Rufus Kitemare: BE CAREFUL

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

large tanker truck is 9000 gal. which is 1203 cubic ft.

so...
200 KCFS = 167 tanker trucks per second Shocked

how much mass is that?
how much energy?

Amazing thing is the system that puts all that water (energy) there in the first place. What is it?

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

amazing!

can't help with the physical education questions but did run a river in a duckie (pre self-bailng) with a friend in PA

normal flow 200 CFS we got a special day - 24 KCFS

water was hitting the bridge abutments on I-80 and shooting 20 feet in the air
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=jim+thorpe+pa&oe=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Jim+Thorpe,+Carbon,+Pennsylvania&gl=us&ei=kfz7S4DCJJHINeP6hLQB&ved=0CBsQ8gEwAA&ll=41.055776,-75.769859&spn=0,0.002661&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=41.055758,-75.769981&panoid=ZU4AwI3TPh-JOFck6P9fLg&cbp=12,348.09,,0,3.89

the river is a bit smaller than the Columbia...

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

I'm still waiting for the Corps to tap into the outlet water pipe. I think Hein, correct me here, said that the water is warm.

That would be cool.

kerf · Since 03 Jul 2008 4 Posts Kook

The kiter lost her board and attempted to go after it. Body dragging in the strong current took her upwind faster than any of us could follow and into the path of a barge.
She managed to get to the board and attempted to start riding but the safety blew by accident, crashing the kite and tangling the lines. I'm not sure if the barge actually turned or if she was just outside if it's path but it was really, really close.

Physics aside, while it may be possible for the kite to float toward the kiter, in this case the kiter pulled the kite in without wrapping her lines (once the barge had narrowly passed). I tried to get into position to tow her, her board, and my surfboard to the side of the river but was having trouble getting a hold of her board. I was trying to put her board on my feet and get her to hold the surfboard on top of her kite, but got seperated from her. Once I realized that we were both in danger of getting tangled I told her that she should ditch the kite and that I'd pull her in from there. After she let go of the kite one of the lines got caught on the back of her harness and started dragging her under. With the kite pulling one way and the current going strongly the opposite way, she started going under and came pretty close to drowning. I told her to take her harness off but she couldn't and she went under a few more times before I could get an arm on her. It turns out that the harness is difficult to get off at the best of times. She managed to release the kite line and I blew the safety on her leash and we dragged to shore from there.

Thanks Matt for coming all the way up there, we were way upwind. The kite was later recovered from the far side of the river (cheers to the portland guys with the RV and jetskis, thanks for your help).

That was easily my scariest day on the water. Upwind currents can be a lot of fun but like Matt said, they make bad things worse (and in this case a whole lot worse).

Scribble · Since 18 Nov 2005 636 Posts NoPo Addicted

Big ups to you for helping her out and risking both yourself and your gear. It's awesome we have so many good people around looking out for us.

Andy

forrest · Thu May 27, 10 7:17 pm

Fucking Aye dude, way to save it all.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

Currents riptides and objects under the water such as a sandbar are very dangerous and something to consider when shit goes wrong (if you kite enough it all goes wrong)

On the harness issue ,I recently purchased the Ocean rodeo Sessions -2
harness and while it fits well and snugs up tight.I really like the thing
mostly because it does not compress my diaphram and is very comfortable
There would be no way to discharge it ,as such with all harnesses I've seen

Except for my friend who has used a automotive seat belt release. It's at least 10 years old and still works like a champ
I am going to put some effort into a quick release for my harness

After reading about the kitesurfer tangled in his lines in S.F.and drowning

Throw in the barge Shocked

Getting drug by waves is something that can happen every couple seconds.
remember hands over head waving is the universal signal for help

matt99eo · Since 12 Jun 2008 72 Posts

Nice job Kerf. That was WAY scary Shocked

Glad to hear you guys got the kite back. I saw it sitting exactly where it was on the against that small cliff on the WA side of the river when driving home that afternoon.

Once again glad everybody is okay hopefully you guys make it back to the gorge for a less-epic adventure next time!

mamann · Since 16 Jul 2007 76 Posts Goldendale

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed Jun 09, 10 2:15 pm

hilton · Since 15 Aug 2008 801 Posts Opinionated

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Sounds like Kerf topped off his karma for the season!
That Rufus current is damn wacky - can't imagine what it'd be like at 500,000+ CFS.
Glad everything worked out.

Hein · Since 08 Mar 2005 1314 Posts Possessed

I mentioned the flow to my Dad and he had this to say:

Blokt · Sun May 29, 11 8:37 pm

When the current is stronger, the water moves faster.

stinkyskate · Since 18 Feb 2009 22 Posts Tri-cities WA

Hein, dump your wacky right wing shit somewhere else. It doesn't have anything to do with this thread.

SalmonSlayer · Since 27 Nov 2005 648 Posts Addicted **CGKA Member**

Kite School Rufus · Since 26 May 2011 16 Posts Rufus, OR

This woman should have booked in at KITE SCHOOL RUFUS for our Novice Kiter wave runner support program. Then I would have been right there to relaunch the kite for her. All of you should do this before attempting to ride such extreme conditions. Have fun with it. So it cost $45. Much cheaper than lost gear or hospital bill! I'll be happy to help all who need it!