Pullman Summers Fun, But Be Safe

PULLMAN, WASHINGTON -- Summertime in Pullman is a time to have fun and enjoy the heat, but being too wild could be dangerous down at the Snake River.

Every summer, students from all over Pullman and Moscow drive down to cool off on a hot day. The dunes near the Lower Granite Lock and Dam and cliffs just east of the Wawawai landing are the local hot spots that most students travel to. Celebrating a hot day with alcohol is a common theme, but could be a recipe for disaster.
Drownings do not happen very often along the Snake River, according to Nannette Bolyard of the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office. Since 1996, there have only been two people who have drowned in Whitman County, Bolyard stated.

Although the number of Snake River deaths is two in the previous 13 years, both of those occurred during the last three summers. The first happened over the summer of 2006, when a 24-year-old Lewiston man went missing across the canyon from the Wawawai Landing near cliffs. He was with four other friends at the time, and none of whom seemed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The friends flagged down a nearby rowing team who got help at the Wawawai Landing.

The other drowning occurred just last summer to a 23-year-old Washington State University student at the sand dunes, when he attempted to swim to a floating device. The student panicked, and soon went under water. Friends were too far out of reach to save him.

“You never know when an event like this will happen,” recent WSU graduate Erica Jensen, said. “These drownings happen out of the blue. No one plans them and that’s why you must be safe when being at the river.”

The sand dunes, just five miles west of the Lower Granite Lock & Dam on the Garfield County side, is a big, sandy beach that at times consists of a few hundred people or more. The sand goes into the river and doesn’t seem to get any deeper for a few hundred yards, making it a hot spot for college kids to hang out and cool off. The cliff, near Wawawai Landing, is the other popular spot. The danger of cliff diving includes hitting unseen boulders, going unconscious from the impact of the water, or becoming hypothermic from swimming in the cold water for a long period of time.

While planning a trip down to the Snake River, people must think about safety, despite the anxiousness and eagerness to relax and enjoy the sun.

“Never swim alone and be prepared for anything to happen. Have life vests nearby, or some other floating device. And don’t go out into waters if you are not an experienced swimmer,” stated Jensen. Many drownings are caused by alcohol/drugs, or inexperienced swimmers going beyond their abilities. Swimming alone lowers the chances of being rescued by friends. Another popular mistake people make is ignoring “trespassing” or other warning signs. “Kids are reckless and don’t usually think before they act. Sometimes the only way they learn is to experience a tragedy, which is unfortunate,” Jensen added.

Alcohol is another mistake that should be avoided at all costs while swimming. For one, swimming while intoxicated makes it very difficult to maneuver through the water. One can easily become fatigued and disoriented while in deep waters. Alcohol also has an effect on body temperature; the Snake River is relatively cold, so swimming under the influence will cause your body to become numb faster than if a person were sober.

Swimming can be fun, but also dangerous. While at the dunes or cliffs, just follow the rules and be smart. It will turn out to be a fun day you will always remember.