Time Out
15th Dec 2003, 04:25
5 kayakers rescued from Sandy River
Crews reach three people at the bottom of a cliff and two others clinging to branches
But by evening, rescuers used ropes to rescue three kayakers from the bottom of a cliff and a helicopter to rescue two others near an inundated sandbar.
"These are the ideal conditions they look for," said Clackamas County sheriff's Detective Jim Strovink. "You've got this fast body of water moving through there, and this is what they like. This is ultimate kayaking. But you've got to take the problems that come with it."
The first rescue started near Dodge Park about 1:44 p.m., when three kayakers had to be lifted by rope from the river's edge at the base of a 150-foot cliff, Sandy Fire Department spokeswoman Alice Lasher said. The first kayaker had been pulled to safety at 4:13 p.m. when a second call came in; two more kayakers were stranded on a sandbar a half-mile away.
Jeremy Clemons, 28, of Gresham and April Bertelsen, 28, of Portland started kayaking at 2:30 p.m., but Bertelsen fell from her craft almost immediately, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
The kayakers grabbed branches and held on about 40 feet from shore and 30 feet from each other.
Although the area would normally be a sandbar, the rising river flooded it, Strovink said. The high river, snow and large river-borne logs ruled out a safe boat rescue, Lasher said.
Rescuers called in the Salem-based helicopter crew of pilot Lt. Col. Dan Hokanson, co-pilot Capt. Bryan Houston and Flight Medic Staff Sgt. Travis Powell. The crew reached Clemons and Bertelsen just after 7 p.m., said Maj. Arnold Strong of the Oregon National Guard.
The crew lowered Powell into the river on a hoist. He made his way to the kayakers and, one by one, pulled them into the helicopter.
However, as soon as they were inside, the pilot was forced to land because the helicopter's blades were becoming icy, Strong said.
source (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1071406516282590.xml)
Crews reach three people at the bottom of a cliff and two others clinging to branches
But by evening, rescuers used ropes to rescue three kayakers from the bottom of a cliff and a helicopter to rescue two others near an inundated sandbar.
"These are the ideal conditions they look for," said Clackamas County sheriff's Detective Jim Strovink. "You've got this fast body of water moving through there, and this is what they like. This is ultimate kayaking. But you've got to take the problems that come with it."
The first rescue started near Dodge Park about 1:44 p.m., when three kayakers had to be lifted by rope from the river's edge at the base of a 150-foot cliff, Sandy Fire Department spokeswoman Alice Lasher said. The first kayaker had been pulled to safety at 4:13 p.m. when a second call came in; two more kayakers were stranded on a sandbar a half-mile away.
Jeremy Clemons, 28, of Gresham and April Bertelsen, 28, of Portland started kayaking at 2:30 p.m., but Bertelsen fell from her craft almost immediately, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.
The kayakers grabbed branches and held on about 40 feet from shore and 30 feet from each other.
Although the area would normally be a sandbar, the rising river flooded it, Strovink said. The high river, snow and large river-borne logs ruled out a safe boat rescue, Lasher said.
Rescuers called in the Salem-based helicopter crew of pilot Lt. Col. Dan Hokanson, co-pilot Capt. Bryan Houston and Flight Medic Staff Sgt. Travis Powell. The crew reached Clemons and Bertelsen just after 7 p.m., said Maj. Arnold Strong of the Oregon National Guard.
The crew lowered Powell into the river on a hoist. He made his way to the kayakers and, one by one, pulled them into the helicopter.
However, as soon as they were inside, the pilot was forced to land because the helicopter's blades were becoming icy, Strong said.
source (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1071406516282590.xml)