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Cataract Canyon Fires

2K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  Randaddy 
#1 ·
Recently a young group of rafters and kayakers ran Cataract Cn and left a wake of destruction from two separate fires. Mile 33 on river right burned nearly 10 acres and Spanish Bottom was completely torched. Both fires could have been avoided. Large quantities of alcohol were part of the mile 33 scenario and selfish behavior ("I'm still going to burn my toilet paper, I'll just be more careful next time.") started the Spanish Bottom fire.

Questions:
When does alcohol need to be sidelined on a trip?
How do you get the message to your buddies to put the bottle down and look at the bigger picture?

We have all or at least many of us have enjoyed the beauty that an extended river trip creates with a drink or two. This time the carnage was extreme and the longterm consequences are serious. Whether the tamirisks needed a good burn or not it wasn't our place to initiate.

We're lucky that no one was seriously injured.

Strider
 
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