The hole that ate a Panda

Headed out with crew from Nate Nahikian's Potomac River Outfitters spring training. I thought the level was somewhere above 4.8, but it looked lower. A check after the session said it was 4.7 and falling. We went up the back channel for a bit of warm up at the top, then abused paddles and boats a little to make it out below Maryland Chute. We started working on the Maryland attain, managing the boils and taking on the speed ferry. The standard advice to folks learning the ferry is to work up as close behind the little hole that forms in the confusion at the top of the eddy before taking off for the ferry. As I paused for a small group of boats coming down from upstream, one pulls out of the current and spins on the eddyline for a moment. "Watch out for that hole!", he hollers over. "I got recirced in there for 45 seconds!" A spin back into the current and he's gone. "That hole?", I wonder. It is not quite a frown, but there is a strong inflow from attainer's left and a something of an eddy fence on attainer's right. But it doesn't look that well organized, I didn't think it was deep enough to recirculate a person or boat...and getting into it from below would take more than any in my crew would take on. So I didn't give it much more thought. Until later, that is, when friend Todd Henry gives me a shout as he passes through the chutes on his way downstream. I holler a greeting in return, then see that he has eddied out. I go down for a chat. He immediately launches into the tale of young Panda, who got caught in the hole above, swam, then recirced until Todd shoved his bow into the hole. It seems Todd was unable to pull him out --- and Panda's weight finally flipped Todd. Much swimming and spitting of water ensues, but both are able to escape and continue their evening. It was Panda who had given me the earlier warning, impressively sanguine about his misadventure. Looking at the hole with fresh eyes from above a little later, I do see that it is better organized than I had realized previously. So, while Maryland Chute appears to be such a benign and even friendly place, I now know about two places there with more teeth than I thought. And this little hole apparently found Panda to be a yummy treat. ;-)