The Dangers of Left Crack on the Chattooga - Raw Video - 1998

July 19, 1998 - On a low water trip (1.05) on a warm summer day Section 4, Milt Aitken demonstrates three of the hazards of Left Crack and why it kills paddlers.

[@walthanas]

Was it low enough that you didn't worry about slipping and falling in there? It's certainly the least inviting rapid to me in the Five Falls area, although Hydro comes close...

[@whitewater-video]

Level was 1.05 ft at US76. That's pretty low. We swam through the tunnel once at around .8 feet, I think. I wasn't worried at either level. Felt soled shoes helped a lot also.

[@johnnyutah5143]

Great demonstration! This will help many of us that don't understand the hazards. I believe this is where hiker Rachel Trois did an involuntary swim thru and it held her there.

[@whitewater-video]

Rachel Trois was attempting to wade across the river on the upstream side of Raven Chute. She got stuffed into a sort of bedrock undercut. It took a couple months as I recall to find any remains. A temporary dam was erected across the river to divert the water away from the search area. She was not anywhere near Left Crack, though. Crack is way down river from there.

[@johnnyutah5143]

that's right. i've rafted Section 3 and 4 several times and need to get back out there in a kayak. your videos have probably saved at least a few lives. and i like how you dedicate the paddlesnake video on sec 4 to those that appeared in the video but have died enjoying this sport. the chattooga isn't a water park!@@whitewater-video

[@starrmetcalf8278]

In fact she and her buddies were sliding down the crack to the right of the main drop in Raven chute - they had done it several times - she didn’t come out one time. The buddies slid a couple More times and could feel her under there. Once the sandbag lean was constructed her swim suit was found caught in a log in the crack

[@starrmetcalf8278]

@dam sandbag dam

[@mikemiller5052]

I was on a trip sometime in the 90's not too long after a guy died in there. His body was still in there cut in half by a throw rope. My buddy saw him. I didn't want to look.

[@whitewater-video]

That's rough!

[@alowatsakima8950]

I never liked that left side and never went there.

[@justin_other_kayaker]

I’d be afraid just to even stand there. CITR rapid is just nasty