HOBACK RIVER STRAINER SNAGS A KAYAKER

Hoback River near Jackson, Wyoming May 30, 1995

DESCRIPTION: On May 30, 1995 two local beginning kayakers, Joe Lynch and Kyle Martin, were running this local river at a moderately high level. This is a class II+ roadside run with a number of large strainers. Lynch flipped, swam, and lost his paddle. Martin decided to continue downstream in his rented kayak to pick up their car. Lynch waited two hours, then began walking. He was picked up by friends, and notified authorities that his partner was missing.

A full scale search involving helicopters, dogs, and search and rescue team members began at once. After four days they had narrowed down the possible accident sites to a massive strainer at the base of a cliff. A ranger rappelled down and attached a cable to some enormous spruce trees which had plunged into the river. A helicopter, after an hour of patent work, was able to pull the snag apart. This released the pinned kayak, which was recovered, but the victim's body rolled over and disappeared from view.

SOURCE: Jackson Hole Guide; Jackson Hole Daily Guide

ANALYSIS: Because the victim was boating alone we know very little about the actual accident, and cannot guess whether the presence of a second paddler might have made a rescue possible. Certainly it would have improved the odds.