The River Gives and Almost Takes

On Friday Will, Jim, Pete, and Tom kayak the river. Attempting to put ashore on Gold Bar Beach the river suddenly triples in speed pushing Will and Jim's kayak into the brush while Pete and Tom are sent flying onto the rocks. As Will and Jim struggle to make land the river grabs Pete and Tom's kayak off the rocks and flips it upside down. Pete and Tom go under multiple times. The river is trying to claim them in the undertow below the overhangs. Jim makes land and is able to pull Pete ashore. Tom, already swept away twice is losing his one arm grip on a precarious overhang. Jim grabs an arm but the river will not release Tom. Will grabs hold, then Pete, and it takes all three to get the river to give back it's prey. Earlier in the day the river released the last drowning victim she had been keeping since June of last year. A few short hours later she unsuccessfully invites Will, Jim, Pete, and Tom to join her. There will be other opportunities. She won't be lonely long. When Saturday comes, with Pete having departed Moab, Gary joins Will, Jim, Tom who have unfinished business with the river and kayak to Base Camp.