3 rafters stranded on Skagit River overnight rescued by helicopter

Three stranded rafters on the Skagit River were flown to safety by helicopter after an overnight rescue operation prompted by an SOS call.

In a social media post, Hope Search and Rescue said the trio encountered a massive log jam on Sunday and spent the night on a sandbar before being rescued Monday morning.

Hope RCMP said officers teamed up with search and rescue crews after receiving the SOS message indicating the group became stranded near Ross Lake.

“After determining that there were no injuries, (that) the subjects had started a fire, and that access by land was through dense brush, it was decided that a morning helicopter extraction was the best plan,” Hope SAR said in the post.

Officials said the group’s fire was extinguished and they were safely returned to their camp at Ross Lake.

Hope SAR said this is the third call it has received so far this summer involving rafters on the Skagit River, and warned conditions on the water remain hazardous.

“The Skagit River is not in good shape for rafting right now,” officials said. “These subjects had already portaged around two other problems on the river since setting off that day but were met with a massive log jam that could not be crossed. They were able to bushwhack to the sandbar we picked them up on, but land access to the road can be quite far in places like this and the terrain is nearly impassable.”

The SAR team added the rafters were equipped with the proper essentials, which allowed them to call for help in an area with no cell service, and they were able to keep themselves warm throughout the night.

“They attempted a self-rescue but called for help when they realized they were in trouble and this is exactly what we recommend,” said Hope SAR. “We do not recommend rafting on the Skagit River.”