California and Oregon rivers spilled over their banks, and more than a few paddlers were there for the ride. Portland's Scott Andler recalls making a couple runs down Oregon's lumber-choked coastal streams. And in California, 18-year Bureau of Reclamation veteran Jim Eicher was making one of the more than 300 rafting trips he's made down the Merced River throughout his career. The 25-mile trip took less than an hour and in January the river reached 91,500 cfs, forcing the closure of Yosemite National Park. People may get carried for miles, pummeled by holes, and sucked deep into eddylines and vortexes.
Paddlers sometimes drown despite the use of a life vest.
A strong roll is essential. Even if you had a big life jacket, you'd still be just a speck on the water. Big and Remote Running huge water is dangerous enough when it's out your back door. But throw in the added element of remoteness and the task becomes even more sketchy. Charlie Munsey was messing around at rodeos in the late '80s but now focuses almost entirely on big water in big places.