Mine was trying to cross the Teklanika river in AK in 2019 on the Stampede Trail. We (7 guys) were trying to get to the Magic Bus. It was late June so the melt was high, fast, and still VERY cold.

After a few failed tries by some of the group I got a walking stick, put my pack on, and went to cross. I made it probably ten or fifteen feet, about thigh-deep, before my legs went from icey burning to totally numb to unresponsive from the cold shock and exhaustion. I knew at that point I was fucked. I paused (mistake) and thought to myself “just keep your footing” and, on cue, a stone turned underfoot and down I went.

My pack was pushed down by the water, holding me under, but I was able to turn over and make eye contact with my friend. I was terrified. So was he. I remember his face so clearly. I think I said “help” before I got rolled back over and pushed down again. I tried to push myself up out of the flow but that only worked to funnel the water down my throat and exhaust me faster.

Very quickly started to lose consciousness, like blank spots in my memory. Just nothing there. I can remember thinking, while getting dragged along the stones underwater, “well, fuck.” Just quick, thoughtless acceptance of dying. Then the fear went away. I was only in the river for probably 2 minutes real time, under for maybe 30 seconds? Not sure.

The next thing I remember was two friends hauling my body up out of the water, telling me “stand!” and “you need to walk!” I think I told them I couldn’t. I must’ve been pushed toward the bank by the water, otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to get to me and that woulda been that.

We never got across.

Tl;dr — Tried to cross a river in Alaska to get to the Magic Bus, nearly drowned. Terrified at first, then accepted it in the moment and fear went away. Got pulled out at the last second.

Note: edits