A fisherman reported this tragic accident in Hells Canyon of the Snake River on May 29, 1999. He was with a group traveling in a chartered jet boat for a few days of sturgeon fishing. They were tied up to shore in flatwater. One person had just hooked a monster fish when they saw some debris floating by. They saw what looked like an ice chest, a paddle, and later a life jacket and then a swamped canoe float by. They didn't see any swimmers (or bodies), and they expected other members of the party with the canoeist to come by to pick up the pieces.

By the time they had landed and released the 10 foot fish, 30 minutes had passed since they saw the debris. They were starting to get concerned. They took their jet boat upstream as far as they could safely go, but saw no more debris or anyone else on the river. They then went downstream to try and collect the gear they had seen. By the time they caught up with it, another group had retrieved the gear, and a body too. It turned out that the life jacket they had seen had someone still in it, but they couldn't tell since he was face down and mostly submerged in the murky water.

They found the victim's trip permit in his wallet.  He was in his early 20's, from , traveling alone.  He had a flatwater canoe with no flotation bags and his mountain bike tied inside. He wore no cold water gear and most likely died of exposure.

SOURCE: rec.boats.paddle posting

ANALYSIS:  (Walbridge) This is a Class III-IV stretch of big water. With the wrong equipment, and traveling alone, this poor fellow didn't have a chance.