Sequoia May 08
Report filled out by: Ryan Clark Trip start date: 5/2/2008 start time: Late Trip end date: 5/4/2008 end time 11:00am Total days on river: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Group name: Sequoia High School Group leader: Mike Kuliga Group address/phone/email: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Fit to target population: excellent Group camaraderie: excellent Group behavior: excellent Group's staff performance: excellent Food: excellent ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Trip leader(s): Mel Mac Innis ATL(s): Ryan Clark Medic: Mel Rescue: Delton, Mel Guide name: Delton Johnson did 1 days. Guide name: Chicken Nesmith did 1 days. Guide name: Ryan Clark did 1 days. Guide name: Mel Mac Innis did 1 days. Guide name: Judy Ho did 1 days. Guide name: Jim Brennan did 1 days. Guide name: Pablo Steinau did 1 days. Guide name: Anja Huq did 1 days. Guide name: Jen Lies did 1 days. Guide name: Haya Naser did 1 days. Guide name: Anthony Scott did 1 days. Guide name: did days. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Insurance statistics: ICOers over 18: 11 ICOers under 18: 0 Participants over 18: 7 Participants under 18: 20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ethnicity statistics: ICO African-American: 1 Asian or Asian-American: 1 American Indian: Latino: White: 7 Other: 2 Participants African-American: 3 Asian or Asian-American: American Indian: Latino: 16 White: 6 Other: 2 Special population statistics: ICO Deaf: 1 Other: Participants Deaf: Other: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Was scholarship money used? no Amount: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Rivers and conditions: On Saturday the flow was 2100 which was ideal. We did Red Bud to Suspension Bridge and took 7 boats. Hazards: Weather: On the flow was which was ideal. We did and took boats. Hazards: Weather: On the flow was which was ideal. We did and took boats. Hazards: Weather: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Comments: The first challenge of the trip was that one of the cars (with three volunteers) from the carpool was missing. We were expecting them to arrive Friday evening and camp, yet they still had not arrived by Saturday morning. After waiting long enough for us to worry, the missing car showed up with everyone safe and sound. Rangers David and George greeted us at camp Saturday AM. They gave us a list of items we needed to have on our river trip and warned us they'd be at put-in checking us. They were really helpful and accommodating to ensure we had all the required items. For future reference: Trip Max is 25 participants, 6 guides, and 6 boats. In addition to the usual, we need to carry a day toilet (or something to carry solid human waste), TWO med kits (in separate boats), a spare PFD, a spare paddle for every boat, and a repair kit. The next excitement the day brought us was a flat tire, which was more of an intense inconvenience than a safety concern. We put-in at Red Bud, with the intention of running all the way to Briceburg Bridge, which is already a long day. Due to a late start waiting for missing cars, flat tires, and a crowded put-in, we got to a late start and decided to have lunch at put-in. There were several spills (some rather minor) above Nightmare Island, at Chipped Tooth, and at Hotel Hole. In each case recovery was quick and effective. None of these events resulted in injuries. A Six Pack Rapid the third and fifth paddle boats collided with a rock (the same rock) in the middle of the rapid and many paddlers fell out and swam the rapid. The recovery was not as swift as in the previous rapids, but everyone was rescued shortly downstream. However, one of the swimmers sustained a serious ankle injury while swimming the rapid. The group gathered above the next rapid to provide first aid and to plan how to address the situation. The First Aid Coordinator immobilized the injured participant's ankle. Then the injured participant, along with one of the group leaders, were ferried to the other side of the river and evacuated out by the nearby road. Meanwhile, the remaining participants portaged the next rapid (Ned's Gulch) while the ICO guides took the boats down the rapid. Two boats were floated unmanned, and collected below the rapid. The BLM River Rangers gave us special permission to take out at Suspension Bridge, which substantially shortened the trip, which was greatly helpful, since it was already 5:00pm when we arrived at Suspension Bridge, and floating to the intended take out location would have taken at least 2-3 hours. Once we got back to camp, a group leader took the injured participant to the Hospital in nearby Mariposa. The diagnosis was that a surgically implanted, temporary pin (placed due to a previous ankle injury) had been cracked. Her leg was splinted and she was released. A full incident report will be filed with the Sierra Club. The rest of the day went without incident. We agreed that we would not take the participants rafting the next day (Sunday). We had a Closing Circle at about 11:00am on Sunday. Afterwards, the group leaders took their kids to nearby Yosemite. Notes: * There was no mention on the medical form about the previous surgery and the student did not tell her group leaders about it either. * The participant took her foot splint off of her leg a week after her surgery and never saw a doctor post-surgery. * The group leaders are working with the parent to ensure the student receives appropriate and timely medical care. * The medical form says the trip destination was the South Fork, the group leaders knew we were going to the Merced river.