Kayaker Jeff Creamer frees an empty raft that became stuck Thursday in Smelter Rapid on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. Two boaters tried to free it with no success and decided to abandon ship, swimming to the east shoreline. The boaters, who declined to be identified, have 20 years of experience rafting rivers. The Animas River was running at 2,160 cubic feet per second Thursday.
Breaux Burns, who has swift-water training, swam across the Animas River to grab a raft that kayaker Jeff Creamer helped free Thursday in Smelter Rapid on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. Burns later took the raft down river to the awaiting owners.
Rafters became stuck in a rapid Thursday on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park and decided to abandon ship, swimming to the eastern shoreline. The boaters, who did not want to be identified, have 20 years of experience rafting rivers. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Rafters became stuck in a rapid Thursday on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park and decided to abandon ship, swimming to the eastern shoreline. The Animas River was running at 2,160 cubic feet per second Thursday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jeff Creamer paddles his kayak to an empty raft stuck in a rapid Thursday on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jeff Creamer grabs a rope tied to an empty raft stuck in a rapid Thursday on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jeff Creamer grabs a rope tied to an empty raft stuck in a rapid Thursday on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kayaker Jeff Creamer frees an empty raft that became stuck Thursday in Smelter Rapid on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. The Animas River was running at 2,160 cubic feet per second Thursday. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jeff Creamer in his kayak frees an empty raft that was stuck in Smelter Rapid on Thursday on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Breaux Burns, who has swift-water training, swam across the Animas River on Thursday going through Smelter Rapid in the Durango Whitewater Park to get to the stuck raft. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Breaux Burns, who has swift-water training, swam across the Animas River to grab a raft that had been stuck and pull it into an eddy. Kayaker Jeff Creamer had pulled the raft out of Smelter Rapid on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. Burns later took the raft down river to the awaiting owners. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Breaux Burns, who has swift-water training, swam across the Animas River to grab a raft that had been stuck and pull it into an eddy. Kayaker Jeff Creamer had pulled the raft out of Smelter Rapid on the Animas River in Durango Whitewater Park. Burns later took the raft down river to the awaiting owners. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Breaux Burns, who has swift-water training, swam across the Animas River on Thursday then climbed into a raft that had been stuck in a rapid. Burns took the boat to its owners who were waiting in Santa Rita Park. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
