Saber6delta
Tenderfoot
My story of survival,
Kyle and I are both prior United States service members, and know our way around in the wilderness. I have over 14 months combat experience in Iraq and Kyle has conducted multiple ocean drug raids in South America. When we head out to the Mother Lode country, we carry food, water, med kits, weapons, everything you could think for emergency situations. We NEVER saw this coming however.
This past Sunday, "the last day in May," we headed out to the American River (north fork) located at Iowa Hill bridge "Mineral Bar" camp ground.
We planned to float down on Inner-tubes about 1-2 miles, prospect and hike back. We floated down river, and setup shop about 1.5 miles down river from our truck. After 5-6 hours, we decided to deflate the tubes pack up and started walking. It became real obvious that we could not hike out. We decided to float down the river on our backs and just walk around the nasty stuff, until we could reach Yankee Jim's Bridge. We floated up to this large boulder, that blocked 70% of the water flow on the left side of the river, and most water flowed around it to the right. As we were assessing the small water slide around the right side of the boulder, I suddenly starting floating alongside the boulder on my back. Kinda like there was some current that flowed under the boulder. Both of my feet crossed ankle over ankle and became stuck. I yelled to Kyle "I'm stuck" and I was pulled backwards underwater. Kyle grabbed me immediately tried to pull me up so I could get air. He couldn't get my head up outta the water. I knew I was fighting for my life at that point, and I couldn't do anything. I could feel Kyle pulling me and making no difference. I was at the point right before I engulfed water, when he got my head out of the water. I don't remember the details of how my feet became unstuck, I went into shock and he got me to shore. Looking back at the boulder and the water, it didn't look like a killer. At this point my leg was injured, but we made it to Yankee Jims bridge, hitch hiked to the Chevron gas station in Colfax, and i called my girlfriend in San Jose.
Later I learned that this is called a Foot Entrapment, which often result in death. Please be aware of this danger in rivers and use Extreme Caution when your out there Folks.
Thanks for reading my long story.
Fellow Prospector,
Dave J.
Kyle and I are both prior United States service members, and know our way around in the wilderness. I have over 14 months combat experience in Iraq and Kyle has conducted multiple ocean drug raids in South America. When we head out to the Mother Lode country, we carry food, water, med kits, weapons, everything you could think for emergency situations. We NEVER saw this coming however.
This past Sunday, "the last day in May," we headed out to the American River (north fork) located at Iowa Hill bridge "Mineral Bar" camp ground.
We planned to float down on Inner-tubes about 1-2 miles, prospect and hike back. We floated down river, and setup shop about 1.5 miles down river from our truck. After 5-6 hours, we decided to deflate the tubes pack up and started walking. It became real obvious that we could not hike out. We decided to float down the river on our backs and just walk around the nasty stuff, until we could reach Yankee Jim's Bridge. We floated up to this large boulder, that blocked 70% of the water flow on the left side of the river, and most water flowed around it to the right. As we were assessing the small water slide around the right side of the boulder, I suddenly starting floating alongside the boulder on my back. Kinda like there was some current that flowed under the boulder. Both of my feet crossed ankle over ankle and became stuck. I yelled to Kyle "I'm stuck" and I was pulled backwards underwater. Kyle grabbed me immediately tried to pull me up so I could get air. He couldn't get my head up outta the water. I knew I was fighting for my life at that point, and I couldn't do anything. I could feel Kyle pulling me and making no difference. I was at the point right before I engulfed water, when he got my head out of the water. I don't remember the details of how my feet became unstuck, I went into shock and he got me to shore. Looking back at the boulder and the water, it didn't look like a killer. At this point my leg was injured, but we made it to Yankee Jims bridge, hitch hiked to the Chevron gas station in Colfax, and i called my girlfriend in San Jose.
Later I learned that this is called a Foot Entrapment, which often result in death. Please be aware of this danger in rivers and use Extreme Caution when your out there Folks.
Thanks for reading my long story.
Fellow Prospector,
Dave J.
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