Be careful out there

albula

albula

We are all Bozos on this bus
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Sadly there was an accident in a drift boat yesterday on the Bogachiel. Two were killed including a 7 year old and one is still missing. One person survived. No details have been released as of this morning. Things can happen fast even on a river as benign as the Bogie is in most places.
 
albula said:
Sadly there was an accident in a drift boat yesterday on the Bogachiel. Two were killed including a 7 year old and one is still missing. One person survived. No details have been released as of this morning. Things can happen fast even on a river as benign as the Bogie is in most places.
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Bogie isn't THAT benign. It has a few spots that are sneakily dangerous. I remember that rapid, can't remember the name... Icebox? I was fishing at the bottom of it one time and watched a couple different boats come down it ping-ponging off the right bank and coming in backward. It was astonishing how bad some people are at rowing. Then I remember a few other boulder gardens and tight spots in the sections above the hatchery.
 
albula said:
Perhaps it seems easier in a Watermaster.
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Definitely an easier row than a lot of what I've done here in Oregon. The Sol Duc and Calawah, which many list as the more difficult WA rows, are much less sketchy than the upper Sandy (Dodge Park stretch), NF Nehalem, and a few others. I've done the upper Sandy many times. Super fun, but I also know several who have flipped boats in it. NF Nehalem I'm good to not do again. That one legitimately scared me.

Bogie never scared me, but there's definitely spots that can go very wrong very quick if you're not on your game.
 
Very sad.
SF
 
Evan B said:
Definitely an easier row than a lot of what I've done here in Oregon. The Sol Duc and Calawah, which many list as the more difficult WA rows, are much less sketchy than the upper Sandy (Dodge Park stretch), NF Nehalem, and a few others. I've done the upper Sandy many times. Super fun, but I also know several who have flipped boats in it. NF Nehalem I'm good to not do again. That one legitimately scared me.

Bogie never scared me, but there's definitely spots that can go very wrong very quick if you're not on your game.
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I wrecked an oar right out of the Dodge Park launch on my watermaster, managed to get it back to the park by lugging the raft up the island and crossing above that rapid. Did do the float a few months later but I do not love the top part of that stretch at all, if I never did it again I'd be fine.
 
offensivename said:
I wrecked an oar right out of the Dodge Park launch on my watermaster, managed to get it back to the park by lugging the raft up the island and crossing above that rapid. Did do the float a few months later but I do not love the top part of that stretch at all, if I never did it again I'd be fine.
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The entire first couple miles is non-stop puckering. I enjoy it quite a bit as it's a fun row, but not one to take lightly. Never seen another one quite like it where you're literally kicking off the launch and immediately having to set up to thread the needle through a boulder garden (as in feet away, not hundreds of yards away).

(a bit deceiving. the right side is not the way to go)
1761932072625.png

Then lots and lots of this for the coming miles. Arrow here pointing at my friend who went first (to give some scale to the wave size).
1761932178061.png
 
offensivename said:
I wrecked an oar right out of the Dodge Park launch on my watermaster, managed to get it back to the park by lugging the raft up the island and crossing above that rapid. Did do the float a few months later but I do not love the top part of that stretch at all, if I never did it again I'd be fine.
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Almost forgot to address the "wrecking the oar" thing. Happened to friends who were with me twice in this stretch. Neither had spares (and mine weren't compatible).
1761932281202.png

1761932382328.png
 
Pretty sure that first arrow was exactly where my aluminum oar bent in half. No spare. That big standing wave at the pipeline rapid must be terrifying with a broken oar. Now I always have a spare with me.
 
Icebox is the worst on the Hatchery to Wilson run, only because there are deceptive currents and ledge rock well hidden and very near the surface in spots. Not as bad in a raft but can be dangerous in a driftboat.

It's not just that people are bad on the sticks, it's that they're distracted (just like on the highways). Checking their phones, talking, etc. Not paying attention.

Breaks my heart to hear the about the 7yr old that was a casualty. So cool for kids to be taken on fishing trips, not so cool when something like this happens.

Evan, that patch job on the WM oar is stellar. :)

I did that Dodge Park float in my Puma years ago. My buddy didn't warn me it was some serious whitewater, and at the first corner and left turn my pucker factor spiked considerably. There are also a couple mini-drops that will get your attention. We floated all the way past Oxbow to the next takeout and it was dark/cold when we finally got thru the frog water to the takeout. Will never forget that day for a lot of reasons. Have floated whitewater just as technical, but only after a lot of research (or following someone experienced thru it). :D

No mention of those folks were wearing life jackets, but I'll put in a plug for those as well. At least for your kids!
 
Yes, I was just at the Forks hospital talking to the CEO about a fundraiser and she mentioned the accident, noting it happened in Ice Box.

Gave me flashbacks from when I found the deceased angler in the Sol Duc a couple years ago.

Tragic.

Rowing these rivers feels simple until all of a sudden it doesn’t and then it’s too late.
 
2 dead, 1 missing, 1 survived and a missing dog.
Heard none were wearing lifejackets, but that's just what I heard, can't be certain.

Very sad....
 
Evan B said:
The entire first couple miles is non-stop puckering. I enjoy it quite a bit as it's a fun row, but not one to take lightly. Never seen another one quite like it where you're literally kicking off the launch and immediately having to set up to thread the needle through a boulder garden (as in feet away, not hundreds of yards away).

(a bit deceiving. the right side is not the way to go)
View attachment 171626

Then lots and lots of this for the coming miles. Arrow here pointing at my friend who went first (to give some scale to the wave size).
View attachment 171627
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That put-in at Dodge and the run down to pipeline will wake you up. First time in my 14’ Cat I was getting oars set and worrying about passenger, my buddies 20-year old son. The raft went sideways over first or second little wave curl you have marked on your picture and we both were not ready and almost tumbled out. At the water levels that day the upstream side appears harmless but the drop over rock is a couple feet. Then the pipeline wave train grabs you; good stuff. I’m pretty sure that water was quite a bit lower that day.
 
Very sad. Heard about it from a guide yesterday after we got off the Duc. Thought back to the times I took my son fishing out there,…
 
Just read that it was released that the two boaters who did not make it were a local salmon and steelhead guide and his young son. It just gets more tragic. Edit: It can't get any more tragic. It just hits closer to home.
 
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goinoregon said:
not preaching, but most oar craft - u have to have a spare oar, and spare oarlocks . shit happens.
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I always do. Well, I don't currently have an oar craft, but it's something I was in the habit of doing all the years I did.
 
i had an oar get stuck on the downstream side of the driftboat.... and as it elevated as the boat went over it, it pulled the oarlock right out. it seemed to climb up the oar right in front of me, then slid down and into the river.... oar survived, but no spare oarlock back then. had to row the rest of the day with the oar tied in to the side of the boat with anchor line. spare oarlocks from then on :) .
 
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