High water on Gulkana River forces raft party onto trail, triggers medical rescue

High water on the Gulkana River forced a party of eight rafters off the water July 3, triggering a medical rescue after one member developed chest pains and shortness of breath during the overland hike out.

Ben Degraw, 49, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was hiking toward the Richardson Highway via the Haggard Creek Trail when he reported the symptoms. Alaska Wildlife Troopers coordinated the response. Lifemed attempted an aerial extraction but could not land. The Rescue Coordination Center then extracted Degraw and transported him to a hospital. The remaining seven members hiked out unassisted, reaching the Richardson Highway safely that night.

The Gulkana is commonly run as a five- to seven-day, roughly 80-mile float from Paxson Lake campground at mile 175 of the Richardson Highway to Sourdough Campground at mile 127, with Class II and some Class III rapids in the upper section. When high water cut the trip short, the group turned to the Haggard Creek Trail for their overland exit, adding significant physical demand to what was already a multi-day wilderness trip.

BLM Alaska's Floater's Guide notes that "the Gulkana River, although road accessible by Alaska standards, still requires careful planning and thought regarding safety while on the river."