The 2008 Ohiopyle Falls Festival

Summary of post

Spencer and two hundred other boaters go over the Ohiopyle Falls in one of the biggest whitewater events in the USA. Nobody dies.

A terrifying fall

Going over an 18 foot waterfall at the Falls Race in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania, is as good an excuse as any for peeing in your pants. Why would anyone in their right mind want to do it? The frothing, churning waters at the bottom of the drop look rabidly angry. There's a punishing hydraulic that sucks you in and whirls you around and around under the water. There's also an undercut that could trap and hold you underwater... indefinitely...

Somebody's gotta do it

The only time boaters can legally go over the Falls is

during this annual event. At least eight safety and rescue crew (mostly volunteers) must be on standby, and EMTs ready. Spence ran into a kayaking buddy, Alan, who had been completely trashed going over the Falls a little while earlier. Alan is an experienced kayaker, but somehow lost his line, went over the horseshoe (bad) instead of the tongue (ideal) part of the Falls, and was pummeled underwater for nearly 2 minutes. The nasty contusion on his foot was the only physical evidence of his traumatizing encounter with the Force of Nature - the emotional and psychological effects would run far deeper. "This was the first time in my life that I have been truly afraid"... "I was flailed around like a rag doll, my face was literally on the bottom of the river".

Listening to Alan's harrowing experience did nothing to help Spencer's nerves.

But, somebody's gotta do it (right?).

Blow-by-blow account of the Falls run

Spence waits in line with other boaters at the put-in point. He's only doing the practice runs, not taking part in the race (competition).

There are a few Class III rapids before the 18 foot Class V drop. It's a nice warm-up for Spence.

He approaches the Falls carefully, taking his time to select the best line. The 'tongue' gives the greatest clearance, and he needs to direct his kayak on it. He looks tiny compared with the HUGE waterfall.

He "boofs" off the Falls perfectly...

He all but disappears into the frothing waters below...

Paddling ferociously, he fights his way out of the inhuman pull of the hydraulic. He made it!

Winding down at the carpark with Dad...

The Falls don't look quite as threatening from further downstream, where the waters are calm.

To top it off Spence and I did the very popular (with boaters and rafters) 'Loop' in our awesome NRS tandem inflatable Bandit kayak. This 24 lb bad boy has been all the way across the world with us - we paddled the Kilim Mangroves, Langkawi, Malaysia with it, and also the Gopeng River (with Nomad Adventure, a great outdoor adventure company based in Selangor).

xo Grace

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