In early July, 1996 a group of five South Koreans who had been climbing on Mt. McKinley decided to raft Alaska ’s Talkeetna River . This is a fly-in river containing big Class IV rapids, with large waves capable of knocking paddlers into the river. The group was using a 14’ raft, and towing an inflatable kayak. While the Talkeetna is not the coldest river in Alaska , it is very cold by the standards of the "Lower 48”. The group broached their raft on a rock and flipped. The four men in the party were wearing wet suits or drysuits; the lone woman had neither. The men swam to shore and saw the woman floating downstream, hanging on to their boat. They searched for several hours, then started a fire to keep warm. They flagged a passing airplane, who in turn radioed a helicopter to pick them up. Her body was recovered seven miles downstream, lodged in a strainer.

SOURCE: Danny Crow, an Alaskan, posting to rec.boats.paddle

ANALYSIS: (Walbridge) This is not the first foreign party to underestimate the effects of Alaska 's icy rivers. Full cold weather gear and a party size of two boats should be considered minimum. If either had been available, the victim might have survived.