Search and Rescue had to come and get me Friday night

Snake River Marksman · Post by **Snake River Marksman** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:17 pm

Becareful and be prepared out there.

I always thought this would be embarrassing but I never realized by how much.

My neighbor and I decided to canoe across the Snake River to go elk hunting. The current swept us downstream faster than we could paddle across, and we were capsized in a rapid. In my arrogance, I wasn't wearing the lifejacket that was at my feet. Don't even bother calling me stupid, I already know it too well. "I never thought it would happen to me!" Sound familiar, every victim says it. If they survive!
Billy ended up on the side of the river with the highway, and I on the other side. He went to get help. I wrung out my fleece jacket and my 50/50 cotton/polyester sweat shirt and did shallow knee bends for 2+ hours till Search and Rescue got the raft over to me. My body temp was 94 when I got into the ambulance. (Under my own power I'm proud to say)

It was 40° and mixed snow and rain with thankfully, no wind.
We launched the canoe about a half hour before dark. So most of the rescue took place after dark. The forest service found the canoe the next morning, not far down stream stuck on a rock, but still servicable.

My PSK was in a pelican 1000 box in my jacket pocket. It floated away at some point, and I am supremely confident that it is still dry and servicable, somewhere in the Palisades resevoir. My knife was in my back pocket. It's just fine. I debated fire by friction, but the first responders were there in less than 20 min. and I wasn't really that cold. If I'd really needed a fire, I'd have had them toss me a couple of road flares. The rapid is very narrow there and it could easily have been done.

My PSK is going to get smaller and simpler. Some tinder (trioxane or something) and matches and a sparker or small lighter, and probably half of a space blanket, in a match container, around my neck or something. The rest can go in a gear bag.

This was a bad situation that could have been a whole lot worse. If Billy and I had both ended up on the same side of the river, It would either have been a long climb out, or a very cold 24hour wait till my wife reported us overdue and someone came looking for us.
Right now I'm feeling a lot of guilt for Billy having been there, though as he told me, "You didn't make me do anything I didn't want to" Still........

Yes this really did happen to me Friday night. If you don't have a small Personal Survival Kit made up that you carry IN A POCKET ON YOUR PERSON AT ALL TIMES make one, get one or contact me and I'll get you one. I've been an outdoorsman all my life, I've studied and PRACTICED survival skills for years, and I was still screwed Friday night. It most certainly CAN happen to YOU.

daveytech · Post by **daveytech** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:37 pm

I'm glad you're still alive and well!

Post by **MuleyMadness** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:21 pm

YIKES!! That doesn't sound fun or good.

Glad you're okay you that you guys made it out.

Scary.

NONYA · Post by **NONYA** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:49 pm

Glad your safe Snake,I had to have S&R come get me off a remote lake shore once when I had a siezure and couldnt walk back to the trail head,sure is nice to see them coming when you need em!

loco4muleys · Post by **loco4muleys** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:27 pm

Wow, that doesn't sound good at all. Glad you made it out ok.

horse sense · Post by **horse sense** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:20 pm

Marksman,

Thanks for the information. We fish the gulfcoast waters and every year an "experienced" water person drowns from not wearing a PFD. We now all wear the inflatables around the waist on our boat (it is mandatory for all passengers). Cold is generally not an issue here, but its good to hear you made it out OK. I would like some information on the personal survival kit (what is in one and where to get or make one). I am heading to Montana in November mule deer hunting and this is my first time away from the deep south. I know the woods pretty well, but severe weather around here is generally rain and wind, but not severe cold. We can all learn a lesson from you. thanks again

Horse sense

IDHunter · Post by **IDHunter** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 5:11 pm

I'm glad everything ended up fine.

+1 on getting information on what you keep in your personal survival kit. I always carry what I feel could save my life, but I keep it in my pack. I just realized that in your situation I wouldn't have my pack on and I'd be in big trouble.

AGCHAWK · Post by **AGCHAWK** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:20 pm

SRM, I am REALLY glad to hear that you made it out in one piece and are able to learn from your mistakes (I think we've all made that same decision at one point or another....you just got unlucky and 'ol Murphy's Law came calling).

I also always carry a PSK with me whenever I am out hiking, hunting, fishing, etc.

BIGBUCKCRAZY · Post by **BIGBUCKCRAZY** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 9:30 pm

SRM glad all ended well. I've always been told its better to learn from someone elses mistakes so thanks for sharing. its opened my eyes as to how un prepared I might be. I love to try to hunt alone so being totaly prepared is even more important. my PSK is in my pack which probably isnt the best place. thanks for the tips.

MuliesnMerriams · Post by **MuliesnMerriams** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:29 am

Holy-moly, glad you're OK man!! And thanks for sharing your story with the rest of us. We all need to be reminded once and awhile that we're not invisible.