Was this the trip with the Strippers?
as Greg saysā¦ have to fully commit to the mud 
I flyfish for carp in muddy ponds, more than once I have sunk deep enough into the muck while wading, that Iāve had to crawl outā¦ so far the crawl has always worked. Thereās always a moment when I imagine my bleached bones sinking slowly into the muck, thoughā¦ ha
With Waders?
To everyone:!Iām thankful, and sometimes amused, by the many helpful answers youāve given.
I think Iāll be much better prepared if I ever find myself (hopefully not) in such a position again.
Thereās an old saying āYou donāt know WHAT you donāt knowā. I dread to think what would have happened had the kayak floated out of reach, but now I think Iāve learned enough to extricate myself from the mud and have a chance to reach the kayak or some solid footing.
Snowshoes?
Thatās my exact thinkingā¦I was wondering what kind of kayak the OP was in, since they didnāt try that.
I have fallen out of kayaks a few times ,mostly SOT/skis. After the first time, Iāve made it a priority to stay in contact with the boat and paddle in muck or water.
Well, this WAS my first time falling out in over 20 years! I did have one hand on the boat throughout this whole ordeal, but I had sunk quite deep in the muck with about a foot of water over that. I actually always carry two paddles. The problem was not being able to get both legs out of hip deep muck simultaneously.
The boat is my trusty Loon 160T. Itās a 16ā tandem made by Old Town. I actually own two of these behemoths. They weigh a ton but are super stable, usually. The boat never capsized; it swamped as I lost balance and rolled into the water.
Getting in and out from the water has always been a breeze, Iāve snorkeled from it for over 20 years! But my feet were always free; not anchored in muck.
You just never knowā¦
I paddle salt marshes. The bottom isnāt as mucky as that. Iāve never capsized, but if I did, Iād follow the recommendation to assume a swimming posture rather than try to stand. Once your feet get into that muck you have to treat it like quick sand, so avoid putting feet into it. Thatās where the PFD is your best asset. Itās a good idea to use your paddle to test the area where you travel to know the consistency of the bottom.
Flowing water usually has a sandy or rocky bottom. Lagoon, mangroves, coves will collect silt from runoff and decayed vegetation builds up, so expect muck.
Thanks! Iāve learned a lot since my ordeal. Iām so surprised that none the kayak rental places Iāve been to have mention any of this.
You would thinkā¦
Ive done this and you treat the āgettingā out of the muck the exact same as you would for quicksand (Iāve been in that before.
Long and the short is you swim/crawl out.
If you are in water and its too deep to sit down then lat down on your back.and then work your legs up. youāll come free then backstroke out to deeper water ir roll over and crawl out to deeper water.
if itās shallow enough bend forward like you were going to do a breast stroke and wiggle your legs while keeping your head out of water. your legs will come free and then you crawl/swim to either deeper water or land that will support you.
if you have your boat then this makes life easier for you pull the stern or bow (whichever is easier for you and place it to your belly./ crotch etc, all depends on how deep you are stuck. and lay across you boat then wiggle your legs in a pumping motion. youāll come free then get to deeper water and do a cowboy re-entry.
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Thanks. Hope I never have need of this technique ever again, but at least Iāll be more embarrassed than worried !
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What if yo panic, in your estimation did you come close to panicking at any point? Fear of the unknown, you did not know these techniques back then.
Iām not one to panic, but I was very very worried. I immediately focused. I knew I was never letting go of the kayak and I kept noises minimal so as not to attract alligators. I was wearing my PFD as always.
If the kayak had gotten out of my reach, Iām not sure what I would have done. Floating to free my legs did not occur to me. Maybe it would have?
I usually carry my phone in a waterproof case but sometimes itās in my drybag. It will ALWAYS be in the case and on me from now on. Even freed, watching your kayak float away in the wind/waves/current is a mental picture of hopelessness. Iām starting to think that a tether attached to your body might be a good idea.
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All in all, how much time did you spend there, what made he difference of finally getting out?
Edit: In other words what did you do wrong and what did you do right?
Right and wrong? Never letting go of the kayak was the lifesaver here. Having a bailing device as well. From swamping to paddling might have been 2-3 hours. After bailing out most of the water, I paddled to find drier land and finish the dewatering.
The turning point was realizing I needed to spread out my weight, and shifting from my feet to my shins, then heading toward the weeds.
Years of snorkeling from the boat were also crucial. I knew how to quickly get back into the boat once my legs were free. I would bet that the vast majority of those paddling recreational kayaks would have no idea how to get back in. THAT was one of the first things I practiced after buying my kayak!
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āLifesaver?āā¦It was that tight? Jesus Christ. You see the thing is, you never could have imagined something like this was even possible from the dumping to the mud, so there is no way you were prepared for it. Then once in the mud, surprisingly, a person could not get out instinctively, instincts were counter productive. You had ti ignore them and devise a plan like real quick. I think you were in more danger than I realized, this was not a casual event and to this day no one is warned about it. It is a good thing you kept your head, this could have been very serious for a lot of other people, this aināt no joke.
The 4 solders that recently died in Lithuania were stuck in a bog. They were found after an extensive search. I donāt think any were found in the vehicle, but donāt know that for sure but some were found away from it because the search continued after they found the vehicle. Bogs can be killers as the mud is often fluid like coastal Pluff Mud. If they had gear on that negated any positive buoyancy they were in an extremely dangerous situation as the outcome shows. It seems so horribly unnecessary to lose lives this way. I am sure it looked like solid ground until it wasnāt when they drove into it. It was sad and I feel horrible for their families and friends.
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