Tag Archives: whitewater

Swiftwater Rescue in Redwood National Park

As instructors of swiftwater rescue, we have the opportunity to train in some amazing environments with some very talented groups of people. From military special forces to recreational boaters, swiftwater rescue is applicable to a diverse cross section of the population. The National Park Service continues to be one of our favorite groups to work with. We have taught swiftwater rescue and whitewater rescue with the National Park Service in locations such as Grand Canyon, Grad Teton, Yosemite, Big Bend, Lassen, and Olympic national parks. Recently we had a training on the Smith River with Park Rangers in Redwood National Park. In the northern California park, some rangers lead scenic floats through the redwood groves, while others respond to distress calls on the river. Several Rivers crisscross through the park and they attract lots of attention from park visitors.

photo courtesy of Del Norte Triplicate / Bryan Anderson

The Del Norte Triplicate sent reporters to attend parts of course. After training and practice with some rescue techniques, instructors challenged the rangers with realistic water rescue scenarios. It’s always a learning experience says Sierra Rescue instructor Zach Byars, “even when the rescue goes wrong, there’s a lot to be learned. Thats why its called training.” The students made good progress throughout the course and left better prepared for water incidents that may happen in the future.

For more information on the Smith River training visit http://www.triplicate.com/News/Local-News/Learning-the-Ropes-Swift-water-rescue-training to read the full write-up.

swiftwater entry by Sierra Rescue instructor Zach Byars with Redwood National Park river rescue training

photo courtesy of Del Norte Triplicate / Bryan Anderson

Swiftwater Entry: Swim Smarter not Harder

A swiftwater entry doesn’t have to be graceful, it just has to gets the job done. A good swiftwater entry can make or break your swiftwater swim. Part superman, part belly flop, it involves extending yourself into the current and can give you the jump start you need to make your target. In our swiftwater rescue courses we tell students that its much easier to swim through air than it is in current. Though none of us is able to fly, the swiftwater entry maximizes your start, and minimizes the time you have to fight the force of the water. In essence, you hit the ground running, or in this case swimming. Start as low to the water surface as possible and jump out not up, making sure to keep you head up, not down like a dive. The higher above the water level you start the deeper you will drop upon entry, and the less propulsion your jump will provide.

Before any entry into swiftwater ensure proper PPE and set safety downstream. A thorough size-up of the water environment and the potential hazards is critical when considering to put personnel in the water. With practice and training, a good swiftwater entry can give you a leg up in challenging swiftwater swims.

New Instructors: The 2014 Rescue 3 Instructor Course

Group shot from the 2014 instructor course.

Recap of the 2014 Instructor Course

Another successful instructor course complete. This year’s course was located on the lower Stanislaus river in Knights Ferry, CA. Thanks to the fish, flows were bumped up to an impressive 1200 cfs. At that level the training site at Russian rapid really becomes ideal. It provides great locations for shallow water access and entrapments and lower down, facilities swimming and throwbagging.

The highlight is the 200′ tension diagonal through the middle of the rapid. The course involved 5 days of water-focused training to get these instructor candidates up to speed. This is what co-owner Julie Munger had to say about the 7 guys that just completed the instructor course:

2014 instructor course group photo. congrats!

“WOW! What GREAT Instructors! Dave and Jeff from Wet Planet, Bhupi from INDIA!, Chris and Justin from Brea and Fullerton Fire, James from Adventures Unlimited in Colorado, Jeremiah from ZODIAC, Britt from ROW in Northern Idaho. Don Lester and I had the pleasure of joining these amazing guys!”

Britt surfing the boat on tether.

These guys are to be commended; the instructor path is no easy task. The prerequisites are a hefty undertaking themselves and mastery of the skills taught in the SRT, SRT-A, WRT, RRC, and RRC-Pro is not light work. These guys proved their diligence and focus and combined to make an awesome course. Good luck out there gentlemen.

Rescue 3 International Instructor Trainer Meeting

RQ3 group, rescue 3 international, rescue,

the group after the competition.

Another successful Rescue 3 international IT meeting down. A few weeks ago, Rescue 3 instructors from the U.S. and abroad gathered at the Nantahala Outdoor Center for a week of classes, networking, and curriculum development. The folks at the NOC provided a great atmosphere for the meeting. It sure was fun and informative to have all that knowledge gathered in one place. This years conference had a rescue relay competition and team Sierra Rescue blew the competition out of the water. Participants had to move through a challenge course consisting of shallow water crossing, throwbagging, boat flip management, and swimming.

Like the conferences of past years, several instructors made presentations, and awards were given out by Rescue 3. Many participants brought good information and questions to the table. The collaboration of instructors from across the world led to a discussion as to the future of the world of rescue, and how Rescue 3 fits into that future.

Rescue Competition from the 2014 Rescue 3 international conference

Next year the conference will return to Northern California to the home turf of Rescue 3 and the regional training provider Rescue 3 West. Classes will be held up on the South fork of the American river and on Lake Folsom. A variety of courses will be offered ranging from Inland rescue swimmer to Techinical rope rescue. Aside from the courses, the team competitions will be a highlight. At Seirra rescue, we’re hoping to step up the level of competition for the 2015 ‘rescue olympics.’

See ya there!

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!

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.

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!

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

Recap of the 2014 Instructor Course

Sierra Rescue Courses