Caddo River Trip Report from Sunday 3-29

[Jim Krueger]

Marlo, Gary & Karla Rowland and myself had a good trip yesterday from The Swinging Bridge to Glenwood. The water was about 7.20 ft. or so at put-in time, and wonderfully sunny weather. We had some 'big for the Caddo' bouncy wavetrains and there were also a ton of surfing opportunities along the way. Also great gravel bar lunch of fried chicken at 'Lunchtime Rapid' :) but near the end of our trip though, things became quite a bit more somber
as we encountered a family of four in sit-on-top rental kayaks (not from the two major outfitters in the area) in various stages of hypothermia and we had to switch to rescue mode.
Earlier this morning, I tried to compose a more lengthy report but the 'computer ate my homework'... I'll try again, and be more brief.
We encountered these folks as they passed by what would have been our last rest break, about two miles above Glenwood, they were somewhat conversive and seemed to be paddling alright, but all looked wet. When we continued on, we shortly encountered them on a mid-stream submerged island/strainer of stick-ups, something didn't look right. As Marlo and Karla passed them and inquired, they offered limited and varied responses... When Gary and I stopped to check on them, it was obvious one of the ladies was certainly hypodermic, to the point of just sitting there (with her three little wet dogs,and a tangle of leashes...) She was pretty rigid and loosing the color in her face.
Marlo and Karla helped Gary and I chase down their missing paddles and life jacket before he and I returned upstream with their equipment. My plan A was to get them all back in their boats and quickly float with them on to the take-out, about 20-25 minutes away. No dice... The most affected lady was beyond holding or using a paddle, and the rest were doing little to prevent drifting into the next strainer. It was obvious we needed to go to plan B, getting them out of the river. With great help from Marlo, Gary, and Karla, we were able to get the folks to a more friendly landing just downstream. I have seldom tied on to another boat
but I saw that was going to be the only way to get this lady through another strainer and to the bank. Once on the shore, I really must commend Marlo and Karla for helping the lady to stand and especially for helping her to the woods where they could remove her wet clothes and re-outfit her with layers of warm, dry fleece.
One of the greatest helps to us was two local young guys who were riding their ATVs by at the time, before I got up to where they were Gary visited with them and they offered to go get their truck. After Marlo and Karla attended to the lady who was the most hypodermic, the guys showed up about twenty minuted later with a shiny red pickup that I'm sure they wouldn't have been down in this cow pasture with unless there was a real need. I was so pleased with their help and only regret not asking their names. After we had the people evacuated back to town, we pulled their boats up in the pasture for the outfitters to retrieve later. What a day!

Jim Moose

[aquagirl]

Those folks were very fortunate that you guys were proactive about helping them . . . . Good reminder about how serious hypothermia is.

Glad everyone is OK!

Beth

[Karla]

Posting a pic that Jim took of me that I thought was a perfect, great shot.

Karla

[JTarver]

Great trip report and rescue job Jim and co. Good thing you guys were in the right place at the right time. Very lucky for those folks you guys were there as well.
Peace,
Joe