From the article by Beezer Molton:
"On January 20 Charles Paul Horner was killed while paddling the Oyacachi River in Ecuador. The rapid that claimed his life was described by his companions as Class IV and is found on the very first portion of the run. One companion compared the rapid to Corkscrew on the Chattooga, but remarked that it did not seem as difficult. In the center of the rapid a large boof-able pillow formed over a prominent rock. Immediately downstream of this rock was an upturned slab. Much of the current passed under this slab, forming a sieve with a tapering outlet that left no room for escape.
This sieve could not be seen while boat scouting and probably would not have been recognized from the riverbank. It apparently developed during recent floods and so was a new feature of the river. "After narrowly missing the boof, Paul flipped and pinned, with the force of the river flowing onto the bottom of his boat. Paul was unable to self-rescue and despite the best efforts of his two very capable companions he perished."
A Memorial Fund has been set up in Paul's memory. See http://boatertalk.com/forum/BoaterTalk/122461.
The Charles Paul Horner American Whitewater Memorial Fund
Please send all contibutions to the following:
Charles Paul Horner AWA Memorial Fund in
c/o Jason Robertson
PO Box 1540
Cullowhee, NC 28723
For any questions or comments contact: kkowalski@girlscoutswnc.org
