Paddling deaths increased in 2023

Another recent (and more local to me) paddling fatality:Teton paddling fatality. I've spent a lot of time on Jackson Lake, and it can be formidable, even in a 17' Boston Whaler.

No deaths, but . . .

“They ran the biggest rapid on the river during the highest water in a Walmart raft,” Kevin Kennedy told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.

Or rather, the young Texan and two friends attempted that foolhardy feat Sunday afternoon but their raft flipped, throwing them into the raging waters.

Luckily, they all made it out of the roiling rapids alive. The first two made it to shore almost immediately, but the third out-of-state rafter ended up stranded in a cave along the river.

“When I got to him, he was basically standing there in his underwear and shivering. He was about a 19-year-old saddle bronc rider from West Texas,” Kennedy said.

Glenn MacGrady said:

No deaths, but . . .

“They ran the biggest rapid on the river during the highest water in a Walmart raft,” Kevin Kennedy told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.

Or rather, the young Texan and two friends attempted that foolhardy feat Sunday afternoon but their raft flipped, throwing them into the raging waters.

Luckily, they all made it out of the roiling rapids alive. The first two made it to shore almost immediately, but the third out-of-state rafter ended up stranded in a cave along the river.

“When I got to him, he was basically standing there in his underwear and shivering. He was about a 19-year-old saddle bronc rider from West Texas,” Kennedy said.

Texas Man Rescued After Trying Most Dangerous Rapid In River On…

A Texas man was rescued on Sunday after getting stranded on the Shoshone River. An expert kayaker from Cody, who rescued the man, said the Texan tried to…

cowboystatedaily.com

Click to expand...

They're probably headed to Yellowstone next to pet the bison.

Glenn MacGrady said:

No deaths, but . . .

“They ran the biggest rapid on the river during the highest water in a Walmart raft,” Kevin Kennedy told Cowboy State Daily on Monday.

Or rather, the young Texan and two friends attempted that foolhardy feat Sunday afternoon but their raft flipped, throwing them into the raging waters.

Luckily, they all made it out of the roiling rapids alive. The first two made it to shore almost immediately, but the third out-of-state rafter ended up stranded in a cave along the river.

“When I got to him, he was basically standing there in his underwear and shivering. He was about a 19-year-old saddle bronc rider from West Texas,” Kennedy said.

Texas Man Rescued After Trying Most Dangerous Rapid In River On…

A Texas man was rescued on Sunday after getting stranded on the Shoshone River. An expert kayaker from Cody, who rescued the man, said the Texan tried to…

cowboystatedaily.com

Click to expand...

Note that the article reports about the guy stranded in the watery cave: “He’d had a Walmart life vest on, but apparently he lost that after they were dumped in the river,” Kennedy said.

Whatever kind of vest it was—zipper, buckles, pullover—I suspect he didn't have it secured properly. Some novices paddle with their life jacket zipper open. I reported in the PFD buckle thread that churning in a giant hole completely unzipped my Hi-Float life jacket, and only my DIY waist tie of a Prusik cord attached together by two interlocked carabiners prevented it from being completely ripped off of me.

When I was looking at the stats more regularly, it was alcohol intake that seemed to be responsible for many of the deaths. That and not wearing a life jacket. People being swept into rapids and over falls they had no intention of running.

The reporter stating the lake turned on the paddlers was just silly.

I think people just lose track of where they are, when fishing. I wasn't fishing, but I was day dreaming in the Congaree Swamp when I drifted well into striking distance of a displaying cottonmouth. Life jacket would not have helped there.

There is no doubt that more people are going into places where they do not understand the risks.

Glenn MacGrady said:

Whatever kind of vest it was—zipper, buckles, pullover—I suspect he didn't have it secured properly.

Click to expand...

I am really second-guessing my new Fleet-Farm zipper model. Thanks to all those that keep reinforcing this.

Erica said:

more people are going into places where they do not understand the risks.

Click to expand...

This song comes to mind when it comes to taking risks. The cover art certainly does not blend well with silent sports like canoeing but great tune none the less!

Erica said:

The reporter stating the lake turned on the paddlers was just silly.

Click to expand...

They didn't know the lake was loaded, and it "just went off".
Reporters say the dumbest things.

Paddleboarders are proliferating like crazy around here, and given the usual lack of PFD it surprises me that proportionately more of them don't die. But it shouldn't, I guess. Not much room on them for a beer cooler.

On another site, there is a long discussion of whether or not to wear PFDs. Some people are very determined to "maintain their freedom." I do not paddle with people that don't wear life jackets. I have lost one friendship over it.

I'm very compliant, wearing my PFD almost 100% of the time when in a canoe. Not so much on the paddle board though. I use a leash to connect me to the board and consider the board to be my PFD. I only use the board for times I want to take a swim so that also factors into it.