Idaho Statesman : by Zimo Edition Date: 07/03/07 Whenever there’s a whitewater accident, there’s a reaction throughout the river-running community that it could happen to anyone. You could be a novice or an expert.

That hit home after Sunday’s accident in Staircase Rapids on the South Fork of the Payette River, which claimed the life of veteran river guide, Dean Fairburn, 45, of Garden Valley.
It’s a time to contemplate your own whitewater experience and how prepared you are for an emergency.
The Idaho Whitewater Association is planning its annual Safety Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 21, on the Main Payette River from Banks to Chief Parrish. The organization will have information and a safety check of gear at the Banks launch area. Beaches will be identified where stations will be set up for raft-flipping exercises, kayak rolling, a throw-rope toss, swimming practices, a Z-drag demo and kayak extrication.
Participants can pull into each beach and take part in the activities. There will be a barbecue at Chief Parrish where rafters and kayakers can eat and then head on downstream to the take out point at Beehive Bend.
Honor the life of a veteran guide by brushing up on your own knowledge of safety.

Today IRK had a double-header. Since the 4th of July fell on a Wednesday we moved it to Tuesday night this week. We had both a Tuesday morning session and an evening session. The kids worked on ferries, surfing and the pulled out the boogie boards for a break in the action. Here are some scenes from the day.
Troy Ferrying the Gutter