The problem with this particular spot is that it doesn't look like much until you are already committed to it. It looks like any other log jam on the river except for the large spruce jutting out at just the wrong angle. My bro in law and I pulled a kayak out of there in late september and then watched a boat flip in the same spot before we even had the water out of the kayak. Three guys were in the boat and they were able to make it out onto the logs before the boat went under. My bro in law went in after the boat and we managed to get a line on it and pull it to shore. They lost some gear and a few bags, but got their boat, oars, and a few poles. We rowed downriver with them for a while and helped scrounge up some of their gear before continuing on our trip. Only one of the three was even remotely friendly and thankful that we had gone to the effort to save their boat. Not many people would dive into the Hoh for someone else's boat and we certainly thought a handshake and a sincere thanks would have been nice.

Two more boats went in this weekend, one on Friday and one on Saturday. Saturdays victim had rowed the same spot on Friday and done just fine. We went down on Sunday and fished out their boat with help from several other people. The boat was a pretty nice 16' Willie and was in remarkably good condition considering it had sat in the Hoh for over 24 hours. The two men from that boat both ended up in the water under the logjam and one said he was sure he was going to die. He figures he spent at least a minute under water. Both of the people in the boat were competent oarsmen and very decent people. I don't know much about the other boat that went in. Both of my bro in laws went in the water and were able to attach a line to the Willie and get it to shore. The gentlemen from that boat were very thankful and I believe at least one of them was finished with his fishing career.

I guess the moral of the story is walk the boat. Even experienced guides are dropping their passengers upriver before rowing it. It's just a matter of time before someone gets killed there.