As you know breakup was late this year. (Ice in Alaska) The #SusitnaRiver finally broke and we headed out to the cabin. This was our first time putting the new boat in the water and we were so excited.
The new boat performed well hauling 2 adults and 10 days worth of supplies. There were a few ice chunks to dodge but nothing too outrageous. We landed at the small beach at the base of our bluff and started unloading. It was about 2 in the afternoon and hot.
The ice started to increase and the chunks were now flows. The ice coming down river went from the size of a Volkswagen to the size of football fields. The ice flows were missing the boat by less than 12 inches. It flowed by us and hit the bank and birch trees below us. The ice was snapping 6” diameter birch like tooth picks.
We feared our first voyage would be our only one in our beautiful new boat! (21’ Alaskan XL)
This whole event lasted a couple hours and had us trapped. Finally, it subsided and we moved the boat up to the normal mooring spot. Three days later the river went into flood stage and we were dealt a completely new set of difficulties...another story for another day.
It was a wild first voyage!”
