Overboard!

My Christmas gift was a special cabin on the side of Eklutna Lake. We had planned on taking the holiday in January, but the lack of frozen lake prompted us to reschedule for end of May.  However, it turned into a different sort of day.  The only way to get to the cabin is by boat.  We had the luxury of having a slight tailwind both ways when we rented this public use cabin last year.

When carrying the camping gear and the boat to the water's edge we noticed a few waves, but I thought, "It is not ALL white caps".  That is where we were wrong.  After dividing up the equipment (a little too much was brought), we headed out with Willow-our Great Dane-and all.

First problem, if you didn't hit the waves directly, it lapped into the boat.  But, as I was struggling to steer the canoe, I wondered if we'd survive.  This is a glacier or mountain runoff lake.  Typically very cold. 

I noticed the canoe with my husband and two teens sitting a little lower.  James back end of his canoe was SINKING!  We rushed to shore to try to help.  Thankfully, I saw the smaller of the two teens walking, I knew it was going to okay. 

The items were floating and we retrieved everything except a sunken phone. We quickly stripped the wet cold clothes and redressed with warm dry layers.  Then we had the wet joy of canoeing back to the start with our weekend aborted. 

We learned after we got home, that another boater died because of lack of life jacket plus alcohol.  We are thankful to live for another adventure.