Reporters are waiting at the takeout to interview them.
reporters waiting....

A girl just drowned near the Nooksack (I'm guessing on Clearwater Creek?)
Girl drowns while drinking in the woods...

This is the beginning of the swimming/drowning season. It's good to warn the public with stories but I don't like the fact that we're seeing a flurry of kayakers and rafters at the center of it.

Imagine if this happened every time a raft flipped on the Sky!

It was a group of patrollers and maybe other stevens pass employees going out for fun. I know one of the persons named in the article. Saw him over the weekend and he mentioned the trip. He is a solid boater who has been at it for years and wouldn't put himself and others in a dubious situation. This was all under control and normal. A local resident just freaked and called the cops ... which seems a bit odd for someone who lives by the sky.

Simply stated it sounds like an overreaction. Last year we had Chelan Co Sheriff called for a flip/swim at Granny's - just having fun. We were met by 4 different sheriff cars in the parking lot. Embarrassing....for them. They stated HWY 2 people call in 'very often' but this time the dispatcher made it sound as if it were a real emergency. Hard for them to tell what is and isn't not being there.
On three other occasions I've been 'talked to' while boating up the Tumwater over the years. The roadside callers definitely can be a problem.

How about some press like this to circulate.....

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/04/kayaker-helps-rescue-calif-family-from-sinking-car/

Pretty lucky family.