Bout' lost my life yesterday

[kayapelli]

My friends and I have each saved each others lives several times as part of exploratory creeking and that is part of the bond that makes boaters so close. I would dump your asshole "friends" if your story is true.

[gapers]

Whaaaa,i took a long swim,whaaaaa.

Welcome to Kayakin. Cowboy up.

[cma]

Rapids on the Gunnison? Maybe a wavetrain or two that are about 20-30 yards long at the most and maybe the dam at high water but I have seen canoes go over the dam with no problem at all. Maybe there really wasn't a rescue needed?

[KSC]

This does seem like an extreme reaction. Doesn't sound like you were boating with the right people. Only boat with people you trust, take it slow, and if you swim get out of the river ASAP. I think those are the lessons. Ultimately the responsibility for your safety rests with yourself though.

[Ture]

Originally Posted by gapers

Whaaaa,i took a long swim,whaaaaa.

Welcome to Kayakin. Cowboy up.

Agreed. I thought it was a joke at first. Swimming class III while screaming "I don't want to die" and blowing a whistle all the while? I'd look the other way too. Jesus Christ. This is nothing like a near death experience. Maybe scared to death.

My advice would be to get out of the water and stay out. If you panic that badly in a mellow "situation" then I'd say you failed the test. Nobody is going to want to be in a foxhole next to you when it really hits the fan. The rafters should have knocked you out with a paddle and THEN pulled you in so that you wouldn't climb on top of someone's head and drown them.

[DurangoSteve]

The temptation to belittle a hysterical person for their hysteria is sometimes hard to resist. Resist the temptation!

[erdvm1]

Can Admin please change the title of this post and move it to the eddy???

[gh]

It is about boating and as a rule we dont change titles due to censorship complaints in the past.

I would say that calling people out on the internet rarely accomplishes what you want and also that dog piling on this person wont help either but thats just my opinion.

[basil]

Well, she did ask for feedback.

Yes, shit happens on the river.

To me, it sounds like the swim was very uncomfortable, but not life threatening. If you can blow a whistle and yell, you've got lots of energy and wind left.

What probably made the swim really agonizing is having that damn rafter nearby not helping. Sounds like he was getting back at you for something, but that sure wasn't the way to do it.

[De la Boot]

I can't believe I am responding but I can't help it.

Ok, I think I know why you are getting so much flack here. Your perception of the whole ordeal seems to stem from the premis that Griff shoudl have rescued you. I think most of the readers here intuitively disagree with that.

Here is how it should have happened, you come out of kayak, then you swim to shore as Griff rows over to meet you at the shore to make sure all is good. He hangs out while you empty your boat and climb back in and you peel out and he peels out and then you all move on.