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The most popular river to raft, canoe and kayak in the Anchorage area is Eagle River. Because of its close location to the metropolitan area and easy access, its wilderness views, and its varying degrees of difficulties (easy to somewhat difficult), Eagle River is a premier recreational river for outdoor enthusiasts. From beginners, to the most experienced, all enjoy what this wonderful river has to offer. However, as with any outdoor activity in this great state of Alaska, there are certain risks associated with riding on water. Eagle River certainly has its share.
Because of the reasons that Eagle River attracts one to its shores, it becomes easy to overlook its dangers, and Eagle River can be a very dangerous river. It is a killer river. This very cold glacier fed river can drain the warmth of a human body in mere minutes. Its many tree and shrub lined edges create strainers that can keep you under water longer than you can hold your breath, and the force of the water can beat and pulverize as it carries you over its many boulders. Despite these dangers, Eagle River can be fun and safe if you are prepared for it.
A long time saying in the white water community is "There are those who HAVE fallen in the river, and there are those who WILL fall in the river." If you start your adventure prepared to take a swim, you are more likely to have a fun and safe trip than if you start out thinking you won’t get wet and end up in the drink.
My favorite portion of this river is a two mile stretch from Briggs Bridge to the Glenn Highway bridge. This is the whitewater section of Eagle River. It contains numerous class IIs and a thrilling class III rapid known as Campground Rapid. It takes about 20 - 25 minutes to make this run. Because of the easy in and out access, you can make two runs in about an hour.
After many years of canoeing and rafting down Eagle River, I recently moved from the WILL category to the HAVE category. One Wednesday evening, I took a group of young men from my church on a rafting trip through this section of Eagle River. This was a first for most of them. It was also a first for Bob, at the oars (in the other raft) for this part of the river. Before starting, I gave the boys a safety briefing in the unlikely event of a water landing. We made our first run with me leading the way so that Bob could follow my line. I had run this section so many times that there was nothing else I could learn. So I thought.
The river level was about medium. A perfect level. We went past the warning signs urging canoes to get out. "We ain’t in a canoe, boys," I tell them, "so here we go." The best way I have found to approach this rapid is to stay in the middle of the small canyon. If you get too far to the left, you end up going through a sneak route that doesn’t have as much action. If the water level is too low (about medium or less), you can’t get back in the main flow without carrying your raft. If you get too far to the right, there’s a big rock that creates a good size hole, but the best advice is to just stay away from the rock (you’ll soon find out why). Immediately after the rock, the river makes a quick turn to the right. It is best to back ferry to the right, or to charge hard for river right. If you don’t get to the right side fast, you stand a good chance of getting caught on the rocks that sit in the middle of the river (been there, done that, the first time I ran it). Also, getting to river right as soon as possible will give you some time to set up your raft to shoot through the narrow channel on river right. It’s important to go through the channel properly because there is a nice hole (not a keeper) at the bottom with a good wave. This is the wettest part of the river. After that, the river calms down.
Although Campground rapid is rated as only a class III rapid, many experienced paddlers agree that the technical approach required makes this rapid more difficult than the rating may suggest. At any rate, a careful scout of this rapid is highly recommended.
We ran this rapid just as I described above. No problems. We wait at the bottom for Bob. He follows the same line and had no trouble. A much better job than I did my first time (Did I mention that rock in the middle of the river?). We continue down to the take out about a ¼ mile farther down. The boys had a blast. We quickly pull the rafts out and load them up for another run.
At the start, we change some of the boys around and add another adult who didn’t ride the first run. The boys had discovered that my 12’ raft gave a much wetter ride than Bob’s 14’, and they wanted some of the action. So loaded up, we head for action.
We ride through some of the class II’s and Rod, our new adult rider, jokes that this is no big deal. With that, I tried as hard as I could to get him wet. I entered every rapid I could with the corner he was sitting on. He continued to say, "this is no big deal." I kept telling him to just wait. Campground rapid was coming.
I wanted to make this as wet as I could. Without swimming, that is. As we approached the rapid, I wanted to stay as far to the right as possible so we could hit the hole on the back side of the rock. We moved farther to the right, and then I realized as was too far to the right. If the river had been a few inches higher, there might have enough water to go over the rock. But there wasn’t. I had to get left. It wasn’t going to happen. We hit the rock with the right side of the raft. This is when things moved fast. My riders were too inexperienced to know to climb to the high side. After realizing that they weren’t moving, I started to yell, but I was too late. The right side started its ascent of the rock. I thought we might make it until I saw Rod, who was sitting right forward, tumble down the left side. That’s all she wrote. Next thing I knew, I was in the water. Boy, was I mad.
I was mad for being stupid. I knew better. At this point the adrenaline really gets pumped up. I immediately stood up and grabbed the raft. Fortunately, the water was shallow enough that I didn’t go downstream. The others weren’t so lucky. Apparently the boys didn’t hold on to the raft and were swept downstream. After I stood up, I started counting bodies. I watched as two of the boys went right through the whole rapid just the way I told them, feet first. The third climbed on the rock that sits in the middle of the river. I then realized I was still missing one. Where was Rod? About that time the raft started moving, and it wasn’t the river that doing the moving. I lift up the raft and there’s Rod underneath it. He lost his glasses, but other wise, he was okay.
At this point Bob came by in his raft. Those on his raft had the best seat in the house. I told Bob to get those who went down stream, but by the time he gets there, the boys had made their way to shore. He proceeded to collect some of the floating debris.
After knowing that everyone wasn’t hurt, I began to check out the gear. Not expecting the possibility of a flip, I didn’t tie anything down. I watched my cooler (seat) go floating down the river. All I could do was hope that someone would grab it downstream. Rod helped me flip the raft right side up. I was surprised and thankful that my oars and oar mounts were still intact. Besides a missing bail bucket, everything was good to go. We climbed back in and headed down the river.
Even though it had only been no more than a couple minutes since the flip, Rod was getting cold. I had worn a thick farmer John wetsuit and was quite warm, but I knew I had to get the others warmed up as soon as possible. As we floated through the rest of the rapid, we went by one of the boys sitting on the rock and told him to hang on. I pulled the raft over below the rock and got out to perform a rescue for our stranded paddler.
Wednesday night is a good night to raft Eagle River. The Knik Canoers and Kayakers are usually on the river this night. This Wednesday was no exception. There was a small group of whitewater canoeists and kayakers already sitting below the rapids. They watched our little show and then proceeded to give a helping hand. They managed to collect most of the runaway gear. By the time I made it up to the rock, Doug had taken up position with throw ropes in hand. All I could think about was getting our stranded youth off the rock before somebody called 911. The last thing I wanted was for the Fire Department to show up.
Because our rock sitter was getting cold, he had taken his life jacket off. I couldn’t believe it. "Get that life jacket back on," we told him. After quickly analyzing the situation, we knew we had to get him off fast. Because of the fast water, it would have taken too long to get to him by raft. Fortunately, the river calms down quite a bit below this rock. So Doug determined (and I had to agree) that the best call of action was for our stranded paddler to jump back in the river and float to us. He didn’t want to do that, but realized that was the quickest way to warmth. With encouragement, he jumped back in and floated to us. Doug threw him a line and I dragged him in. A textbook rescue. Quick, simple and effective.
The next priority was to get these guys to a warm car. Fortunately, the parking lot was only a quarter of a mile away. It was agreed that the boys needed to walk to the truck instead of riding in the raft. That would keep them warmer this way. Rod led them down the path, and I took the empty raft to the take out. I got there first. There was Bob and the KCK gang with the gear that they had collected. I had them get the truck heated up and ran up the trail to find them. When I caught up to them, they were making slow progress. Rod had a hard time seeing without his glasses. I led them the rest of the way and got them in some dry clothes and in the warm truck.
I thanked Doug and the others for their help, and then loaded up so we get the cold ones home. A hot tub was only five minutes away. After the gear was loaded, I started to come off my adrenaline rush. I noticed a funny feeling in my right foot. I took off my neoprene booty and couldn’t believe what I saw. One of my toes was pointed 45 degrees in the wrong direction. Great! I broke my toe. It must have been when I stopped the raft from going down river after the flip, but I didn’t feel it. Even after I discovered it, it didn’t hurt. I figured once a got everybody home, I’d then go to the hospital.
After we got to Rod’s house, we checked everybody over to make sure they didn’t have any unnoticed injuries. Everyone checked out okay. They all climbed in the hot tub, and were quickly warmed. All but one of the boys had a great time and wanted to do it again. Rod said he needed a new set of glasses anyway. I think he was just telling me that so I wouldn’t feel too bad.
That’s my story of my first flip. I’m sure it won’t be my last, but the next time I’ll be more prepared. From now on, I wear helmets and wetsuit/drysuites when there is the slightest chance of a flip, and I tie all my gear down. It was certainly a good lesson. I learned a lot from it. I learned to stay away from the rock on river right. I learned that glacier fed rivers are really cold. I learned the importance of making sure everyone listens to safety briefings (and that teenagers do listen sometimes). And the greatest lesson I learned is that if there is a river, and a raft, that raft may flip, and you better be ready.
Oh, as for my toe, about an
hour later, it fell back into place. I must have just dislocated it. It
never did hurt, just my ego.