Routine whitewater rescue

Spring on the Spokane River is prime for whitewater rafters geared up properly with dry suits and good life vests and the skills to go with them. This photo sequence shows it also helps to have good partners. The first photo shows a raft of Peak 7 Adventures guides-in-training busting through the big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher area. They're above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. The following sequence of photos shows one rafter in the second raft being ejected in the rapid. See how he keeps hold of his paddle and grabs the raft life line. Quickly another paddler leans over, grabs the swimmer by his PFD shoulder straps, leans back to get the advantage of his body weight and quickly pulls to slide the swimmer into the raft. They miss only a few strokes before heading into the next rapid.

Section:Gallery

Tue., March 22, 2016

A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, one of the rafters is ejected and rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter, who's still holding his paddle, is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter, who's still holding his paddle, is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter, who's still holding his paddle, is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter, who's still holding his paddle, is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter, who's still holding his paddle, is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter, who's still holding his paddle, is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter, who's still holding his paddle, is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review
A raft of Peak 7 Adventures paddlers busts through the first big rapid entering the Bowl and Pitcher Area above the Riverside State Park suspension bridge with river flows around 16,000 cfs on March 13, 2016. In following photos, an ejected rafter is rescued.

Rich Landers The Spokesman-Review