diameter rope in longer lengths and kayakers carrying shorter thinner line to save space. What is important to note about your throw bag is if you plan to use it as a haul line for mechanical advantage your brake prussic must be 2/3 or less the diameter of your haul line.

Haul line – If a boat gets wrapped you need a line to encourage the movement needed to get it off the rock. This becomes very boat specific as kayaks can often use much smaller diameter rope as there is less water pressure on the smaller rigid hull. Rafts have been pulled off rocks using throw bags but I recommend especially for multiday trips having 150-200 feet of 3/8-inch static line.

Carabiners – These tools make rope attachment a breeze, how many do you need? For kayakers 2 per person is great, for rafters 3-4 per boat. They must be locking carabiners, as unintentional clip-ins can be a very bad thing.

Prusik – To setup an efficient MA system you will need at least 2 prussic. You can loop 2 short prussic and wear them around your waist or easily fit them in your lifejacket. 1-2 sets of prussic per group should be the norm. Most important is that your prussic line is 2/3^rd or less the diameter of your haul line!

Pulleys – Again following in the goal of efficient work the minimum of 1 prussic minding pulleys will make your life and rescue easier. One per person in Kayaks is great and 2 per raft are ideal.

Knife – A good sharp river knife is important not only to cut tomatoes at lunch but could potentially save your life if you are bound in a rope in the water. We do not use our knives to cut people out of pinned kayaks! We do use them as a last resort to cut a rope if absolutely needed.

Webbing – Lastly and most often overlooked is webbing. Depending on your river corridor anchors may be bountiful or hard to find but having enough webbing can overcome many obstacles. I recommend 30ft per person kayakers and 80 feet per raft. You can cut it how you like; I shoot for 15-20 feet per sling.

Is this a lot of gear? It depends on if you need it or not. I can fit an entire wrap kit with a haul line in a container the same size as a 12 pack of beer, so what is more important on that 5 day trip, beers or being able to get your raft off that rock?

This is by no means an exhaustive list of what you need on the water, each group, each river, and each skill set dictates different equipment this is just some general guidelines I have found helpful for rafters and kayakers.

Post by: Tren Long, Instructor

Train Hard. Stay Safe. Kayak Specific River Rescue

Clearly we are proponents of swiftwater rescue, not only because it is our livelihood, but because we believe that a well-trained boaters correspond to safer boaters, and safer boaters are less likely to need rescue. See the cycle? We are avid proponents of prevention. The best rescue is the one that never has to happen. Stay on top of your swiftwater skills, and better than than that, train with the people you paddle with.

At Sierra Rescue we offer custom courses just for you and your boating group. Our River Rescue Certification (RRC) has had great success in the last 5 years and we have taken it a step further to offer the RRC-K; River Rescue Certification – Kayak Specific. In the course we take the basic RRC format and put a kayaker’s spin on it. It involves the same hands on scenario-based training, but emphasizes boat-based rescue and self rescue for a kayaker, advanced pins and entrapments, and rope techniques using the gear in a personal pin kit. Running scenarios with the people who have your back on the water not only helps prepare the group for those “what ifs,” but lets you problem solve with one another and see each others rescue abilities.

Last year we taught numerous RRC-K with great response. Students really seemed to enjoy responding to scenarios from their boats, and and being able use the benefits of a kayak in a rescue. This article, written by CCK instructor Bryant Burkhadt, touches on the progression of swiftwater rescue training and the importance of continued training while discussing the benefits of a kayaker-specific course for boaters.

http://playak.com/news.php?idd=2337568845922

Thanks Bryant, see you on the water.

Post by: Zach Byars, Instructor

10 Tips for a Smooth Grand Canyon Trip

The mother of all multi-day river trips in the United States might be the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Nowhere else can you get huge rapids, beautiful scenery, 20+ days in a remote river environment and amazing side adventures the whole way. It really is amazing, and one of my personal favorite places to be in the entire world!

The author rows a gear boat through massive waves at Hermit Rapids. The waves here have been known to be big enough to flip boats that don’t hit the waves straight on.

That being said, an adventure of this scale has many risks involved. I was lucky to go on my first Colorado River adventure with very experienced guides and people who love and care about the river and having great experiences. Our adventure wasn’t without injuries or difficulty. Our group was separated in a side canyon by a flash flood, one person was injured and required evacuation out of Upper Elves Chasm, one got heat exhaustion while on a hike and we had a few other smaller injuries.

From all of this, I learned some valuable lessons that can be used anywhere in the world on any adventure, but are particularly relevant to rescue and safety in the Grand Canyon:

1) Have a trip leader who has experience in the Grand Canyon. This will make everyones’ trip safer and better all around from their experience and good judgment.

2) If the group splits to do a hike or other activity, make sure each remaining group has a “leader” or a plan for contingencies.

3) Make sure the boats are tied up high and far from the edge of the river, and with multiple points at camp so they cannot float away even if the river went up 10k CFS overnight!

4) “Raft” the boats together at camp by using short straps to rig each one side by side. This creates a solid platform to load/ unload and minimizes injuries at camp on rafts.

A flash flood splits a group that was hiking Shinamu Wash near Bass Camp. You can see victims stranded on the river left wall, as well as rescuers on river right.

5) Always keep the rafts together when on the river. Keep others close by through rapids incase there is a rescue needed. Divide your boats and equipment so things are relatively even weighted through the larger rapids.

6) Rig to flip every day! Even the smaller rapids in the Colorado can pack a big punch with large waves and powerful hydraulics!

7) If its raining, or even a little cloudy in the sky, stay out of the side canyons. Even canyons that are not prone to flash flooding can go up in and instant. On multiple occasions I have seen the devastation of flooding and know how dangerous it can be to be stuck in one.

Trip members work together to evacuate a victim out of Upper Elves Chasm. The rescue took more than two hours and involved moving an incapacitated victim down steep, rocky terrain and under rocky shelves like the one in the photo. A paco pad and rope were essential to this rescue.

8) Bring extra supplies like rope, a climbing harness, and rigging gear. This is very helpful for exploring side canyons, and can be invaluable in a rescue situation.

9) Always take water if you’re going more than 100 feet from the river. The canyon is hot and unforgiving, especially to those who are not well prepared!

10) Small medical needs like cuts, scrapes, bruises and dry skin can become big medical needs if not addressed as soon as they arise. Take time to take care of these things as you go, and have a great trip down the canyon!

Webbing: It’s More Than Just a Flip Line

“If you don’t have what you need, improvise and make do.” River guide ingenuity, (RGI) is a beautiful thing, and has helped many a guide out of a tight spot or two by making do with whatever he or she can find. In the guiding and swiftwater world the “flip line” is one of those utility tools with many uses. Under some circumstances the flip line is good for re-righting boats, (as long as it’s long enough) but beyond that it has numerous ways to assist river guides and the problems they face. Your utility piece of webbing is the the swiftwater multi-tool. Check out these 30 things you can do with your utility piece of webbing other than flip rafts. Can you think of more?

1. re-right a flipped raft

2. use it like a throw rope, help someone to shore

3. clip to a tension diagonal and ride across (upstream arm, opposite the direction of travel)

4. drag your kayak to put-in (wear out plastic not your back)

5. make a quick anchor (3-bight or girth hitch)

6. make a NFPA anchor (wrap 3 pull 2)

7. create an improvised harness (swiss seat or other)

8. build a multi-point anchor on a raft or kayak

9. quick girth hitch of a thwart for a bomber anchor

10. tie a klemheist to attach to another rope

11. extend your reach from shore: attach one end to something / someone and hold the other

end while out in current

12. aid in climbing back in a boat

13. pre rig a bow to stern flip line on the bottom of a raft

14. improvise a kayak tow tether in a pinch

15. extract someone’s entrapped foot

16. be the human sea anchor to move a pinned boat: clip to a D-ring and jump in

17. create internal MA via the vector pull to taco a pinned boat (change shape so it comes free)

18. in-boat directional pull for pinned raft (clip to a D-ring and pull)

19. add a bow line to a boat

20. use the interlocking double clove hitch to secure someone or something

21. have fun around camp: jump rope, tug-o war, blazo, slack-line

22. hanging line for drying gear

23. hammock anchor

24. bear hoist

25. dish line

26. line for tarp / shelter

27. a belt

28. splinting material

29. improvised litter for patient carry-out

30. attach gear to a tension diagonal and zip it across

Just so we’re all on the same page, the swiftwater multi-tool mentioned above, formerly known as a “flip line” is nothing more than a length of webbing between 15 ft and 30 ft tied together with a water knot and connected with a locking or auto lock carabiner. The water knot can be untied to double your working length.

I typically wear my webbing loop around my waist tucked up and under my drysuit sprayskirt tunnel. Start with the webbing loop in front of you, wrap it in opposite directions around your waist until the two ends (bights) come to meet in the front. Clip your carabiner to attach the two ends. Be sure to keep it tight so it doesn’t hang loose or become an entrapment hazard. Adjust the water knot so the ‘belt’ fits snug. And there you have it, river guide’s multi-tool. What else can you do with it?

Post by: Zach Byars, Instructor

River Knives: On the Cutting Edge

So here’s the deal with river knives . You need one. We’ll discuss what kind and how to wear it later. Inevitably at some point in your career in and around swiftwater you will need to use your river knife. I don’t mean to cut fruit at lunch or spread pb on sandwich. I mean need your knife. Rope entrapment and under-the-raft pins are two of the more severe scenarios in which I have seen the quick and efficient use of a river knife save lives.

In our newly developed RRC-professional curriculum, one of the new ‘skills’ adapted from the Kiwi rescue realm centers on getting to and using a knife to self rescue under stressful conditions. The drill involves putting your foot in a loop of rope, and lowering into the current. Once “entrapped,’ you have to reach your knife and cut your foot free. Don’t worry we wont have you cut yourself free of a raft floor, but as extreme as it sounds, doing exactly that should be considered as an option if someone is heads down under a pinned / wrapped raft. Remember it’s all about airway airway airway.

River knives, like a lot of gear we chose to use or wear in swiftwater comes down to personal preference. You should choose a knife that:

1) Stays attached and secure when you don’t need it. Remember this is 90+% of the time. Nothing worse than needing your knife only to realize that it fell off…

2) Doesn’t get in your way. We coil and stuff throwbags over the shoulder, and countless times I’ve seen rope get stuck around a knife handle. How about raft self-rescue with an exterior front-mounted upward facing fixed blade river knife? It will either pop off ($40 down the drink) or make your already challenging climb back in your boat much harder.

3) Has a tether? This one I can see this one both ways. If you’re really using your knife you don’t want to drop it, but you certainly want to make sure that your ‘tether’ doesn’t become an entrapment.

Over the years I’ve had varied success with several brands of river knife. Its less about the knife itself and more about where you put it. I like an exterior mounted knife because I know where it i and it is quick to access. I have also gone to adding an additional folding lock-blade knife in the front pocket of my pfd with lightweight tether. Taking steps to secure your exterior mounted knife makes a big difference. I’ve seen velcro modifications, rubber bands, and tape used to keep the knives in place when you don’t want them out.

Keep in mind that you’re knife is a life-saving tool and needs to reserved for that use. Of course it can serve other purposes, but have one, and know where it is, because you never know when you’ll need it most.

Post by: Zach Byars, Instructor

Strainer Face: Up Close and Personal

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