River Courtesy Tips
By Erik Carlson
A river trip will go much better for everyone if a few common sense guidelines
are followed. For a safe trip there must be at least three boats in your group
and courtesy between you and your buddies as well as all other paddlers on the
river should be encouraged as it can become a lifesaver. Here are some tips to
follow that will help make you a more courteous and safe paddler.
Lead and sweep boats.
Do not pass the designated lead boat, if you absolutely must then Eddy out as
soon as possible and wait. Don't continue on to the next rapid thinking all is
well. The lead may have been looking for the lunch spot but now has to chase you
and miss the best place for lunch, or worse yet you may miss the takeout. The
sweep boat also has a function to preform in keeping the group together, so
don't hold him or her back. As a boat in the middle you too have a
responsibility. If you use the buddy system you need to know at all times where
your buddy is and be near enough to help if needed. Try to keep the boat ahead
of you in sight as well as periodically checking the boat behind you. Be sure
to give operating space to the person you are following, if they get stuck you
probably don't want to go that same way. Let others in your group know if there
is a problem and pass this information along.
Eddys and play spots.
When entering a Eddy try not to ram any other boats that are already there. A
good rule is for the first boaters to stay high and well in the Eddy and for
later arrivals to come in a little more downstream if the Eddy is full of boats.
The boats at the top should be the first out after checking that there are no
boats coming towards the Eddy. Remember that a boat coming downstream should be
allowed the right of way and it can be very painful to get the bow of a boat
stuck in your ribs! When at a surfing wave or play spot a couple of minutes
should be your maximum time and then let someone else play. You can always get
back in line and do it again, don't be a fun hog! For safety's sake no water
fights or horsing around just above a strainer or river hazard, and always be
careful not to hit anyone with your paddle.
Stay aware and ready to help.
If someone is using hand or paddle signals watch them carefully as it is
difficult to hear over the rush of water so verbal directions can be hard to
understand. Those seeing the signal should pass it back to other boats on the
river.
The basic AWA hand signals are:
STOP - Paddle or arms held horizontal to the water
ALL CLEAR or OK TO GO - Paddle or arms held vertical to the water
GO THIS WAY - Paddle or arms pointing in a direction
HELP or EMERGENCY - Paddle or arms waving vertically
or 3 whistle blasts
After running a rapid watch to see if anyone needs your help or if there is
loose equipment floating down and try to retrieve it if this will not endanger
you in the attempt. Be ready to help and rescue any swimmers if needed. Remember
rescue people first and equipment last. If you become a swimmer hang on to your
paddle and boat if possible, This will allow you to get back on the river sooner
and prevent additional problems of missing paddles and the possibility of people
getting into trouble trying to catch up with your lost equipment. If you are a
swimmer you should not try to stand up in the river because of the danger of
foot entrapment. Float with your feet up and downstream of you. Stay with your
boat as it is more visible than you in the water and keep it on the downstream
side of you so you will not get pinned between it and a rock. Under some
circumstances you may have to abandon your equipment, do so as a last resort for
your safety only. Don't forget to say thank you to someone who saves you or your
equipment. All paddlers should also watch members of the group for signs of
fatigue or hypothermia.
Scouting and portaging.
If your group stops to scout a rapid you should stop too. It is a good idea to
keep your PFD and helmet on for protection if you fall and to prevent loss. You
may also want to bring your paddle to use as a walking aid and your throw rope
just in case. There is no shame in portaging, don't allow anyone to talk you
into running a rapid that you are not comfortable with. A friend of mine once
told me that he portages one rapid on every river trip as "a honor to the river
gods" (its a great concept). If you decide to portage let the others in your
group know your intentions. Beware of trespassing as sometimes you may scout and
portage on only one side of the river. When stopping for lunch or a break be
sure to leave the area cleaner than when you arrived and do your thing well away
from the river. If you must smoke, field strip your butts and don't risk a fire
with your ashes, please!
Off the river courtesy is important too.
If you're going to and from the river in someone else's vehicle, offer to pay a
share of the gas and tolls, and don't assume it's all right to eat or smoke in
their car. Treat the shuttle just like a part of the river trip. There should be
a lead and sweep car and all the drivers should have a meeting to share the
directions to where they are going. This meeting is also a good time to decide
who will return back with the drivers or if there are any possible "shuttle
bunnys" who are not going on the river. Know what vehicle(s) will be at the take
out and plan accordingly with anything that needs to be there. Know where your
spare cars keys are and let your buddies know too. There should be no passengers
just along for the ride. As on the river, keep an eye on the car in front and
behind you. If the car behind you is no longer visible, signal ahead by flashing
your lights or using the horn. If you are still wet from the river try to have a
towel to sit on so you don't soak your buddies car seat.
Using these simple common sense tips will help to make your river trip more
enjoyable for you and the others in your group. They might even help you get
invited to go along next time too. Happy paddling!
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Last Updated: 1/31/96
Author: Erik Carlson 