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Most
people are aware of the 3 fatalities which occurred in the area
of Dimple Rock Rapid last summer. Having been directly involved
in the rescue efforts of all 3, we believe that only 1 of the drownings
was actually because of Dimple Rock. It is suspected that major
pre-existing health conditions played a significant role with the
other 2. However, as a result of these tragedies, a considerable
amount of time & effort has been focused on studying the situation
and looking for ways to minimize risk.
Given
the recommendations below, it is still important to remember that
there are inherent risks to whitewater rafting. Due to the nature
of the sport, it is impossible to eliminate all risks & dangers
and it is imperative that our customers and
any other paddlers on the Youghiogheny are fully aware of this.
While a lot of attention has been directed towards Dimple Rock Rapid
after last summer, it is not the only known hazard. Previous injuries
and deaths have occurred elsewhere on the river. Rafting any river
is not an amusement park ride, it is impossible for every movement
to be dictated or every scenario prevented. We know of numerous
hazards like Dimple Rock which have already been the scene for accidents
and certainly there are others which have yet to cause incident.
Dimple
Rock
The months following the drownings last season were spent debating
possible solutions. There were advocates for blowing up Dimple Rock
and others for not doing anything. In order to identify alternatives,
Ohiopyle Park Manager Doug Hoehn created a Safety Focus group. The
group consisted of park managers, outfitters & paddlers. Also
invited to the group were personnel from the National Park Service,
the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the PA Fish & Boat Commission and
DCNR management from Harrisburg. Numerous scenarios were discussed
including the following which are the most frequently asked questions:
Is Dimple Rock going to be blown up?
No.
This initial reaction was much discussed by the media. Explosives
have been used on other rivers for similar circumstances, successfully
eliminated known hazards, but creating new ones. Due to these experiences,
this was not an option for Dimple Rock. The pillow of water which
currently forms against the rock usually pushes people away from
it if they come against it. Without this, people could be carried
toward a number of large undercut rocks on river left which would
pose new hazards and serious dangers.
As
safety expert Charlie Walbridge says, "I believe that most
people who flip above the rock stay in the pillow and are washed
to the right and safety."
Additionally,
blowing up the rock is contrary to the preservation of Ohiopyle
State Park.
Will the rock be filled in? This
is under consideration.
Concerns
exist around changing a known hazard and thus possibly creating
new hazards. A feasibility analysis will be conducted and if it
is decided that the rock should be filled in, the time frame will
be dictated by water levels..
Such
river modifications have been tried at other rivers and are not
entirely successful.
The
safety Focus Group came up with the following solutions:
1.
Improved boater education: The following
steps have been taken for this measure:
• Enhanced information regarding the river and potential hazards
will be made available.
• The state park orientation video has been modified to more
graphically depict the hazards of the Youghiogheny and the dangers
of whitewater rafting.
• The State Park will produce a map & handouts of the river
available to private rafters at the launch area.
•
There will be signs warning of the danger of Dimple Rock at the
rapid.
•
Installation of additional safety
equipment along the river.
2. Create a Portage Route:
A portage route has been
created along river right. People will be aware of the portage.
All commercial rafters will be given the option to portage the rapid
or raft it.
The risk
of whitewater rafting has not changed despite all the attention
given to this situation. Similar to other outdoor sports, such as
skiing, mountain biking etc.., it must be approached with the proper
knowledge, safety and precautions - but still enjoyed. 2 Million
people have boated the Youghiogheny on Commercially guided whitewater
rafting trips & yet there have only been 5 drownings on these
commercially run trips.
The most dangerous part of your day rafting will be getting in your
car to drive to the river. The U.S. Department of Transportation's
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that
someone is injured in a traffic crash every 14 seconds on the nation's
roads and highways and an automobile fatality occurs every 12 minutes.
Over forty-four thousand (44,000) Americans lose their lives in
transportation-related incidents and another 3.4 million are injured.
Be safe
when paddling any river, but equally as important, remember to have
fun! We hope to see you on the river.
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