1. Once you are below Separation, the message stating
running lights are needed is correct. As long as a boat is
under motion at night, navigation rules apply. For rafts
drifting in the Lower Gorge at night, a single white light
above the boats, visible for 360 degrees will suffice.
Other motorized craft will have red, green, and white lights
visible. Underwater obstacles and the gorge usually deter
the motorized users from traveling upstream at night but one
person should always be on watch.
2. Signalling devices - As Leonard mentioned, signalling
mirrors are one of your best options. Ground to air radios
are the other primary option which can be rented. These
radios allow short bursts of transmissions to passing
commercial traffic (32,000 feet up) which are relayed to
Palmdale, CA. Cell phones do not work! Satellite phones
do.
If using a radio, please give the following in the initial
tranmission:
River mile location
Critical or stable patient
Trauma injury or medical situation
Private river trip
If you have time, provide patient weight, sex, and any other
important information.
If the call is made near dusk, night, or during a storm, the
Park Service will be unable to assist because of flying
restrictions - sorry this isn't "William Shatner and 911".
If it's stormy, or if you have a critical patient and have
not received any confirmation from aircraft overhead, start
downstream - help is downstream! We'll look that direction
when we can get in and be listening on the ground to air
frequency.
3. A note on the river, the majority of injuries occur
duing hiking and getting on/off boats. Be careful.
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