Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input

Michael Daly wrote:
> contactgvc RemoveThis @gmail.com wrote:
>
> > I knew this was a waste of time...people get so offended and not stop
> > and actually realize what someones intent it.
>
> Maybe we're not infantile enough to think that a river can be "creepy". I've
> been on a lot of rivers, but all of them (once away from industrial or
> residential disasters) are beautiful.
>
> Maybe you can write about the scary things under your bed.
>
> Mike

Come on group troops, lets give the poster a break. We get a lot of
criticism in this group about being unfriendly. Lets not try to earn
that reputation.
-----
As for scary physical rivers, well, there are plenty of places that can
fit that description. To the unskilled and uninitiated, any large
rapid can meet that requirement. That is why we portage some rapids
and walk around others while people are comfortable running them. Part
of it is the rapid and the river itself. The rest is how we feel and
what *we* to the river bring with us.

When it gets dark and I am no where near my takeout, I can start seeing
a lot of things that could spook me out if I let them. At 55+, I know
better. But it is not hard to see how superstitions get their start.
It does not take much hanging moss or many oddly shaped trees to get
ones imagination working.

My own personal fear relates to dark water. I must have had a dream or
two about it in the past that made a deep impression in my sub concious
because I can occaisonally find myself thinking about "something"
rising suddenly from the depths, upsetting my boat and taking me down
to the depths forever.

For story developement, a river during Spring Flood is great setting.
High fast water is always exciting. And all the dynamics change.
Known rapids disappear, new rapids form, new channels form. Plenty of
complicating factors - entire trees, piles of slash, zero clearance
under bridges, etc. So even a known river can assume an entirely new
personality when at flood.

There are some historic disasters you can check out as well:
1) The 1983 high water rescue trip in the Grand Canyon.
2) The rafting deaths on the Illinois River in Oregon.
3) The "White Mile" story.
4) Todd Balf's "The Last River: The Tragic Race for Shangri-la"

Then there is the American Canoe Association's "River Safety Anthology"
by Charlie Walbridge. These are reviews of past incidents and offer a
detailed analysis of what went wrong and why.

Another resource is "Deep Survival - Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why" by
Laurence Gonzales. This is less about about rivers and more about the
sequence of events that lead to survival situations.

If you review these resources, I think you can get some background on
what makes a river "scary". And why every river has elements in it
that keeps our attention focused. Misjudgement on any water can lead
to injury and death.

Blakely
---
Blakely LaCroix
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

"The best adventure is yet to come"
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input 

contactgvc DeleteThis @gmail.com wrote:

> I knew this was a waste of time...people get so offended and not stop
> and actually realize what someones intent it.

Maybe we're not infantile enough to think that a river can be "creepy". I've
been on a lot of rivers, but all of them (once away from industrial or
residential disasters) are beautiful.

Maybe you can write about the scary things under your bed.

Mike
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input 

Blakely,

THanks a million for taking the time out. I do appreciate it. Great
info as well as the reminder of the psychological aspect of "what's in
the water?" and it's only 3-5 feet deep. Thanks for the pointers of
historic diasters.

THanks again and best of luck out there.

GC
Railtramp wrote:
> Michael Daly wrote:
> > contactgvc.DeleteThis@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > > I knew this was a waste of time...people get so offended and not stop
> > > and actually realize what someones intent it.
> >
> > Maybe we're not infantile enough to think that a river can be "creepy". I've
> > been on a lot of rivers, but all of them (once away from industrial or
> > residential disasters) are beautiful.
> >
> > Maybe you can write about the scary things under your bed.
> >
> > Mike
>
> Come on group troops, lets give the poster a break. We get a lot of
> criticism in this group about being unfriendly. Lets not try to earn
> that reputation.
> -----
> As for scary physical rivers, well, there are plenty of places that can
> fit that description. To the unskilled and uninitiated, any large
> rapid can meet that requirement. That is why we portage some rapids
> and walk around others while people are comfortable running them. Part
> of it is the rapid and the river itself. The rest is how we feel and
> what *we* to the river bring with us.
>
> When it gets dark and I am no where near my takeout, I can start seeing
> a lot of things that could spook me out if I let them. At 55+, I know
> better. But it is not hard to see how superstitions get their start.
> It does not take much hanging moss or many oddly shaped trees to get
> ones imagination working.
>
> My own personal fear relates to dark water. I must have had a dream or
> two about it in the past that made a deep impression in my sub concious
> because I can occaisonally find myself thinking about "something"
> rising suddenly from the depths, upsetting my boat and taking me down
> to the depths forever.
>
> For story developement, a river during Spring Flood is great setting.
> High fast water is always exciting. And all the dynamics change.
> Known rapids disappear, new rapids form, new channels form. Plenty of
> complicating factors - entire trees, piles of slash, zero clearance
> under bridges, etc. So even a known river can assume an entirely new
> personality when at flood.
>
> There are some historic disasters you can check out as well:
> 1) The 1983 high water rescue trip in the Grand Canyon.
> 2) The rafting deaths on the Illinois River in Oregon.
> 3) The "White Mile" story.
> 4) Todd Balf's "The Last River: The Tragic Race for Shangri-la"
>
> Then there is the American Canoe Association's "River Safety Anthology"
> by Charlie Walbridge. These are reviews of past incidents and offer a
> detailed analysis of what went wrong and why.
>
> Another resource is "Deep Survival - Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why" by
> Laurence Gonzales. This is less about about rivers and more about the
> sequence of events that lead to survival situations.
>
> If you review these resources, I think you can get some background on
> what makes a river "scary". And why every river has elements in it
> that keeps our attention focused. Misjudgement on any water can lead
> to injury and death.
>
> Blakely
> ---
> Blakely LaCroix
> Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
>
> "The best adventure is yet to come"
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input 

On 8 Aug 2006 16:43:05 -0700, "contactgvc@gmail.com"
<contactgvc RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:

>Blakely,
>
>THanks a million for taking the time out. I do appreciate it. Great
>info as well as the reminder of the psychological aspect of "what's in
>the water?" and it's only 3-5 feet deep. Thanks for the pointers of
>historic diasters.
>
>THanks again and best of luck out there.
>

Only 3 - 5 feet deep? Yes, lots and lots of nasty stuff can be under
that little water. Bodies from some time ago, whether accidentally
there or intentionally. Large scary fish. Large live people with
scuba gear. Killer tree remnants. Otters can stay under for long
amounts of time and then emerge next to or onto your boat / raft. Long
claws that can rip open clams or your body with ease. Big sharp
teeth. Insane eagles or ospreys could be a danger. Sane ones if
you're too near their nests with eggs or young.

You have to hear a nesting group of giant blue herons get hysterical
over a raccoon in the previously still night and you'll be unwilling
to sleep for hours, particularly if you don't know what that sound is.

What about the local monster that no one talks much about? Does it
live in a cave near the river? What is it really? Is that what
happens to people who disappear or come off the river half crazed and
unwilling to boat again? Is it a weird human? Something else? What
are the AmerInd legends of the place?
--

r.bc: vixen
Speaker to squirrels, willow watcher, etc..
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless. Really.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input 

contactgvc RemoveThis @gmail.com <contactgvc RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>
> River might have:
> -beautiful scenes, then have abandoned buildings or towns
> next to the shore at certain points

That sounds like the Black River near Watertown, one of the best
commercial whitewater rafting runs in New York state.

If you're writing fiction, don't make the mistake of Deliverance,
which is a good adventure story spoiled by elitist homophobia,
if you ask me.
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input 

Cyli wrote:
> On 8 Aug 2006 16:43:05 -0700, "contactgvc@gmail.com"
> <contactgvc DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >Blakely,
> >
> >THanks a million for taking the time out. I do appreciate it. Great
> >info as well as the reminder of the psychological aspect of "what's in
> >the water?" and it's only 3-5 feet deep. Thanks for the pointers of
> >historic diasters.
> >
> >THanks again and best of luck out there.
> >
>
> Only 3 - 5 feet deep? Yes, lots and lots of nasty stuff can be under
> that little water. Bodies from some time ago, whether accidentally
> there or intentionally. Large scary fish. Large live people with
> scuba gear. Killer tree remnants. Otters can stay under for long
> amounts of time and then emerge next to or onto your boat / raft. Long
> claws that can rip open clams or your body with ease. Big sharp
> teeth. Insane eagles or ospreys could be a danger. Sane ones if
> you're too near their nests with eggs or young.
>
> You have to hear a nesting group of giant blue herons get hysterical
> over a raccoon in the previously still night and you'll be unwilling
> to sleep for hours, particularly if you don't know what that sound is.
>
> What about the local monster that no one talks much about? Does it
> live in a cave near the river? What is it really? Is that what
> happens to people who disappear or come off the river half crazed and
> unwilling to boat again? Is it a weird human? Something else? What
> are the AmerInd legends of the place?
> --
>
> r.bc: vixen
> Speaker to squirrels, willow watcher, etc..
> Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless. Really.
>
> http://www.visi.com/~cyli

There is a little explored canyon east of Boulder Colorado, where the
water does not run too deep, but the local residents are absolutely
hostile! I have not heard of anyone who successfully and safely
navigated their way down this creek without being shot at, and if
caught, hung out to dry. Numerous kayakers have just plain disappeared,
never to be heard from again.

This is trully wild country, with lots of wild life and beautiful
scenery. It would be a great back drop for a movie if you could get
the local residence to sign a peace treaty, at least for the duration
of filming! HYY
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input 

"Bill Tuthill" <can.RemoveThis@spam.co> wrote in message news:44da1241@news.meer.net...
> contactgvc.RemoveThis@gmail.com <contactgvc.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:

> If you're writing fiction, don't make the mistake of Deliverance,
> which is a good adventure story spoiled by elitist homophobia,
> if you ask me.

Well, I don't share that assessment, but at the time I first saw the movie,
I made the remark that the movie wouldn't have made nearly the splash if the
rape scene had been heterosexual and if the rescuer had blown the rapist
away with a .45.
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input 

Railtramp wrote:
>
> Michael Daly wrote:
> > contactgvc.TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > > I knew this was a waste of time...people get so offended and not stop
> > > and actually realize what someones intent it.
> >
> > Maybe we're not infantile enough to think that a river can be "creepy". I've
> > been on a lot of rivers, but all of them (once away from industrial or
> > residential disasters) are beautiful.
> >
> > Maybe you can write about the scary things under your bed.
> >
> > Mike
>
> Come on group troops, lets give the poster a break. We get a lot of
> criticism in this group about being unfriendly. Lets not try to earn
> that reputation.


How about the Middle and Lower Yough in Ohiopyle, PA?

JAM
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input 

contactgvc.TakeThisOut@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm writing about a river rafting trip, that turns into a nightmare.
>
> Anybody know of any river rafting adventures, rivers, that seems like
> it could end up being a horror ride?
>
> River might have:
> -beautiful scenes, then have abandoned buildings or towns next to the
> shore at certain points
> - the people running it might just be a little behind the times, or
> backwards as far as blending into society?
> - the people or who run the trip, might seems a little untrustworthy?
>
> Looking for any Rivers, that would have rafting on it, but maybe in the
> carolinas or appalachian mountains? Otherwise, ANYWHERE in the USA.
>
> Any comments or resources or thoughts would be helpful.
>
> Thanks.
> GC

Well, consider what would have happened if Taum Sauk had broken in July
rather than December.
 >> Stay informed about: Creepy river rafting trip: HELP - need input