JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) was mobilized over the weekend to help some stranded river users.
According to its social media post, TCSAR was dispatched around 12:55 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, when a party of seven out for a family float between Moose and Wilson got stuck on the rootball of a downed tree in the Snake River, outside of the boundary of Grand Teton National Park.
When the raft took on water, an adult and three kids became stuck on top of the obstruction, TCSAR wrote. Two adults and one child stayed on the raft and were able to make their way to a nearby riverbank. TCSAR figured out that the stranded party was close to Snake River Ranch’s private river access point. Once the ranch gave the agency permission, TCSAR volunteers launched a jet boat from the access point, navigating to the family from downstream.
First, the stranded adult with three kids were helped onto the boat. Then, the boat picked up the remaining child from the shore. The remaining adults elected to float the raft to the Wilson take-out. The party reunited in Wilson.
The Teton County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS also participated in the multi-agency response, according to TCSAR.
“This incident is a reminder of the hazards present on the Snake River, especially during spring runoff,” the agency posted. “The river can split into braided channels with shifting logs, strainers and debris. Combined with swift, cold water, these factors create dangerous conditions that can trip up even the most skilled boaters. TCSAR thanks the responding personnel and Snake River Ranch for granting river access to swiftly and safely resolve this incident.”
