Rafter dies on Dolores (no PFD)

[mania]

My condolences to the friends and family.

Durango Herald Online

[deepsouthpaddler]

The Denver Post - Body found during search for missing rafter

Saw in the Denver post that a rafter died on the colorado river near palisade this past weekend too. News said no PFD. Really sad.

When the water comes its always exciting and lots of fun.

Its also a sobering reality check when people die. It seems like there are a lot of rafting fatalities in colorado.

[kevintee]

Originally Posted by deepsouthpaddler

Its also a sobering reality check when people die. It seems like there are a lot of rafting fatalities in colorado.

Yes, but you have to wonder what were they on that made them do a class of water that could make them drown without a PFD on.

[Waterwindpowderrock]

no pfd= darwinism
no avy gear/training same deal
you wouldn't feel bad for someone that jumps out of a plane without a parachute...

I spend my life in the backcountry & on the river, I have less & less pity for people that don't take their OWN life seriously enough to be smart about things. I know I'm pretty harsh, but that's how life goes.

[KSC]

I don't know. Obviously no PFD was a huge mistake, but I try not to judge too harshly in these cases. Man I know I've done some stuff that in retrospect I've thought - how could I not have known better? It's obvious to us, but it may not be to some people that don't spend much time around whitewater.

Even just the other day we were scouting some rapid and were surprised how much bigger it felt when we got in, and this is a crew of experienced paddlers.

I think each of these cases is a lesson to be outspoken when you see someone getting on the river unprepared because they may need to hear what you have to say.

My condolences to this person's friends and family.

[iliketohike]

compassion makes life better. Self rightousness lacks full thought. We've all done stupid things, by accident or on purpose. Some people are just more lucky than others. Let's try to learn from other's mistakes without insulting them and the tragedy they and their family are dealing with.

I'm glad you guys know better. Good for you.

[mania]

I would like to commend iliketohike. yes not wearing a PFD is like not wearing a seat belt - but we have all probably done it at one time or another. a life lost is a terrible thing, and possibly more so if it was preventable by something as simple as donning a PFD or seatbelt. it should be a reminder to always 'buckle up' even on those 'easy' stretches of water.

[Waterwindpowderrock]

Myself, I just have a problem with folks not taking things into consideration. I see tons of folks where I spend my winters that haven't a clue of the danger they put themselves in (and myself if I'm below them), but they get lucky when they set off a 100 yard slide & they come back next week still without avy gear. I get sick of folks not taking responsibility for their situation. I know it sounds like I have no compassion, I really do, this stuff just really gets under my skin, we could all be the next one to have a horrible incident, but did we think it through first? was it a CALCULATED risk? I think that more & more folks today hop into risky things without giving the activity the respect that it deserves. I risk my life on a regular basis, but I know exactly what I'm in for if things go wrong & I deal with those consequences.

That said, I really do feel bad for the family & the hard time they're going through.