The weekend was hot and speculation was that friends dared him to do it. Odds were against the young man that day as he attempted to swim what is known to those that are familiar with the river as the "Devils Elbow".

The pager went off early Monday morning for a missing swimmer up the South Fork. Friends witnessed the victim jump off the cliffs and make it across the river, but on the way back got caught in the treacherous current and pulled around a cliff where they lost sight of him. Three hours later they called the authorities. The dogs' job that day was to ascertain whether or not the young man was able to "self arrest" and get himself out of the water and onto shore where injuries may have prevented him from heading back to his friends.

Devil's Elbow is flanked on both down-current sides by sheer cliff and scree slopes. Black jagged rock greet those that travel below the bend in the river and the washing machine churn of the water on both sides creates endless froth upon the rocks. Satan himself would be honored by the foam upon his namesake. Staring down into the seemingly endless black pools that unmercifully tossed logs against the rock outcropping, one found themselves mesmerized by the river's power.

 

Only a week before Brenner and I had taken on, and successfully passed, our land and water cadaver certifications. He had easily completed his wilderness/area certification the end of May and this was his first "official" search as a certified and operational Search and Rescue dog within Flathead County. We had practiced this dance since he was a baby puppy and the two of us were one as we approached the stage. He was ready and so was I. I drove us to the start of our two mile long search area along the South Fork of the Flathead river and as the sun crested the tops of the mountains. I strapped on his vest in the rapidly heating day and gave him his command; his word of permission to locate those lost, injured or subject to the maladies of man or nature and to bring me to them.

 

The foliage was thick along the river where a lucky sole might be able to climb from the 59 degree water who's depth was directed by the Hungry Horse dam up-river only a few miles. The shade under the canopy was a welcome relief, but with the thickness of the ceiling above also came an impenetrable wall that restricted wind flow and allowed the buzzing creatures free access to tender skin and Belgian ears. The initial plan was to parallel the river, searching from river's edge to about 1/8th mile up the bank for the two miles between us and the elbow. I realized early on that the density of the forest and the degree of the slope was not going to allow us reasonable access, so I directed Bren to a shelf that was sitting mid way between our boundaries and proceeded south toward the elbow. As Bren and I made our way slowly upstream, we watched the boats with divers going by and heard the helicopter flying overhead. However, through the thickness of the tree's, they were unable to see us.

 

The water coming through the dam that day was flowing at a respectable 4600 cubic feet per second. With the increased need for power on the west coast, the Corps of Engineers were unable to lower the level very much or for very long but did agree to decrease the flow rate to 3000 cubic feet per second for about 45 minutes. That decrease would let the water level drop by about 8 inches, not a lot, but hopefully enough to allow the dive team access into some of the more treacherous holes that were inaccessible at the current flow rate. While Brenner and I continued to sweat and swear while making our way upstream, the dive team accessed what they could only to find that the hydraulics of the river still making it impossible to check out the deepest holes. Increasing energy needs required the flow be increased significantly to meet the demand and the dam throttled up its turbines forcing through 7080 cubic feet per second. There was a chance that the increase could kick the kid free; chances are it would lodge him deeper.

 

After 8 hours in 90 degree temperatures, bushwhacking through some of the most rugged country in NW Montana, Bren and I called it a day. As tired as we both were however, he was still more than wanting a good game of frisbee. Upon finding a safe place in the river for a few tosses, he found it a welcomed relief and a chance to cool down.

 

Day two started at 8:30am and promised to be another scorcher. Our assignment for the day was to head downstream from where the three branches of the Flathead river converged and search, by boat, the banks down river for about 10 miles. Lots of log jams and eddies that required a sensitive K9 nose to let us know if further follow-up by the dive team would be necessary. Lots of good sized islands that needed to be ruled out by a fast moving dog to assure the searchers that all possibilities were covered. The increase in the output at the dam easily raised the level of the river miles downstream by almost a foot. Ten hours and many miles later, as the sun bid us adieu over the western mountains, we headed for home. Tired and dirty, but positive that the areas we searched were clear.

 

Weather forecasts called for cooler temperatures for the third day of the search...highs only 88, instead of the mid to high 90's. As we had covered most options and ruled them out as possibilities, the Sheriff decided to see if the dogs could pick up any scent from the hole to determine whether the victim was still there. Due to the nature and severity of the rapids and the temperature of the water in the South Fork, Bren was outfitted in his doggie PFD for safety. Cold water, washing machine rapids and lots of large rocks with little area for escape would most certainly be injury or death for a dog or human who might fall in below the elbow without a life preserver. Once dressed, we loaded on the jet boats for a 3 mile ride up some of Montana's most beautiful, but dangerous, waterways.

 

The boat operators took us directly to the elbow for a look-see so I could determine the best way of searching the area. Water was swirling and watching the hydraulics gave me an idea of the best areas to search so that the dog would be most effective. Unlike wilderness search where a dog, under his own power, can locate scent and follow up on it, in water work the boat becomes his legs. Up to the handler and boat operator to physically get the dog's nose into the best possible position to optimize their skills. Scent is not only being carried on the wind from where it comes to the surface, but on the current itself. Scent therefore is usually trapped in the nooks and crannies along the edge and dependent on how strong the wind or the current may be located yards away from where the individual actually is. Up to the dog handler to watch the dog and work the scent cone to get the dog as close to scent source as possible.

 

Watching the flow of the water for a few minutes, I determined that we were going to have to hug the wall on the rivers right side (river right if you were heading down stream) to get the best chances of picking anything up should he be in the hole. I hesitated to ask the boat operator if he could do such a thing as one small bump or jolt would drive the boat, and us, into the rock wall, but he was willing to do such a thing and his talent was evident as he skillfully maneuvered through the rapids to get us to where we needed to go. I had picked an area, approximately 50 yards downstream of the hole, determined upon the wind direction, strength and current, in which to start. Bren assumed his position on the bow of the boat and immediately went to work, perched gracefully, if not precariously, over the edge to get himself as close to the water's surface as possible. Within seconds he gave me indication that he was in scent...snapping at the water. The boat operator throttled back as much as he could without compromising our safety and continued along the wall.

 

Yards down from where the boy was last seen, Brenner started digging and barking at the surface of the water. A definite indication that there was human scent present. I had the boat operator take us to a calm section of the river to allow the gas fumes to dissipate and we went at it again to see if he would indicate in the same general location yet once again. He did, giving me another bark within inches of the first. We now knew without question where the young man lay, more than likely under a ledge deep within the pool.

 

Taking the boat over to the calm section of the elbow once again I noticed for the first time that the family was standing on the road that paralleled the river. As it was a public road and service access to the dam, there was no way to block it off from traffic. They had been camping above the last known point where he had been seen holding a vigil for the past 2 days. It was then we knew that we had more problems than just their son and brother resting in the hole. The family, realizing what they had just witnessed, needed to say their good-byes and chose to sacrifice their own safety in order to make their way down the hundreds of feet of scree to throw bouquets of wild daisies into the water where Brenner had told us he rested. All units in the immediate area were then placed on stand-by in the event that their need to say good-byes should create another victim needing to be saved from the river.

 

After the family had returned safely up the slope, we headed back down the river and a second dog was sent up to confirm what Brenner had told us. The water was still too dangerous for divers and it was just a matter of time before the river gave up her treasure and allowed the family to achieve closure.

 

As sad as the situation was, I discovered that when it counted and counted most, Brenner was willing to give me all he had and then some to perform in some of the most difficult conditions that he could have been asked to search in. I couldn't have been more pleased with my boy.

 

*NOTE: One week after Bren indicated on the area where the young man lay, the Corps of Engineers were able to drop the dam flow rate back down to 3000 cubic feet per second after a break in the extreme temperatures. The river chose to give up her catch and the victim was located by divers in an eddy just downstream of where he lay for so many days.

 

 

Kim Gilmore and Brenner

Can CH (group winning/group placing), U-WP, ABTC select Gaelera  Big Mtn Brennerain Can TD, HIC, SAR Certified

 

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