I guess. Embarrassing as it is. Was a caribou hunt out of a small lodge on a river. The guy running the place (maybe mid to late 50's) took me at around 24 years old (first ever hunt outside of Wisconsin and knew jack shit) and a 72 year old guy down the river in a boat 5 or so miles to look for a herd. He stopped and pulled the boat up on gravel and we walked to a little rise to get a place to glass. The tide came up, even upstream miles it effect the river level and the boat got loose and went to the other side and got stuck. I could tell he did not want to spend the night out there as there was nothing much to make a fire in the wet tundra and he said he was going to wade across to get the boat. I think he was not crazy about the grizz either. This isn't a small river.. but he said it would be waist deep only at the middle. He starts peeling off clothes and I said hold on. Why not wait someone would come right?? No talking him out of it. So me thinking i was a invincible young buck I should do it because he was the only one that knew CPR and better stay with the old guy "just in case" Well I took off just my shoes and socks and jacket, and started across this very cold river to get the boat. By the time I was half way it was over my waist and current was a problem so I knew at that point if I turned around I was not only without a boat, but no fire or dry clothes so I dove in and started swimming. The heavy sweater I had on turned into a mass of drag and it was like swimming in pudding. I really was thinking while swimming this is not good and the thought of my wife kept me going as I was giving out. I could hear the guide yelling Go Pat! and his voice getting more and more worried sounding. I stopped a couple times and tried to touch bottom and could not. By the time I got to the side enough to stand I stood up and collapsed back and had to crawl as my legs were already giving out and I was going hypothermic. I crawled into the boat, got it going and ran that thing into the other side like a madman. He took his outer clothes off and replaced my wet stuff. He tried to make a little fire with no luck. (i think his lighter was in the boat) He called on the CB to the lodge and told them to get a boat headed our way if anyone was there. I remember starting to puke, and it took everything in my power to keep from shitting myself as my core was losing function I guess. I really was thinking while swimming this is not good and the thought of my wife kept me going as I was giving out. The craziest thing of all..... It's all on video as the guide or old guy had a camera and I said before hand well, this should be interesting to talk about. I have only showed it to a couple people ever. I did not tell my wife for a few years either. Don't think a guide knows best for you, doubt them all you want when it comes to safety. I was young and dumb but that outitter/guide was probably worst.
