Death by Kayak

I spent the weekend Kayaking the Umpqua River. Now this is a beautiful spot in the world and the weather was cool but sunny. Kayaking is a fantastic sport because you glide along the water like you're a part of it and feel so free and unencumbered.

This is not a "roll" kayak. I have yet to master the kayak roll - and if anyone has any "helpful hints" or "kayaking roll secrets" I would certainly appreciate receiving them.

Just when I thought I was doing well heading the down rapids (Class 2)I noticed a fallen tree about twenty years in front of me. The rapids were moving so fast that I was unable to navigate around it. So I crashed into it.

I stuck my arm out to prevent myself from crashing into the trunk of the tree and what I did was halt the kayak, but not the rush of the river so the kayak actually flipped underneath the tree (with me in it). I found myself upside down underneath the kayak. I swam out of the kayak but every time I tried to reach the surface my head hit the kayak or the log or tree branches. I must of hit my head four times and I was running out of oxygen and time. I wondered if someone would help me, but I quickly realized that "the cavalry wasn't coming."

I thought I was going to die underneath that tree. It seemed like forever and ever... I remember trying to gather my wits and I decided to push away from the tree as long and as hard as I could. Suddenly, I 'popped up.'

I was floating down the river in my life jacket and even when I finally hit the surface I couldn't breathe. I just gasped and gasped and gasped - and bobbed and bobbed and bobbed. It took a long time to swim to shore and I was so exhausted - totally spent. I couldn't talk - I just breathed - as deeply as I could - and I was so thankful to be alive.

The rest of the trip was relatively pleasant and uneventful. But I kept reliving my panicked state underneath the tree - wondering if I was seconds or minutes from drowning. Regardless, I hope never to feel so trapped underwater again. It was an uneasy adventure...