North Cascades River Expeditions

Story Time: Page 6 of 6

I quickly regained the oars. "Hurricane" was going down, down, down. I was becoming exhausted, but the river would not let up. My throat was parched. The sun flashed on my wedding ring. I wondered whether I would ever see my beautiful wife again.

After what seemed an eternity, but could not have been more than 45 minutes, we saw Jerry and Brad successfully pull to shore on the left. I stupidly refused Jerry's offer of a throw line and we sailed past. In a flash we were swept into another class 5. I tried my best to miss an enormous hydraulic but failed. Jack and I high-sided. "Hurricane" shuddered, went on its side and landed right side up. An eddy appeared on the right and somehow we managed to make it. Soon, the other boats joined us.

We were aglow. "I almost flipped" . . . "This is great" . . . "I love this boat" . . . "Wow, what a place."

We rested for 20 minutes before continuing. We couldn't have known, but we had traversed Lava Canyon's worst rapids. We did encounter one more class 5, but then the river began to simmer down. Before long, we passed the last canyon walls, and the river broadened.

We toasted our achievement at the take-out. Our joy was exceeded only by our egos.

Our moment of glory was brief. While Brad and I were shuttling, two 18-foot Sotar self-bailers landed at the take-out. 20 commercial clients, clad only in shorts, with no helmets, some well over 50 years old, had just duplicated our feat! The professional oarsmen had rowed 10 people plus themselves down Lava Canyon! It was all in a day's work.

We learned that the company had been running Lava Canyon commercially since 1975. They had had no problems. No client had so much as fallen out of a raft. Their safety record was impeccable.

48 hours later, their luck ran out. A Sotar with 11 clients washed against a boulder (was it that same rock that Jack and I had kissed?), dumping all but one person into the White Mile. 5 of the 11 lost their lives. Four days later, a West German rafter became the Chilko's 6th fatality in the week that included our run.

And what did we conclude about the Wrights? They had certainly not exaggerated. Although their account led us to believe we had come upon the big rapids before we had actually done so, they had served us well. Thank you, Richard and Rochell Wright for showing us the way.

And may I make this humble suggestion: before your enter any rapid the Wrights have called a class 4, make sure your life jacket is snug.

The End

North Cascades River Expeditions
PO Box 116
Arlington, Wa 98223
360-435-9548 fax 360-435-0796
Toll Free: 1-800-634-8433
email: rafting@cftinet.com

Story Time: Page 6 of 6

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