JACKSON, Wyo. — Search and rescue crews on both sides of the Tetons were busy performing river rescues on Wednesday, with Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) responding to a missing woman in the Snake River without a life jacket.
At 4 p.m. on Wednesday, TCSAR responded to the initial distress call related to a boating group downriver from the Wilson boat ramp. In a Thursday press release, TCSAR stated that a party of five — one adult male, one adult female and three children — experienced trouble after launching from Wilson, and the woman ended up in the river and was swept downstream. The rest of the party lost an oar and got stuck on an island in the middle of the Snake. It was reported that the woman who had been lost downstream was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD).
“At the time of the distress call, TCSAR had personnel in the team’s jet boat for a training exercise at the Wilson boat ramp,” TCSAR said. “They immediately responded and found the stranded party of four about 3 miles downriver from the put-in.”
Finding that the stranded group was not in dire need of assistance, the team continued to look for the missing woman. She was located 3 miles farther downriver, cold and tired but uninjured.
TCSAR volunteers got her into the jet boat, planning to bring her back upriver to her party. However, the jet boat experienced mechanical issues and was unable to reach the original group. Additional resources were diverted, and another TCSAR team in a search and rescue truck with an inflatable cataraft drove south down the Snake River levee from the Wilson bridge. The team was able to use the cataraft to ferry the stranded group across the river to safety.
“TCSAR volunteers then transported the rafters to the SAR HQ in town, and everyone called it a day,” said the statement. “There were many lessons learned in this incident, and we are grateful that tragedy was averted.”
The Snake River is flowing higher than normal for this time of year to fulfill agricultural water rights downstream. TCSAR has taken this opportunity to ask the public to prioritize safety when recreating on the water. Boaters are urged to have the appropriate skill level, knowledge and equipment when floating the Snake, and to always wear a properly fitted PFD: “We cannot stress this enough,” TCSAR said. The agency said that braided channels with multiple obstructions and obstacles are present on scenic stretches, confusing even the most experienced boaters. For those who lack experience but still want to access the river, it is a good idea to look into hiring a guide or joining a commercial trip.
