Rangers Rescue Stranded Boaters from Snake River

September 4, 2009
09-86
Grand Teton National Park rangers rescued two stranded boaters from the Bourbon Street Channel of the Snake River today, September 4, at approximately 3:45 p.m. A boatman and his partner apparently flipped their dory (drift boat) while floating the side channel and were unable to right their craft. One man was stranded atop the boat, which was lodged against the root-ball of a half submerged snag in the channel; the other man was able to get to the riverbank. Neither of the two men was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident.

Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received a cell phone call at 2:00 p.m. from a passing boater that reported seeing a man who was stranded in the river channel and clinging to the keel of his upturned boat. Park rangers launched two rescue rafts from the Moose Landing, while additional park staff drove to a remote river access point and approached the location on foot. In addition, Teton County Search and Rescue personnel launched a motorboat from the Wilson Landing, located 12 miles downstream. The rangers on foot were not able to reach the stranded boater and instructed him to stay atop his dory until rescue boats could get to him by water. Rangers reached the stranded boatman, safely transferred him to the rescue raft and floated him to a downstream landing. His partner was also transported to safety.

The identities of the two men have not been reported at this time.