Thursday, September 18, 2014

Main Salmon Serenity

Trying to eek the last drops of summer, Brian & I loaded up Silvia and headed East to central Idaho to float the 80+ miles of the Main Salmon wilderness run. This class III/IV section of river really sees it’s season in mid summer, but with plenty of water in that region this past winter, flows were up enough to make a great mellow-water river trip. While the whitewater wasn’t much to splash at, the wilderness experience of that pristine canyon will soothe any soul. The long drive was well worth our six days on the quiet river, where we maybe encountered three other groups the whole time. Spectacular beach camping, insanely perfect weather, an arduous side hike, a handful of fish, and one of the best riverside hot springs baths make it a trip well worth repeating at any water level. 



After almost 1,000 mile drive we are at the Corn Creek boat ramp


We arrived a day before we put on, so had plenty of time to rig (and tinker)


Just shy of 2,500 cfs at put in, but that would grow with all the side creeks as we headed down river


B-Mac dialed in and ready to push off


Feels good to be back on the oars


After a few miles we stop for breakfast


Native American pictographs at Legend Creek 


Enjoying the river scenery


Definitely feels like Idaho & not a soul in sight


The river offers many splashy fun class II rapids


B-Mac scouting Alder Creek rapid


B-Mac approaches


And heads down the V


The man is happy to be on the sticks


Night 1 we camped at Devils Teeth Camp


River aps & beers


B-Mac reads the river guide as his DO cooks up some baked potatoes


Steaks & corn on the grill


The DO is a river classic


That this man loves


Last light in camp


Riverside fires every night


Solid dinner for the wilderness


Boats at night & Brian icing his wounded ankle


Devils Teeth camp was BIG


Back on the river, Day 2


B-Mac floating along with a stunning backdrop


Boats tied up for the Black Bar Creek Scout


View of the recently formed rapid, from above


B-Mac deciding his line


And carefully making his way back to the boats


Committed


About to go down


The most amazing thermal pool I've seen riverside


Lunch after our warm dip


River wraps


Though there was plenty of moving water, no river trip lacks the flat water


Chicken on the grill at Hida Creek Camp


River camping does not lack amenities


On the river for day 3, and we are seeing some smoke from the huge amounts of west coast fires


The squeeze at Big Mallard rapid


Brian lining up to get in the slot


Bow down the V with a perfect execution


B-Mac lined up for some more splashy fun


Rocking & rolling


Evening light kisses the canyon


Morning visitors


Back on it


Boulder dodging in the canyon


B-Mac approaches the Francis Zaunmiller Wisner pack bridge


After a big 21 mile day we are settled into Teepee Creek camp


Brian's main focus for the evening


My main focus for the evening


The man is diligent


But once the coals are on, he settles into a cocktail


Weather allowed us to sleep out every night


Getting dessert sorted


More spectacular riverside fire sessions


And stars on this trip were amazing


Another calm morning on The Salmon


A very cold but refreshing dip at the confluence of the South Fork


Which turned out to be a fantastic fishing spot for West Slope Cutthroat


Like shooting fish in a barrel


Gorgeous little trout


Get some, McPherson


Sheep up on the hill


And another wonderful evening in camp – this evening at Rabbit Creek


Wonderful river meal


Only complete with DO cornbread


Some cooler, cloudier weather for day 5


Which was welcome for our side hike


Which afforded us some new perspectives of the canyon


But the hike was pretty serious, taking us 2,400' in just 2 miles


Definitely different muscles than sitting in a boat rowing for 5 days


At the top of the hike


Pano of the surrounding peaks with the small river deep in the valley


Lunch on the summit, just shy of 4,500'


Boaters on the river, down in the canyon


Moody light for the day


Boaters pass us at Bull Creek


Back on the river for a few splashy rapids


B-Mac getting a little wet


Reflections on a calm afternoon


Our final camp was at Middle Sheep Creek camp where I found some very fun side creek fishing


With (not surprising) spectacular evening light & scenery


A little AM drizzle for our lazy morning in camp on day 6


We saw just a few jet boats on our trip as we got near takeout


Smoke is more prevalent as we get lower on the river


B-Mac enjoying some of the last chances at whitewater


Really enjoying it


The Wind River pack bridge is our marker for takeout


Brian approaches the ramp


Another fantastic river trip comes to an end


Butt shot, why not?


The path of our trip





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