July /August 1996 I lw';?'at Letters ............................................................................................6 Five Ring Quixotism Forum by Elmore Holmes ............................................................................................4 'I But what about Safety Briefs .......................................................................................55 'I The Rodeo Zone Backcountry Idaho 'I Cheat Canyon Race Results 'I Whitewater Festivals by Kayak V River Voices by Andrew Zimet Conservation V How Fish and Wildlife want your money . 13 V Hydro Update ................................................. 14 'I Forest Service reviews Clavey ..................... 14 Safely Taking the Big Ride V Near Miss on the Wautauga ........................ 19 Access on the Clavey V Davey Hearn Acquitted ................................ 17 by Bruce Farrenkopf V Management Plan for Upper Yough........... 18 Humor VThe Battle of the Swine King ........................74 by Ed Ditto A Rubber Duck Goes in Search... by Nathan Lewis Front cover: Scott Shipley, 1995 World Cup Champion, earning a spot on the 1996 USA Olympic Team. Shipley co-designed his boat, a Predator, with Dagger design team Steve Scarborough and Andy Bridge. Photo generously provided by Dagger. Back cover: Adam Clawson, 23, captures a seat on the 1996 USA Olympic C-1 team. Clawson paddled a Zealot C-I, which he co-designed with Dagger's Andy Bridge and Steve Scarborough. Photo by Ed Michael, generously provided by Dagger. Publication Title: American Whitewater Issue Date: JulylAugust 1996 Statement of Frequency: Published bimonthly Authorized Organization's Name and Address: American Whitewater Affiliation P.O. Box 636 NY 12544 Printed on Recycled Paper Margaretville, American Whitewater v July /August 1996 same fashion. Contrast these articles with the article that you personally wrote about the Clarks Fork, which was equally enjoyable to read, but far more safety con- scious in tone, description of dangers, etc. Your editorials regularly espouse good The opinions expressed in the Dear Bob, safety practices, which I am glad to see. I I just received my MarchlApril issue wonder, however, if the Editorial Dis- features and editorials of Ameri- of American Whitewater and greatly en- claimer which is near the beginning of can Whitewater are those of the joyed the "hair" articles, especially since I each issue shouldn't be expanded to in- individual autbrs. They do not grew up and learned to boat in Washing- clude a statement such as: "The articles ton and spent a year in California where I, in this magazine may describe activities too, stared, on many occasions at the which are dangerous and in violation of Cataracts of the Kern. It shows how far accepted safety procedures. The AWA paddling has come since then (1979) to does not endorse or reconimend these ac- think that people are now running those tivities. " rapids. Despite enjoying the articles IPnd my- Regards, self increasingly concerned by the general Doug Gordon message which is being sent by the major- Salt Lake City, Utah ity of articles in the Journal these days: "Yeah, we're on a hair river and we're ig- oug Gordon is a former member of noring all the safety rules which apply to the U.S. Kayaking Team and an ac dficult whitewater, but we're so good and D complished hair boater. He has so damn macho that we're going to get participated in difficult expeditionary away with it. " runs in Mexico, Quebec, and, most re- For example, consider the Ernie's Can- cently, on the Homathko River in British yon article, where two experienced pad- Columbia. I have seen Doug in action on dlers on a Class V river are leading a third extremely difficult and dangerous paddler down who does not know the run. whitewater. (I was portaging and/or set- I) They make almost no attempt to scout, ting safety on the shore.) Believe me, he despite the fact that the river is only two ain't no weenie! miles long and the paddler who is new to I'm glad that Doug took the time to the river could presumably have walked write this thoughtful letter, particularly the entire river before putting on. 2) They since I share many of his concerns re- appear to have limited safety equipment garding safety and the contents of Ameri- with them. In fact, the author apparently can whitewater. does not even own a throw bag and has In defense of the authors and partici- borrowed one - which he has tossed into pants in the Crystal story... the events de- the front of his boat, thereby guaranteeing scribed occurred during the production of that he will not have quick access to it in the Meltdown Madness video; the Colo- an emergency. The only redeeming safety radans scouted the difficult and danger- feature of this article is that the title is at ous run extensively and set extensive KAYAK least accurate; "Tempting Fate" is exactly safety on shore. Admittedly, this wasn't what these folks are doing. emphasized in the article. RIOS HONDURAS The Crystal article continues in the I do not know the specifics of the run Trip Leaders MARY PHIL HAYES DERIEMER Editor: Bob Gedekoh, Box 228, R.D.#4, Elizabeth, Pa. 15037 Emeritus Editor: Chris Koll BEGINNER Art directionlGraphic design/Production: John K. Victor, 396 Church St., Chillicothe, INTERMEDIATE OH 45601 Contributing writers: Pope Barrow, Howard Davidson, Carla Garrison, Joe Greiner, Rich ADVANCED Hoffman, Jonathan Katz, John Weld, Mark White EXPERT Production Assistant: Teresa Augustin Advertising Director: Phyllis Horowitz, Box 636, Margaretville, New York 12455 CUSTOM (914)586 -2355 Safety: Charlie Walbridge CALL FOR DATES Conservation and Access: Rich Bowers, Rich Hoffman, 1430 Fenwick Lane, Silver Spring, MD, 20910 Phone (301) 589-9453 Fax (301) 589-6121, email: 72732.401 @compusewe.com, 76435.73 1 @compusewe.com (800) 255-5784 Missing Copies and Address Changes: Contact Phyllis Horowitz 10281 HIGHWAY 50 American Whitewater is printed by SPENCER WALKER PRESS, INC., Newark OH. All HOWA KD, CO. 81233 rights resewed. American Whitewater v July /August 1996 through Ernie's Canyon, but I suspect that I don't believe this is true at all, and I very judiciously. Experiencing the Clarks these boaters, who are respected north- would love to see more "gentle" submis- Fork was, in every respect, a penultimate western paddlers, made every effort to ad- sions. paddling experience. But when I returned dress safety issues. I have heard that As for the failure of our authors to home the disappointing question that I Ernie's is extreme and dangerous and address safety issues, I think this reflects a heard most often was, "Could you run ev- that there is only so much that can be problematic attitude in the paddling com- erything on the river?" done to make it safe. But Doug is right, munity at large. In many circles it seems When I answered negatively, I was in- there wasn't much about safety in that ar- that expressing concern regarding safety evitably confronted with smirks that sug- ticle. has become decidedly "uncool". There is gested one of two thoughts. "Maybe ym In general, though, Doug Gordon is not just a disregard for river safety among couldn't run everything, but I bet that I raising a valid point. For better or worse these people, there is an open disdain for could." Or, worse yet, "Why would any- American Whitewater seems to have be- it. This seems to be particularly the case one want to paddle a river where you come the "place" to publish accounts of with the younger generation of "would can't run every single rapid?" These wild,"on the edge" whitewater adventures. be" hair boaters and creekers. people just don't have a clue! This certainly makes for thrilling reading, During the past few months I have During the past season I have watched but it does have a down side. heard about and witnessed a number of a lot of inexperienced boaters attempting The majority of whitewater boaters misadventures which suggest that folks to run dangerous class V+ rapids (Big and most of our readers simply do not need to start thinking about safety a Splat on the Big Sandy is a case in point) have the experience or skill to paddle whole lot more. because all their buddies were doing it. It class V+ water. There is nothing wrong I have seen relative novices paddling seems to me that peer pressure, mindless with this; few paddlers have the time, en- remote class V water without basic safety bravado and big volume, blunt nosed ergy and opportunity to pursue the sport equipment. I'm not even talking about plastic boats are poor substitutes for com- to this degree. I certainly don't want to first aid kits, breakdown paddles, mon sense, experience and skill when it imply that I think that the only kind of carabiners and webbing. I'm talking about comes to running class V whitewater! whitewater worth doing is Class V. The floatation and throw bags! When I asked I have also heard disturbing reports of only reason I don't publish more articles them about this I was informed, in no un- whitewater boaters in trouble requesting about class 111 and N whitewater is that I certain terms, that since they didn't plan (demanding?!?) rescue by non boating lo- rarely get any. Many of our readers and to get into trouble, they didn't need ropes cals. I would suggest that if the local vol- potential contributors apparently labor and air bags. Well, when I go out on the unteer firemen know more about river under the false impression that no one river I don't Dlan to get into trouble, ei- rescue than you, that you don't belong on wants to read about class 111 and N rivers.