Upper Animas missing kayaker found safe

[mania]

Durango Herald Online

basically sounds like he swam at no name and hiked 15 miles out to silverton while people searched for him for about 10 hours. it is so good to hear a happy ending to this story.

[GoodTimes]

Great ending to that story. Certainly nice to hear that a bad swim resulted in nothing more than a long hike (probably a little cold too).

I wonder why he left his buddy though?? The guy that pulled his boat from the river?? I'm sure the ordeal was much longer and more stressful for him. Thinking the worst had happened, I'm sure.

[Ture]

Wow. Glad it ended OK. Don't forget to buy a fishing license or one of those backcountry hiking permit thingies that give you evacuation insurance. I saw a Denver Post article this week about a search and rescue of a hiker in Clear Creek Canyon. As usual, the Golden rescue guys are trying to charge the guy for his rescue. The article said several thousand dollars. I'm pretty sure they don't charge someone after they cut them out of their car on the highway. For some reason, some search and rescue teams feel justified in charging people for their own rescues. I would rather they left us alone.

[goldcamp]

I'm really glad he was OK but if you ask me it was a bad idea to leave the river without waiting to pass a message on that he was safe. If it was late morning he surely would have seen someone in the next few hours that could tell a rescue party not to worry to much. Probably would have been best to hitch a ride with a raft if possible. Granted I don't know the area or circumstances.

[rockinRio]

I understand the need to "review" any situation and come up with alternative solutions.

I just want to make sure anyone posting a response to any rescue situation understands and tries to comply to a couple of simple rules.

1. If you have never been in a rescue situation you should be very careful how you word your thoughts. It is easy to sit in a comfy chair in a room typing at a keyboard and come up with a thousand different solutions. You have the luxury of being in a calm non-treating environment, without the pressure of someone's survival resting on your decisions.

2. No one under any circumstance should question the decisions made during a rescue. You weren't there, you don't know what was going on. You aren't under the same stress as the rescue workers. You should always apply this thinking... "Rescuers are doing everything they can, and making the best decision they can at that moment." Never take that away from people risking their lives to save someone else.

(In this case, the victim is also a rescuer.)


I'm all for reviewing a situation, discussing possible alternatives to the outcome. Just be constructive in the discussion.

It doesn't happen a lot on the "buzz" but I've seen it in other outdoor online forums. People stand back, point out flaws or mis-steps and give no helpful input. "That dude totally made the wrong call."

I'm not berating any one or post. I just want us to keep our heads up and forward.