Went tubing down the Raisin River today (Monroe, MI) and was caught in the backwash of a low head dam. Didn't realize the damn was ahead until it was too late.
Fortunately the tube didn't flip while I was going over it; I did have my PFD on. I'm not sure how long I was stuck; my best guess is 5 to10 minutes (which is a long time in this scenario). My hands were used to paddle the tube into a position where my feet faced the dam wall and I used my feet to kick off (over and over and over again) to keep the tube from hitting the spillage (reducing the risk of capsizing). My shoes were sucked off during this process. I made one last kick and paddled my a** off with both hands as I slowly inched away from the damn. The soles of my feet are cutup and my arms burn like hell...
I don't know if I should be grateful to make it out ok OR down right pissed off that these worthless man made structures exist. Based on the research I did today, these damns are cause for more harm than good to the river eco system. Many human life's have been taken from these "drowning machines" as well.
Fortunately the tube didn't flip while I was going over it; I did have my PFD on. I'm not sure how long I was stuck; my best guess is 5 to10 minutes (which is a long time in this scenario). My hands were used to paddle the tube into a position where my feet faced the dam wall and I used my feet to kick off (over and over and over again) to keep the tube from hitting the spillage (reducing the risk of capsizing). My shoes were sucked off during this process. I made one last kick and paddled my a** off with both hands as I slowly inched away from the damn. The soles of my feet are cutup and my arms burn like hell...
I don't know if I should be grateful to make it out ok OR down right pissed off that these worthless man made structures exist. Based on the research I did today, these damns are cause for more harm than good to the river eco system. Many human life's have been taken from these "drowning machines" as well.
..they are basically useless too