Kayaker Trapped Underwater Saved by Friends' Quick Reaction

Below is a pretty amazing video from EpicTV showing the rescue of a kayaker who became trapped underwater after paddling down a small waterfall. The incident occurred on November 2nd on the Lyn River in the United Kingdom. In the video description, EpicTV describes the situation like this:

In one of the drops Mark Hardingham is pushed offline and becomes 'vertically pinned' with his body trapped and his head held underwater by the current! This GoPro clip shows the reactions of his friends who pull him out of this sticky situation just in time.

Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Guided Kayaking Programs Held At Bighorn Canyon

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area is enjoying a successful first year of guided kayaking programs on Bighorn Lake. The park received a grant through the National Park Foundation’s Active Trails program to fund two goals focused on non-motorized recreation on the park’s waterways.

The first goal of the program is designed to raise public awareness of the recreational non-motorized boating opportunities available on the 71 miles of flat water in Bighorn Canyon. The park is achieving this through press releases that have surfaced in four papers, a local radio show, and on both the park and the Wyoming Tourism’s Facebook pages. These Facebook posts have received 800+ “likes”.

Bighorn Canyon is also raising public awareness by running guided kayaking tours throughout the summer. The grant money has provided the park with a small fleet of high-quality tandem kayaks, a trailer, and an experienced kayaking guide to train the interpretive rangers and ensure the safety of the park’s visitors.

So far the program is going very well, with every available program and wait list filling quickly. Evaluations are being returned with glowing reviews as people are enjoying the unique experience of viewing the canyon’s majestic towering walls from the humbling position of a kayak quietly slipping through the water. Locals as well as visitors from other states and countries have participated in this program.

The second goal of the program is to create a waterway map and trail guide for all 71 miles of the canyon that lie within the park boundaries. The guide will be a resource that visitors can use to locate backcountry camping areas along the lake at different water levels. The guide book will include general safety advice for non-motorized boating, tips for planning and preparing for multiple day paddles, and suggestions for multiple trips varying in length.

The first step to completing the guide is to collect data on lake conditions and campsite availability at different water levels. A generous park VIP has taken on this momentous task and has spent many weeks of the summer navigating the lake in his personal vessel, carefully cataloging data points, and taking pictures for the guide book. The next step will be organizing this data into an easy to use guide for the visitors.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Program to Prevent Aquatic Invasive Species in Glacier Continues

Glacier National Park continues its boat inspection and permit program this summer as part of an ongoing effort to prevent introduction of new aquatic invasive species (AIS) in park waterways. Quagga and zebra mussels, along with other aquatic invasive species, are primarily transported on recreational watercraft and pose a threat to delicate ecosystems, recreational opportunities, and local economies.

Hand-propelled watercraft (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, rafts, catarafts) being launched within the park can obtain an AIS-free self-certification permit. The permit is free, completed by the boater, and is required upon each entry to the park. The permit must remain with boaters while they are floating. It is available at all park visitor centers, back-country permit offices, park headquarters, and at maintained boat launches. The permit is also available online at the park's website.

Motorboats and sailboats must have a thorough boat inspection conducted at a park boat inspection station upon every entry to the park. A free permit is issued after the inspection, which may take up to 30 minutes, depending on the complexity of the boat and number of boats needing inspection at one time. A boat may launch multiple times under a single permit provided the boat does not leave the park between launches. A new inspection and permit is required each time a boat, motorized or non-motorized, enters the park.

To receive a permit, boats must be clean, drained and thoroughly dry (including bilge areas and livewells) upon inspection. All boaters are encouraged to thoroughly clean, drain, and dry their watercraft and/or fishing equipment before coming to the park. Fishing equipment must be clean and dry as well. Dirty boats and boats that arrive with any standing water in the boat (including livewell and bilge areas) will not be issued a permit. Boats with inaccessible internal ballast tanks that can't be inspected are not allowed on park waters.

Launch hours are not restricted, however inspection hours are limited. Hours vary throughout the park and will be adjusted seasonally. Between now and Labor Day, permits are available from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at park headquarters in West Glacier, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at all other locations, including the St. Mary Visitor Center, Two Medicine Ranger Station, and Many Glacier Ranger Station. Boaters wishing to launch on Bowman Lake should obtain a permit at park headquarters, then proceed immediately to Bowman Lake after the inspection.

Boats failing inspection will be denied a permit. Boaters may re-apply for a permit after their boat is thoroughly cleaned, drained and dried, or other issues of concern are adequately addressed. Boats found with infestations of any aquatic invasive species may be quarantined until they are fully decontaminated, which may take up to 30 days.

Invasive mussels have been found on boats within Montana and passing through the state in recent years. However, no invasive mussels have been detected in Montana waterways to date. Eurasian watermilfoil and other invasive aquatic plants are present in western Montana waterways, necessitating a high degree of vigilance to prevent spread. Federal law prohibits the transportation and introduction of invasive species throughout the United States, including into Glacier National Park. Park managers are currently in the process of developing an aquatic invasive species emergency response plan. If invasive mussels are detected in western Montana, emergency actions may include closing park waterways to boat use.

Park managers appreciate the cooperation of recreational boaters to help prevent aquatic invasive species from entering Glacier National Park. The consequences of aquatic invasive species becoming established in park waters which are the headwaters for the Columbia, Missouri and Hudson Bay Watersheds are dire for aquatic ecosystems, recreational opportunities, and economic concerns downstream. Park officials urge all boaters to clean, drain, and dry their boats and related equipment after every outing.

For more information on boating in Glacier National Park and the prevention of aquatic invasive species, please visit the park's website.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com