Rafter survives after embarking on a solo trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River

I called rafter Thomas Gray after he was back at his home in North Fork, Idaho. We wanted to learn more about his harrowing tale of survival.

[@returningtoearthtv8836]

Easy to criticize this fellow but lets sit a while with the fact that he kept his cool, kept moving, and stayed alive. There were many many days before inreach and satellite communication - the risk management kit we all take into the wilderness with us is between our ears. This guy used his. I say “Strong Work”.

[@edwardanzo]

While yes, great he survived. He still had no business doing that section of river especially alone.

[@MaxRunia]

His brother drowned in those falls and he decided to not portage..? That's crazy. Crazy that he even still likes to do it after that too.

[@edwardanzo]

Ya, my group was one of the groups that actually found the brother. This man had no business doing that section of the river especially alone. Glad he is ok though.

[@SLloyd-qb8kt]

Wow! What an incredible story! I hope I'm still living life to the fullest in my 70s.

[@dominicgandy8360]

Thomas, great effort thumbs up You are showing that there is no reason not to try and squeeze the most from life It’s better to go down fighting.

[@ryanstewart1521]

I love stories of survival

[@iangrant9117]

I like being alone in the wilderness. You gotta be ready to get hardcore tho if need be. Kudos to this guy, he hasn’t let anything stop him. Including his brother.

[@MrDepodot7]

Due to student loans I lived in my car for 14 years. You get used to sleeping without heat. Glad to hear he made it. I have had to shelter in place during storms in an S house and it stinks too bad to sleep, but staying dry keeps you alive.

[@adamsons2890]

That’s a great story. I’m so glad the gentleman is ok. He’s a tough son of a gun.

[@RubysCreek]

He's a foolish son of a gun

[@beckiingawanup8130]

I almost drowned at Pistol Creek. It's not a joke about the River of NO Return. I've never gone back.

[@andyroubik5760]

To truly know a River one must go to it as one would go to a sweetheart, alone!

[@jefflanham1080]

Amen!

[@moscaman559]

Bad mistakes, never go alone, always carry an emergency GPS device. I never go into the wilderness without my Garmin mini, period….he’s really lucky to be alive.

[@davidsalo8397]

Also, never boat on a river with recent debris flows and new log jams. This was well known. The storms that produced these geological features happened last August. The river system is very dynamic now after all the fires, and then intense thunderstorms. Pay heed to mother nature.

[@aceyorba]

And his brother died on the same waterfall

[@MrDepodot7]

Dang Dude! Glad to hear you made it. Log Jams are the devil. Do you know why I have 3 lighters in my backpack?

[@bmatt23420]

So many bad decisions from the start.

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

Good to hear he made it out safely. This why you need to have a knife and survival items on your PFD. This not the first time boaters have gotten separated from their gear.

[@windingrhythmfilms]

Wow a real adventure…

[@Snappy-ut4bj]

Sorry dude an experienced boater would know better than to go alone.

[@boise2Talay7886]

Early season rafting on the snow melt filled Middle Fork of the Salmon alone? Sounds like someone needs to consider choosing a new hobby. What's kind of amazing to consider is around 100 years ago people used to traverse down Marsh Creek and the Middle Fork all the way to the confluence with the main Salmon in wooden boats.

[@fadedsilks]

Lots of bad decisions but you gotta give it to this guy - he's a straight up gangster

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

Garmin dude! Lucky a bear didn’t get him.

[@koof1776]

This man will live > 100-yrs easy~

[@melindahall5062]

Don’t go alone….not as romantic I know, but especially before the season starts.

[@christopheryellman533]

He is much tougher than he is smart.

[@aliassmithandjones9453]

dude thinks he's Buzz Holmstrom

[@PEDALSnPROJECTS]

Maybe Thomas should stop rafting!

[@CryMeARiver63]

Isn't that special of you to tell someone what they should do .

[@TrailToughTrailers]

👍☝

[@NPCHSN]

Men need adventure to thrive.

[@chrisbajema8002]

Your a real man Thomas, don’t let this set you back any…just plan it out again and better. Keep the Faith and stay strong young man

[@trs105]

the guy is a moron, why does god love morons?

[@will7its]

I was never in a hurry to go in the water in small boats in the spring. Its ice cold and will kill you. Wait till the water warms up and stay alive....

[@lifesahobby]

I kayaked with people , being alone is more safe . But never change your planner route . He survived. ❤️👍

[@Skidderoperator]

Guy has a death wish

[@longblacktrain411]

His age, his laugh, he was trying to get unalived....(go with someone always)