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Feature article
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Paddling group plans event in honor of fallen comrade
By Doug Janz
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The reaction to John Heffernan’s death on the Russell Fork was understandably strong. Paddlers were shocked, saddened, and were struggling with the notion of going on without him.
When I wrote a recent column about Heffernan’s death at Breaks Interstate Park in a kayaking accident, I got quite a few responses — more than I’d gotten for any previous column.
The paddling community isn’t finished responding, either. A group of friends from Heffernan’s paddling club, Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts (APEs), plans to put on a boating festival in his honor next spring. They’re calling it Heff Fest.
Organizers are looking for monetary donations and volunteers to work the festival. They’ve already sent out a request for all APE members to start with a $25 donation to: Appalachian Paddling Enthusiasts, c/o Bill Fritsch, 211 McCarty Church Road, Telford TN 37690.
Among the e-mails I received about John Heffernan was one from an old friend in the running community, Brian Pickett, who has switched from paved runs to whitewater runs. Now a good paddler, he was part of the group in Russell Fork Gorge the day Heffernan drowned.
The water, he told me, was pushing at more than 1,000 CFS, considered a high level to travel the river — so high, in fact, that several people who’d paddled down the Pound River to the gorge opted not to run that part of the gorge. Brian said he and his wife decided it wasn’t their day to do the more difficult stretch, so they took out and positioned themselves so they could take some pictures as the group paddled through.
Heffernan led the way through a section called Triple Drop, taking a “cheat route” down the left side, but with the water running so high, that was actually “a huge recirculating hole,” Brian said.
John got caught in that hole but found his way out. But he was still trying to roll his kayak back upright, and ended up doing the second drop upside down as he fought to finish the roll. By the third drop, he was no longer attempting to roll.
To quote Brian, “What happened next was seeing a group of seven people trained in swiftwater rescue and three people trained in advanced cardiac life support go to work. Everyone doing exactly what needed to be done. It could have been put in a textbook.”
Forty-five minutes of CPR didn’t work. There was a frustratingly long wait for the local rescue squad and other rescue officials to arrive. Nothing helped.
Brian said in his e-mail that the hardest things to do after that were getting back in a kayak to get down the river to a takeout point, and then driving John’s truck back to Bristol, with bluegrass music, Heff’s favorite, playing on the stereo.
“It will be a long time till I go back to Breaks again,” Brian said. “I used to say that was one of my favorite rivers, but I’m not so sure if I’ll venture there again."
Those at Breaks that day were some of the most affected people by John’s death. For many of them, getting back on the water in the subsequent days was a nervewracking experience. Brian said, “I still think of John every time I paddle.”
Those who knew Heffernan and learned from him on the rivers are surely the better for it. He was a favorite partner for many. His experience, instruction and example could be what save someone’s life in the future.
John had about him a spirit of bold exploration, sensible precaution and good humor. His death is a reminder of the worst thing that can happen to a paddler, but he also represents all the best things about the sport.
That’s what local paddlers hope to celebrate perhaps in May with the inaugural Heff Fest.
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Doug Janz writes about outdoor experiences in the Tri-Cities and beyond for GoTriCities. E-mail him at DouglasJanz@aol.com.
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