Another point that should be discussed is what to do when you encounter a fast flowing side channel or another stream that enters the river your drifting on at a 90 degree angle. If the side channel or other stream's current hits you broadside, not only will the current pull that side of the boat down it often times will grab that side's oar and pull it down too. I heard that this happened a few years ago where the Suiattle hits the Sauk and it swamped the boat and killed a guy.

When you see a heavy side current approaching, you need to spin your boat so the new current hits the back or front of your boat, not the side, in other words you need to get your boat parallel to the new current BEFORE you hit it.

This is what freaks people out at the "three fingers" above Sultan on the Sky. You get so busy making sure you miss the first finger that you don't notice how much side flow is coming at you in that first boil and boom it hits you and grabs your oar right out of your hand and all of a sudden your half a$$ highsided.

Beezer