Upright Kayak, Empty Suit: How Teresa Survived the Chute

Upright Kayak, Empty Suit: How Teresa Survived the Chute Cold water, an orderly kayak, and a missing paddler - a professional river technician disappears while her boat returns pristine through Class IV rapids; what could leave a drysuit empty and a paddle perfectly stowed in 38°F glacial water? How did someone trained to read rivers vanish where gear is placed like a deliberate portage and not a chaotic capsize? In this episode, we walk through the timeline from Teresa Simpson’s last logged float plan to the raft teams and helicopter search, the daylight photographs that changed everything, and the puzzling evidence found on the bank. Can the clues - the upright kayak, the chest‑pocket bivy, the parachute cord - tell us what happened in the Chute? Person: Teresa Simpson Date: October 7-11, 2019 Location: Aiken Road to Sollander Road corridor, Sollander River, Chute exit Status: Missing; kayak recovered upright and unmanned Witness: Jessica Hansen (wildlife photographer) - Teresa Simpson was 28 years old and worked as a hydrological field technician based in Juneau. - Her float plan dated October 7 listed an 11‑mile route from Aiken Road to Sollander Road with expected off‑water by 4:00 PM. - The water temperature at the Chute exit when the kayak was photographed was 38°F. - The kayak was found fully upright with paddle seated correctly and a dry bag double‑clipped to the bow, photographed drifting for ~40 seconds. - A 4‑foot length of orange parachute cord with loops at each end and an aluminum carabiner was found snagged on a root ball below the Chute; it showed no fraying or streambed abrasion. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].