Man who died on Yaak an experienced kayaker

May 9, 2022

The man who died Sunday while kayaking on the Yaak had years of experience on the water. Steven Koning, 50, Victor, Idaho, was the founder 25 years ago of Geyser Kayak Tours, Jackson, Wyoming, which operates in Yellowstone National Park, and had before that owned Snake River Kayak in Jackson, Idaho.

He was in a group of four kayaking the Yaak River about three or four miles from its confluence with the Kootenai River, a section rated Class IV-V for expert paddlers, when he fell out of his kayak at about 12:21 p.m. May 8.

Stream flows on the Yaak increased dramatically in the past week, going from about 1,700 cubic feet per second to more than 6,000 cfs, over 54-percent above average. Making it even more dangerous are the cold water temperatures on area rivers and streams.

His companions tried to help him to safety, but Koning went under.

His body was recovered at about 3:33 p.m. in the Kootenai River near the Idaho line.