JACKSON, Wyo. — A husband and wife duo from Twin Falls, Idaho, were rescued from the Snake River on Saturday after realizing that they were unable to navigate the river a few miles into their voyage.
At 1 p.m., after receiving a call from the husband, Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) initiated a rescue.
That morning, the couple had rented a raft and launched at the Wilson Bridge with the goal of floating to the South Park Landing 13 miles downriver. A few miles into their voyage, they realized they would not be able to navigate the river, which typically splits into different channels about a mile downriver of the put-in. Deep snow also made it hard for them to walk on the banks.
On March 11, the Snake was flowing about 800 cfs (cubic feet per second). This is close to the 27-year median flow for this time of year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Recognizing they’d gone as far as they could safely go, the couple parked their raft along the side of the river next to the levee and called for help. TCSAR volunteers responded by driving snowmobiles down the levee to the waiting couple. The volunteers lifted the raft out of the water and towed it behind a snowmobile back to a private road where the couple could pick it up later. The couple were given a lift on snowmobiles back to the Wilson Bridge.
“This incident is a good example of why it’s important to call Search & Rescue before a situation escalates into a more challenging or dangerous scenario, not just for yourself but first responders as well,” said TCSAR. “TCSAR was happy to help out this couple and bring this incident to a safe conclusion.”
