Fly shop owner dies in rafting accident

Fly shop owner dies in rafting accident
by PERRY BACKUS and WILL MOSS - Ravalli Republic

The owner of a Hamilton fly shop died in a rafting accident on the Bitterroot River Wednesday.

Richard “Dick” Galli, 72, drowned after the raft he was riding in overturned just south of Hamilton at about 2 p.m.

Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman said the three men launched their boat from a fishing access site at Anglers Roost.

Just downstream, they apparently hit a brush pile and the boat overturned, Hoffman said. It landed on a tree limb and the men were ejected....

...While the Bitterroot River isn’t running bank full, Hoffman said it has reached the point in the spring when floaters need to be very careful.“It’s always a fairly tricky river to float, but the danger increases in the spring,” Hoffman said. “We urge people to use extreme caution and maybe consider waiting to float until the river drops enough so they can see debris.”

Click here for the full story at the Ravalli Republic.com - Fly shop owner dies in rafting accident

Dick and Jack were friends. Jack stopped in the shop often. He liked and respected Dick. He will be missed. Our condolences to his family.