Wynoochee Accident--Drift Boat

Wynoochee Update:

Thursday, 9:45 am

1. Just got off phone with sheriff's department.

2. Driftboat accident, Wednesday....

3. Water intake---as it was explained to me, they tried to row over.

4. 1 person still missing, 1 person make it OK

5. Experience boaters, is what I was told.

6. Asked if I would tell other boaters "to stay left, or rope the boat across".

Will post more if I hear more......leaving now for the river...

Is the water intake the structure above Black Creek?

Yes, it is.

It's always tough to hear of a drowning; especially such a young person. Condolences to the family.

3 things to remember when driftboating over large drop 'reversal' waves - the first two are well known and simple enough. 1 - Wear a float coat or
lifevest. 2 - Keep the boat as straight as possible; which often requires a strong double oar pivot in the opposite direction the hydraulics are trying to turn you. The third one isn't as well known. 3 - Speed up your boat substantially by pushing hard before and just as you enter a strong hydraulic reversal wave. The extra momentum gives you a much better chance at busting thru and over the backwave. Those that enter slow and cautious more often get stuck and/or turned sideways; and that's when the boat can broach and roll over. ... If you aren't experienced in strong hydraulics then rope your boat thru until you learn by watching guides experienced at running these types of water. Be respective out there.

RT

At the flows that we had on wednesday somewhere around 1800 cfs the water going over the concrete is just a little bump maybe a 1' drop, can't see it flipping a boat no matter what angle you hit it at. Now if you hug the right side and go between the two walls your toast. Wonder if that is what happened. Could be they ignored the sign strung across the river that says boaters keep left??