Eagle River: Packraft Dislodging at 5'

Eagle River was running roughly at the 5' level this day. It was a situation where a novice boater ran his raft into a strainer, and after narrowly avoiding death by somehow crawling through the wood underwater he reserviced with only a few scratches and a broken helmet. We then spent the next two hours trying to get his boat dislodged from the wood. Thankfully it wasn't his body. This event led to an investment in a rescue PFD with O-ring the following season; having the rope wrapped around your neck is not proper form. The rescue was performed above a large strainer 20 feet downriver. We had rescue boats on hand below that point, and an adequate number of throw ropes should the rescuer take a swim. A learning experience from the power of Eagle River at 5'. Always respect her.