Tuesday, August 1, 2023,
"Bridge to Bridge" Campground Logjam, Eagle River, Alaska
The group consisted of a packraft and two whitewater kayaks. The two kayakers had extensive experience and reliable rolls and the packrafter moderate experience and a solid reentry.
The packrafter and one kayker decided to portage the campground rapid, while the other kayaker decided to run the approach above the logjam and river-right drop solo. He had paddled that section and rapid before and was familiar with the hazards and approach. The packrafter and other kayaker waited in the eddie below the logjam.
On his approach the kayaker missed a brace and flipped. On his attempt to roll he hit is head on a rock, losing focus and resulting in pulling his skirt and swimming. He attempted to swim both to the right and to the left to avoid the logjam in the center, but the current was too strong and had recently changed due to the right channel opening up again, so he swam hard at the logs and managed to pull himself on top of the logs and climb out, self rescuing.
In the eddie below the logjam we were unable to see his swim and only saw the upside down kayak and paddle come down through the drop. It took about 30 seconds from seeing the gear float by to seeing the swimmer give the "I'm okay" signal from the top of the logjam, so we hadn't yet initiated any sort of rescue attempt. A rescue of someone on the front of the logjam could be very difficult and risky for a rescuer due to the instability and changing nature of the logjam.
The group had extensive experience and was familiar with the logjam hazard. Both kaykers had solid rolls and the packrafter solid re-entries. The hazard and change in currents were discussed as the group scouted the rapid and logjam, however the other kayaker felt confident in his ability to paddle the section of class II water before the logjam and drop. Unfortunately he made a mistake and took a swim which nearly had devastating consequences.
For the two of us in the eddie below the logjam, we learned the lesson that if someone decides to accept the risk and run the rapid, it is best to have someone above and below the logjam to have the best possible response to any rescue, however difficult that may be at this location.
