Swiftwater Rescue in the Salt River Canyon

Every year as I drop down into the Salt River Canyon, I take a deep breathe as I view the beauty of the Canyon.  Once again, the White Mountain Apache tribe welcomed our training to their lands.  During the 10 days that I was there, I had the pleasure of teaching a Wilderness First Responder Recertification course, a River Rescue Certification course, a Swiftwater Rescue Technician and a Swiftwater Rescue Technician Advanced course.  Tren Long, from Cascade Raft and Kayak in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho; as well as Sam Marshall and Terry Cox from Sierra Vista Fire were my co-Instructors.  Their talent and enthusiasm was greatly appreciated by all!

As always, I was able to be a troll under the Highway bridge, and use the nice long beach below for the river classroom.  My faithful canine companion Georgie White joined me, and the weather and water cooperated with between 1100 and 1600 cfs, and an average daily temp of around 70 degrees.  I have been teaching there enough years now, that I know usually know at least one person in each of the commercial rafting rigs that drive by to wash wetsuits upstream.  It is always a cheerful and happy place, with river guides emerging from the Winter season to enjoy the sun, and get back into the whitewater.

The folks that trained with me this year include the Pine Strawberry Fire Department, Grand Canyon river guides, private kayakers and rafters from the Phoenix and Flagstaff area, the Fort Tuthill Outdoor Education and NAU Outdoor Education folks, a Gila County Sheriff, members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Police Officers from the Mexican Hat area, a Fire Fighter from Colorado, and of course, Salt River Guides!

I am returning this weekend for one last course on the Salt with the guides from Canyon Explorations out of Flagstaff.  Most will be old friends from my days of guiding on the Colorado with Can Ex.  This will be my 8th season doing courses down on the Salt, and I enjoy it more and more every year.