To Bruce,
It seems to me your friend Kurt was lucky. Certainly, his injuries could
have been much worse. However, in that you had a physician right there on
the spot, a motor rig pull up just as you needed one, and were able to
contact an airliner in only an hour, I would say you, as the trip leader,
were lucky as well.
I was surprised to read that you and Judy decided to wait to make the
decision to evacuate -- especially since there was a head injury involved
and you had lots of daylight to try for an immediate evacuation. I suspect
having Judy there to consult was a great help.
My guess is that most trip leaders would done much the same as you did
given the circumstances and a doctor's advice. Like you though, I would
have been agonizing. Since I am conservative on issues like this, I might
have hollered for a helicopter earlier. A commercial guide would not have
hesitated to call for the chopper at once (company liability and all).
I too would like to hear what others think of "trip leader" dilemmas like
this. I participated in a GC private two years ago where the trip leader
did have a waiver drawn up for all trip participants to sign.
We live in a litigious society. All the more reason to run the river with
people you know and trust.
This is a great topic, and just the kind of kicker for discussion and
thought that might make this list a valuable tool for private boaters.
Thanks for sharing Bruce.
LEN
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