Rafter survives after embarking on a solo trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

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  • čas přidán 24. 05. 2024
  • I called rafter Thomas Gray after he was back at his home in North Fork, Idaho. We wanted to learn more about his harrowing tale of survival.

Komentáře • 52

  • @returningtoearthtv8836
    @returningtoearthtv8836 Před 2 měsíci +14

    Easy to criticize this fellow but lets sit a while with the fact that he kept his cool, kept moving, and stayed alive. There were many many days before inreach and satellite communication - the risk management kit we all take into the wilderness with us is between our ears. This guy used his. I say “Strong Work”.

    • @edwardanzo
      @edwardanzo Před měsícem

      While yes, great he survived. He still had no business doing that section of river especially alone.

  • @MaxRunia
    @MaxRunia Před 2 měsíci +9

    His brother drowned in those falls and he decided to not portage..? That's crazy. Crazy that he even still likes to do it after that too.

    • @edwardanzo
      @edwardanzo Před měsícem

      Ya, my group was one of the groups that actually found the brother. This man had no business doing that section of the river especially alone. Glad he is ok though.

    • @ream301
      @ream301 Před měsícem

      @@edwardanzo You sure you found him...?

  • @SLloyd-qb8kt
    @SLloyd-qb8kt Před 2 měsíci +4

    Wow! What an incredible story! I hope I'm still living life to the fullest in my 70s.

  • @dominicgandy8360
    @dominicgandy8360 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Thomas, great effort thumbs up
    You are showing that there is no reason not to try and squeeze the most from life
    It’s better to go down fighting.

  • @ryanstewart1521
    @ryanstewart1521 Před 2 měsíci +5

    I love stories of survival

  • @MrDepodot7
    @MrDepodot7 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Due to student loans I lived in my car for 14 years. You get used to sleeping without heat. Glad to hear he made it. I have had to shelter in place during storms in an S house and it stinks too bad to sleep, but staying dry keeps you alive.

  • @iangrant9117
    @iangrant9117 Před 2 měsíci +2

    I like being alone in the wilderness. You gotta be ready to get hardcore tho if need be. Kudos to this guy, he hasn’t let anything stop him. Including his brother.

  • @adamsons2890
    @adamsons2890 Před 2 měsíci +5

    That’s a great story. I’m so glad the gentleman is ok. He’s a tough son of a gun.

    • @RubysCreek
      @RubysCreek Před 2 měsíci

      He's a foolish son of a gun

  • @oxxnarrdflame8865
    @oxxnarrdflame8865 Před měsícem +1

    Good to hear he made it out safely. This why you need to have a knife and survival items on your PFD.
    This not the first time boaters have gotten separated from their gear.

  • @moscaman559
    @moscaman559 Před 2 měsíci +7

    Bad mistakes, never go alone, always carry an emergency GPS device. I never go into the wilderness without my Garmin mini, period….he’s really lucky to be alive.

  • @beckiingawanup8130
    @beckiingawanup8130 Před měsícem +1

    I almost drowned at Pistol Creek. It's not a joke about the River of NO Return. I've never gone back.

  • @andyroubik5760
    @andyroubik5760 Před 2 měsíci +7

    To truly know a River one must go to it as one would go to a sweetheart, alone!

  • @bmatt23420
    @bmatt23420 Před 2 měsíci +5

    So many bad decisions from the start.

  • @davidsalo8397
    @davidsalo8397 Před 2 měsíci +7

    Also, never boat on a river with recent debris flows and new log jams. This was well known. The storms that produced these geological features happened last August. The river system is very dynamic now after all the fires, and then intense thunderstorms. Pay heed to mother nature.

    • @aceyorba
      @aceyorba Před 2 měsíci

      And his brother died on the same waterfall

  • @koof1776
    @koof1776 Před 2 měsíci +2

    This man will live > 100-yrs easy~

  • @aliassmithandjones9453
    @aliassmithandjones9453 Před 2 měsíci +1

    dude thinks he's Buzz Holmstrom

  • @windingrhythmfilms
    @windingrhythmfilms Před 2 měsíci +2

    Wow a real adventure…

  • @boise2Talay7886
    @boise2Talay7886 Před 2 měsíci +2

    Early season rafting on the snow melt filled Middle Fork of the Salmon alone? Sounds like someone needs to consider choosing a new hobby. What's kind of amazing to consider is around 100 years ago people used to traverse down Marsh Creek and the Middle Fork all the way to the confluence with the main Salmon in wooden boats.

  • @fadedsilks
    @fadedsilks Před měsícem

    Lots of bad decisions but you gotta give it to this guy - he's a straight up gangster

  • @kgilliagorilla2761
    @kgilliagorilla2761 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Garmin dude! Lucky a bear didn’t get him.

  • @MrDepodot7
    @MrDepodot7 Před 2 měsíci

    Dang Dude! Glad to hear you made it. Log Jams are the devil. Do you know why I have 3 lighters in my backpack?

  • @christopheryellman533
    @christopheryellman533 Před měsícem

    He is much tougher than he is smart.

  • @TrailToughTrailers
    @TrailToughTrailers Před 2 měsíci

    👍☝

  • @lifesahobby
    @lifesahobby Před 2 měsíci +1

    I kayaked with people , being alone is more safe . But never change your planner route .
    He survived. ❤️👍

  • @NPCHSN
    @NPCHSN Před měsícem

    Men need adventure to thrive.

  • @onisgagan2481
    @onisgagan2481 Před 2 dny +1

    He better pick up golf…

  • @Snappy-ut4bj
    @Snappy-ut4bj Před 2 měsíci +10

    Sorry dude an experienced boater would know better than to go alone.

    • @michaelhill56
      @michaelhill56 Před 15 dny

      I know many experienced boaters that go alone, including me. That's part of the challenge, knowing that it's just you out there. MF is not what I consider to be very dangerous and I'd do it solo except FS regs don't allow me. But to each their own, you do you and I'll be me...

  • @will7its
    @will7its Před 2 měsíci +1

    I was never in a hurry to go in the water in small boats in the spring. Its ice cold and will kill you.
    Wait till the water warms up and stay alive....

    • @michaelhill56
      @michaelhill56 Před 15 dny

      😂😂😂 The MF doesn't warm up...ever!

    • @will7its
      @will7its Před 15 dny

      @@michaelhill56 Yeah, I hear you......

  • @chrisbajema8002
    @chrisbajema8002 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Your a real man Thomas, don’t let this set you back any…just plan it out again and better. Keep the Faith and stay strong young man

    • @trs105
      @trs105 Před 2 měsíci

      the guy is a moron, why does god love morons?

  • @bhansen52
    @bhansen52 Před 24 dny

    Something about this bothers me.

    • @michaelhill56
      @michaelhill56 Před 15 dny

      What? That this guy survived in spite of what some people call bad judgement?

  • @melindahall5062
    @melindahall5062 Před měsícem

    Don’t go alone….not as romantic I know, but especially before the season starts.

  • @Skidderoperator
    @Skidderoperator Před měsícem +1

    Guy has a death wish

  • @PedalsNPetals
    @PedalsNPetals Před 2 měsíci +3

    Maybe Thomas should stop rafting!

    • @CryMeARiver63
      @CryMeARiver63 Před 2 měsíci

      Isn't that special of you to tell someone what they should do .

    • @bhansen52
      @bhansen52 Před 24 dny

      How about giving it up if you can't self rescue​@@CryMeARiver63

  • @longblacktrain411
    @longblacktrain411 Před 2 měsíci

    His age, his laugh, he was trying to get unalived....(go with someone always)

    • @michaelhill56
      @michaelhill56 Před 15 dny

      I guess you don't ever challenge yourself. That's okay, stay safe on the couch watching YT videos...😂