The first time I ever floated the north fork nehalem on the oregon coast. We put in at the hatchery and had just got far enough downstream that you couldn't turn back. End of december. 20 degrees out. In I went...up to the neck! I was only wading in 3 feet of water but when your sitting on your ass floating down the river the water goes up to your neck.

To this day I thank the heavens my buddy had a heater in the boat, it's the only thing that saved me. It's the only time I've ever had SERIOUS hypothermia and I'll always remember how long it took and how hard it was to warm up even after a hot shower and steaming hot coffee and stew.

No fun!