Well Travis - I've experienced both. Neither are fun, but I'd say hitting the left line is the best! Plugging, blown skirt and swimming second. Behind the curtain 3rd - mainly because it's scary as hell back there and you will still likely end up in the circulating eddy on the right only after getting pounded.

On Saturday I ended up with too much left momentum and took my turn behind Behemoth. I had heard horror stories and witnessed a couple myself. Ten years ago or so I had my skirt blow plugging it, which was the preferred line then. A couple guys showed me the left boof not too long after and I started doing that. Probably done it 30 + times successfully since.

Anyways, I made a few mistakes on Saturday. First was not scouting. Even though I'd run it multiple times successfully and knew the line, I started too far right and tried to get left at the last second. My momentum carried me left and I landed with a lot of left angle, bow was higher then the stern and I was on my right edge. I lost all down stream momentum when I landed and tried paddling out as fast as possible, but started getting sucked back behind. Luckily I was able to grab the rope you mentioned when I was going behind the curtain. If it wasn't there - game on - of getting worked between a wall and a lot of water. With a quick scout I would have lined up better.

Mistake 2 was not wearing a drysuit. The water is freaking cold on that run - drysuit recommended. I checked the forecast before I left home and it said high of 79 or something. I figured I'd be good with a dry top and fleece. It probably never got above 60 in the canyon when it was at least 80 in the sun at the take-out. Water temp in the 40's I bet. Watching the other guys getting into drysuits at the put-in made me contemplate my decision, but too late at this point.

Anyways, I'm holding the rope and not wanting to get in the cold water. Looking to my right or behind me was scary. The water is slamming down very hard - another reason to stay in my boat. I was able to have one hand on the rope and one on my paddle but couldn't get set-up to paddle. The water is surging a lot back there with a steady strong current and a hole a couple feet from the wall. After 30 seconds or so I saw this hand hold I could grab with one hand and pull myself up the boil a bit while still holding the rope with the other. I though I might be able to get a good enough push downstream to try and paddle out. Only problem was the paddle kept slipping off my boat - I was trying to pin it between the cockpit and PFD - while trying to use both hands on the rope and rock. After several tries the paddle slipped off and disappeared into the curtain. I hoped it would pop-up in the boil and come back but no luck.

I was pretty disappointed with myself. I knew my four partners had no idea if I'm okay. It's 2 minutes into this now and they probably see my paddle pop up with no boat or swimmer to follow. Luckily I hear Rescue Hero #1 (Mike Nash) of the day say my name. He asks if I want a rope and I tell him, no I want a paddle. I still think I might be able to paddle out downstream. He was directly above me and I didn't think they could pull me up out of there. Mike lowers me his paddle and I try doing the same as before. Another several minutes with the paddle slipping off and coming back to me with no luck. I couldn't get set-up well enough to paddle with all the surging, boil and currents. Even if I had got set-up, it would have been doubtful to paddle out. While I'm attempting to do this, Mike is getting into a better position down stream of me to try and pull me out. Eventually Mike gets down pretty low on the wall (how; I don’t know - but very happy and greatful he did). He gets me his bag (and in return I loose his paddle to grab the rope) and pulls me downstream and out.

Now comes the fun part. I tried hand paddling to the left for the bottom ledge but don't make it there. I end up going over the right side, stern ender back in the hole and start getting worked. With some luck, I managed to get to the right side of the hole and pull myself out on the wall - upside-down however. After 5-10 hand roll attempts I see Sam Chesley coming at me. I start the bow resuce hand slide and can even hear Sam yelling something while I'm under the water. I thought I was floating into the next rapid downstream, so after a few seconds of waiting I decide to bail. Turns out the current pulled me to the left into the pool below the bottom ledge. Sam was trying to chase me down, but I bailed before he could get setup. Rob and Sam were able to get my boat before going into the next drop luckily.

I spent the next 20-30 minutes standing on a midstream boulder while Brad fished out Mike's paddle I had lost from the recirculating eddy below Behemoth. I was staring at the sun on the right bank while shivering in the shade recaping what went on. I was glad I put float bags in my boat that morning, bummed I didn't scout the drop and very greatful to paddle with four guys that put themselves out there to bail me out. It's a sweet drop, but you want to hit your line. And it's worth a scout, even if you've run it before.

In the end, I think I spent 10-15 minutes holding the rope. My forearms were getting spent by the time I got pulled out. It's worth considering what diameter rope is in your throwbag. Thanks to everyone for their efforts - Mike for pulling me out, Rob for getting my paddle and boat, Brad for swimming into the recirculating eddy to get the second paddle and Sam for the bow rescue and boat rescue.

Darren