Two rescued after rafting mishap on Chulitna

A search and rescue for two Talkeetna residents took place early Monday Morning after a raft capsized on the east fork of the Chulitna River.

According to Alaska State Troopers, Maxwell Crutch and Jenna Bowen, both of Talkeetna, were rafting the east fork of the Chulitna river in individual rafts, when Bowen’s raft flipped. Bowen s able to swim to shore, but her raft and gear were swept downstream before they could be recovered. Cold and wet, Bowen and Crutch determened it would be unsafe to continue with just one raft. Crutch activated the S.O.S. feature of his spot-tracker, alerting search and rescue to their whereabouts.
Due to the terrain, Alaska State Troopers requested the assistance of the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center. A team from the 210th Rescue Squadron responded and located the pair.

Crutch and Bowen were wet and cold but were otherwise uninjured and did not require medical attention. They were transported by the rescue crew to the Talkeetna airport.