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About
the Author:
Dr. Myers grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona. His interest and passion
for the Grand Canyon began in his youth and he has been hiking
and exploring in and around the canyon most of his life. Along
with colleagues Christopher C. Becker, M.T. (A.M.T.) and Lawrence
E. Stevens, Ph.D., Dr. Myers published Fateful
Journey
in 1999. This exhaustively researched and meticulously documented
book tells the story of Grand Canyon river running safety from
Powell’s historic exploration in 1869 through present day.
Dispelling the romantic myth of modern river running as a high-risk
endeavor, Dr. Myers explains how injuries sometimes occur and
offers common sense advice on how to avoid them.
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| .INTRODUCTION |
Aside from its ancient, soaring cliffs and majestic rock formations, modern day voyages on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon bear little resemblance to John Wesley Powell's historic epic journey in 1869.
The boats, the provisions, and even the river have all changed greatly. Indeed, for Powell and his crew, much of the trip was exhausting, miserable, and often terrifying.
Grand Canyon river running was once considered the adventurer’s adventure and only for the daring or foolhardy. It is now considered safe for just about anyone, a fact conclusively demonstrated by the data.
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In contrast, today it is considered awe-inspiring, exciting, and comfortable. And while today's trip is beyond comparison especially with regard to comfort, the transition away from fear to that of diversion is mostly the direct result of tremendous advances in safety.
How dangerous is it? Prior to the late 1930's, an adventurer who dared the mighty Colorado had a nearly 1000-fold higher risk of dying than travelers experience today.
A fact also surprising to most people when they think of whitewater rafting in Grand Canyon is that when compared to other sports, injuries boating in the canyon occur at a rate similar to golf and bowling, and are less than 1/10 as frequent as those of football or basketball.
What's made the difference? Safety is a high priority and has been for decades. In fact, statistics show that safety on river trips in the Grand Canyon has continued to improve over time.
Historically, the single biggest factor insuring safe journeys down the Colorado has been the development and use of lifejackets, also known as personal flotation devices or PFD’s.
Other factors that have also played major roles include improved boat design and refined whitewater navigation techniques, emergency medical training for boatmen, enhanced communication technology, and advanced emergency medical services offered by Grand Canyon National Park utilizing helicopters for evacuations.
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| .SAFETY TIPS |
Taking an active role: Today, even with all the technology and expertise, a river trip through the Grand Canyon is not completely risk free, and all visitors should take an active role in insuring a safe experience for themselves and their family.
To accomplish this there are a few things one needs to understand. First, safety always begins with prevention. And for river trips, an appreciation of the two basic situations where accidents occur – "on-river" and "off-river" – is vital.
Accidents that happen "on-river," occur while traversing downstream, i.e. running a rapid. "Off-river" accidents are those which occur on shore, i.e. in camp or while hiking.
In the Grand Canyon, about sixty percent of injuries happen on shore and forty percent occur on the river. Both locations present a unique set of potential hazards, and both need to be approached differently with regard to injury prevention.
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ON-RIVER ACTIVITIES
The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon presents two major hazards: rapids and cold water. With over 160 rapids, many of which are large and very powerful, there is potential for boating accidents. Indeed, approximately forty percent of injuries that occur with river runners happen on the water while running rapids. This compares to smaller, calmer rivers where nearly all injuries occur on shore.
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Overall on-river injury frequency was 1.02 injuries per thousand (1 in 977) visitors.
Your
Lifejacket:
The
single most important thing to insure one's own safety
in such situations is a well-fitting lifejacket or personal
flotation device.
Wearing a PFD is required on all Grand Canyon river trips
and they must be fastened at all times and adjusted to
a snug fit. Your guide will assist you with the adjustments,
but it is your job to keep it fastened! Remember, it must
be worn at all times while on the water as required by
the National Park Service, your outfitter, and common
sense.
Running
rapids:
Boating
through whitewater offers a uniquely thrilling ride, but
rapids are also very powerful and must be respected. Rapids
can not only toss the boat around, they can toss around
whomever or whatever is inside the boat as well.
Your guides will instruct you as to where to sit on the
boat and how to hold on. You will need good handholds
to avoid getting tossed in or from the boat. Also, avoid
sitting against or too near something hard or unpadded
in the boat and try to avoid sitting too close to or directly
behind another passenger where you could potentially collide.
Good handholds are important, but watch where you place
them to avoid getting pinched or caught between the frame
if it were to bend or flex suddenly. Do not wrap straps
or ropes around your hands or arms to minimize the potential
for entanglement if the boat flips.
These same rules apply to your feet. Avoid wedging your
feet between the floor and the boat’s tube if you're
in a raft.
Falling
off in Rapids or Boat Flips:
If you do fall into the river, there is no need to
panic! Your lifejacket will bring you to the surface.
Swim with your feet pointing downstream, take breaths
in between waves, and turn your head away from an oncoming
wave if it's about to crash over you.
Try to swim to the boat first (it will usually be behind
you after a flip) or to shore if it is closer. If someone
throws you a rescue rope bag, grab the rope and not the
bag!
Above all, remember to remain calm! Boat flips happen
regularly in the Grand Canyon.
The
Colorado River is cold:
Besides
rapids, another hazard of the Colorado River is cold water.
The water that forms the river is released from Glen Canyon
Dam and comes from the bottom of Lake Powell, one of the
largest and deepest lakes in North America. The river’s
temperature, therefore, is only 42 degrees F at Lee's
Ferry. It "warms" to 58 degrees F by Lake Mead
280 miles downstream. Water this temperature can cause
hypothermia during sustained exposure. Hypothermia can
lead to a variety of problems including lack of muscular
coordination. This in turn can increase the risk of drowning.
Additionally, sudden immersion in cold water can lead
to heart attack or lethal heart stoppage in those suffering
with heart disease.
To avoid hypothermia and its potential complications,
do not intentionally swim in the Colorado River in the
Grand Canyon for prolonged periods. Anyone with a known
heart condition (or high risk factors for heart disease),
those over 55, smokers, and those with diabetes or high
blood pressure should consult their doctor before the
trip to seek professional medical advice.
Those with such conditions who do take the trip after
talking to their doctor should immediately make their
guides aware of any known risk factors or medical conditions.
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