My Mentor, Richard Rhodes

By Victor Whitman

Times Herald-Record

July 19, 2008

NARROWSBURG — Richard Rhodes walks down a short sandy footpath that leads to placid yet deceptively dangerous waters of the Delaware.

At this place known as "the beach," the river reflects the pines and mountains off a watery pane of glass.

On the Fourth of July, 17-year-old Pablo Ferreira waded out yards from here and the Milanville bridge, and then fell into the deeper portion of the channel, got swept down and drowned. From the shore to a center bridge pier, the water is waist deep. But just beyond, about half way across the river, the channel drops to 9 feet deep and the current, though seemingly frozen, is fast moving and powerful.

"We recovered the body under the bridge," he said. "They got to him quick. Too late."

Later that afternoon, Ryan Nibar, 27, of Queens, waded into seemingly still water downstream, hit a deep spot and also died, becoming the third person on the Delaware to drown this summer.

Since June 2003, a dozen people have drowned. They were swimmers, rafters, canoeists and kayakers. They all had the same M.O. Eleven weren't wearing life jackets. One other didn't have his on properly.

Rhodes, 72, who has patrolled the river for 29 years as a founding member of the National Canoe Safety Patrol, has seen this too often. In 29 years, he's rarely approached the river without a life jacket on.

"We are trained to be in the water and we have ours on all the time," he said. "We are very respectful of the river. We are very respectful. This is not a swim club."

Safety Patrol volunteers in kayaks and canoes, armed with whistles, warn people to put on life jackets, paddling over with safety lines when a raft flips or a swimmer flounders. They also train the liveries and the rangers on how to save lives.

But people still just toss their jackets in the raft. The raft flips. They can't swim.

People get drunk on beer and hop on a tube. Others wade across the stream in a T-shirt and shoes, thinking it will be no problem, fall into the deep channel, gulp water and panic.

Ingrid Petereck, an education specialist for the National Park Service stationed at the Zane Grey museum, hands out brochures and puts out warnings.

"You just go into the season hoping nothing will happen," she said.

Rhodes heads just downstream from the bridge, where Ferreira drowned. Rocks jut out as the river flows down five successive shelves and forms rapids known as Skinners Falls. Three teenage girls balancing on the sides of a grey raft hit the rapids, none with life vests on.

"Sun tan time," Rhodes said, eyeing them from a ledge rock and holding a safety rope to throw in case one fell out of the raft.

"This is not a theme park," Rhodes said later. "They don't turn the water on and off."

vwhitman@th-record.com

Apt.

Great Bathrooms of the Adirondacks

When you are "on the go."

The first installment of a guide to great places to pee. I define these as cheap, convenient, and clean.

In no order..

Old Forge has public toilets at the corner, next to Old Forge Hardware. The beach has a fine public restroom open 24/7/365. Find the covered bridge at the information center. Fallow the path to the right.

On your way North, do not drive by Eagle Bay Doughnuts. Buy doughnuts, buy cider, definatly buy the BBQ sandwiches. Inlet has two public toilets. The Southern one is at the DEC boat launch. It is a NASTY pit toilet, but as far as I know, open 24/7/365. Those of us who like flushers, drive into the village and park in the public lot right on the bend in rt 28. The facilities are at the lake side of the lot, away from the road.

The toilets at the DEC launch at 7th Lake, are the worst I have ever encountered.



The village of Raquette Lake, has a Pub. Never peed there, but I assume someone has.

Blue Mountain Lake maintains a nice privy opposite the DEC launch, next to the Fire House.



Long Lake, has Hoss's. Stop and pee there. It is rumored you can get WiFi from the toilet. Also I recommend eating, and staying at the Adirondack Hotel. Beers on the porch, as the sun sets.

River Knives

Whitewater boaters carry knives because they carry ropes. So far I am only disappointed with the knives on the market. Would someone PLEASE design, and make a good river knife!

First I carried a folder, a cheap para-frame design in stainless steel. I put it on the lash tab located above my left collarbone on my PFD. One day I felt something on my neck, it was the OPEN BLADE! Now I carry that knife in my pocket.

Next, I got myself the Rescue Hook from Benchmade. (left) This looks like a good safe design. Worked well, fell off somewhere.







The Next knife for me was the CRKT Bearclaw.
This knife I also liked, and it also fell off.






















I looked at an NRS Pilot knife. Nice price, too big, wear it and the Rambo jokes start. Also the sheath is comples and funny, but matbe this one will not FALL OFF.

Summer Reading

This Book looks good....

http://richardlouv.com/

Back from the Delaware

I spent the weekend with friends from the National Canoe Safety Patrol, on the Upper Delaware River. Some of them ran the Lackawaxen on Friday. We all divided up into small groups and provided safety services at several known trouble spots on the river Saturday, and Sunday. On Saturday we witnessed a drunken idiot tangle with several park officers. The last we saw the guy, he was in shackles with two officers sitting on him. Looking forward to Saturday on the Salmon.

more pics

No Swimming!

No Swimming

Getting psyched up to paddle the Salmon River in Pulaski, NY. The release for 7/19-20 is scheduled for 800 cfs. This is the ideal level for this super surfing run. This link for American Whitewater page for the Salmon.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River_detail_id_1404_