Because the current was pushing away from that wall. As I started to swim to river right I realized that I was just waisting effort and getting nowhere. Too many times I’ve seen people waist effort fighting to swim against the flow and then gassing out and needing to be rescued. I didn’t have the luxury of being rescued so I had to make my effort count. The current took me from river right to river left and so when I finally swam with purpose it was a short swim to break out of the main flow. It’s amazing how much energy it takes to fight a river so I try to use the rivers energy to my advantage.
It’s my Red Cross, usually it’s for Disaster Relief but it decided to take this one off after saving others in the previous rapid. Evidently the teamsters limited it to One disaster per day.
I'd have done it a bit differently. In shallow water, on your back with your feet up, but as soon as I'm in deep water I'm on my stomach and using my paddle to swim aggressively to shore. Most people hold their paddle in one hand a side-stroke but you can use your paddle to swim faster than you can swim with just your hands.
You’re welcome to come and give it a try. I usually swim with my paddle when I can see an exit. This particular case the safest place was actually in the deep water in the middle and not near the rocks next to shore on both sides. I would have swam with my paddle at the end but it was ripped out of my hand on the last drop and rather than breaking it I let it go. It’s always easier to see and say what to do when you aren’t in the water and the GoPro always makes everything look much more chill than it really is. But I’d be happy to film you showing me how it’s done
