Lost Boaters Rescued in Denali National Park and Preserve
06/26/2010 | by Denali National Park and Preserve News Release
June 21, 2010
For Immediate Release
Contact: Kris Fister (907) 683-9583
Lost Boaters Rescued in Denali National Park and Preserve
On Tuesday, June 15 the National Park Service rescued a group of three
boaters from Birch Creek, in the far western region of Denali National Park
and Preserve, using the park’s A-Star B3 helicopter and GPS coordinates
provided by the party. Pam Rothwell, 50, David Watts, 62 of Fairbanks and
Marv Page, 63, of Anchorage were dumped in the water when their boat
collided with a snag in the stream around 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 14.
They got to the east shore but most of their belongings and all of the food
floated away. There were no injuries. They used a satellite phone to
contact a relative, who then called the Alaska State Troopers. The park was
notified of the accident shortly after 7:00 a.m. on the 15th.
The three friends left Manley Hot Springs on Monday, June 7 in a 24-foot
river skiff for a trip to Lake Minchumina, which is just outside the
western boundary of Denali National Preserve. They planned to travel from
the Tanana River to the Kantishna River, enter the preserve and travel the
Muddy River to Lake Minchumina. The boat was equipped with an Evinrude 75
hp motor with an engine lift. None of the three had ever been on the route
before.
The group traveled up the Kantishna River and then turned into Birch Creek,
mistaking it for the Muddy River. Birch Creek is considered to be very
difficult to navigate as it is relatively shallow much of the year. The
boaters managed to travel approximately 40 miles south into the park before
the engine failed. At that point they realized their mistake and began to
float downstream, but had difficulty maneuvering due to the swift current
and tight turns.
The boat remains completely submerged in moving water at the accident scene
pending a possible recovery later in the summer when water levels drop.
-NPS-
Experience Your America
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American
people so that all may experience our heritage.
____________________________________________
Kris Fister
Public Affairs Officer
Denali National Park and Preserve
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755
(907) 683-9583
Kris_Fister@nps.gov
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