The silica packets probably did more than you realize. Portland humidity is no joke and those little things pull moisture out of the air inside the bag, so once the film started drying it wasn't fighting the wet air around it anymore. What really worked in your favor was taking it out in the dark and not trying to wipe the emulsion, because that stuff scratches if you even look at it wrong when it's wet. The hazy look on some frames might just be mineral deposits from the creek water drying on the surface, so I would not try to clean them now that they are scanned.

Totally feel you @rivershah, that Bishop tortilla hunt was a low point and I nearly gave up and just ate candy bars for dinner. Mailing boxes means you always know what you're getting, which beats wandering three stores hoping for something decent.