Middle Fork Salmon Float 2016
In late Sept. of 2016, I floated Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon. The trip was organized by a group of packrafters from Australia and the Western US. It is a very popular river and it is difficult to get a permit in the prime summer season. It was easier in late Sept. when the water is very low. There were 15 packrafts, 1 two-person inflatable kayak, 1 single inflatable kayak, and my 14-foot SOAR canoe.
My partner was Brian Elliott. Brain had been invited by his friend Nick from Tasmania, and he invited me. I knew no one else. Although Brian and I have been on many trips together in the Arctic, we have always been in separate boats and this was the first time we had ever paddled together in the same craft. The SOAR is difficult to maneuver and the Middle Fork is the most technical river I have ever attempted in that boat. There are many Class 3 rapids and some 4's. Lots of rocks to avoid; the water gauge was at 1.6. We assumed that we would do a lot of swimming on this trip but we managed to avoid capsizing. We did wrap on rocks twice. It has been a long time since I was on the Middle Fork. I kayaked the river in 1991.
We spent 8 days and 7 nights on the river. We launched at Boundary Creek on Sept. 28 and took out at Cache Bar on the main Salmon, after navigating about 50 named rapids and paddling 100 miles. The itinerary was as follows:
Launch - Mile 0 - Boundary Creek
Camp 1 - Mile 8.9 - Elkhorn Bar
Camp 2 - Mile 13.3 - Sheepeater
Camp 3 - Mile 35.6 - Stateland Right
Camp 4 - Mile 50.1 - Big Loon Creek
Camp 5 - Mile 72.2 - Wilson Creek
Camp 6 - Mile 79.6 - Elk Bar
Camp 7 - Mile 90 - Stoddard
Take Out - Mile 99.7 - Cache Bar
It was the first time that I had seen packrafts in a white water situation and I was very impressed. If I were a little younger, I would get one. They carry all their gear inside the tubes protected by waterproof zippers. They respond like a kayak and can be rolled back up after a capsize. Unlike a kayak, it is easy to climb back in after a wet exit. The paddlers all wear dry suits since you are wet much of the time. The group of people we were with were extremely competent. Many were guides and instructors and some had paddled the Grand Canyon unsupported in packrafts. It was a great experience for Brian and me to be able to join them on this trip.
I used a waterproof point-and-shoot camera and was more concerned about staying upright than photography. The only interesting action photos I took were when we were on shore watching others run a rapid.
Read MoreMy partner was Brian Elliott. Brain had been invited by his friend Nick from Tasmania, and he invited me. I knew no one else. Although Brian and I have been on many trips together in the Arctic, we have always been in separate boats and this was the first time we had ever paddled together in the same craft. The SOAR is difficult to maneuver and the Middle Fork is the most technical river I have ever attempted in that boat. There are many Class 3 rapids and some 4's. Lots of rocks to avoid; the water gauge was at 1.6. We assumed that we would do a lot of swimming on this trip but we managed to avoid capsizing. We did wrap on rocks twice. It has been a long time since I was on the Middle Fork. I kayaked the river in 1991.
We spent 8 days and 7 nights on the river. We launched at Boundary Creek on Sept. 28 and took out at Cache Bar on the main Salmon, after navigating about 50 named rapids and paddling 100 miles. The itinerary was as follows:
Launch - Mile 0 - Boundary Creek
Camp 1 - Mile 8.9 - Elkhorn Bar
Camp 2 - Mile 13.3 - Sheepeater
Camp 3 - Mile 35.6 - Stateland Right
Camp 4 - Mile 50.1 - Big Loon Creek
Camp 5 - Mile 72.2 - Wilson Creek
Camp 6 - Mile 79.6 - Elk Bar
Camp 7 - Mile 90 - Stoddard
Take Out - Mile 99.7 - Cache Bar
It was the first time that I had seen packrafts in a white water situation and I was very impressed. If I were a little younger, I would get one. They carry all their gear inside the tubes protected by waterproof zippers. They respond like a kayak and can be rolled back up after a capsize. Unlike a kayak, it is easy to climb back in after a wet exit. The paddlers all wear dry suits since you are wet much of the time. The group of people we were with were extremely competent. Many were guides and instructors and some had paddled the Grand Canyon unsupported in packrafts. It was a great experience for Brian and me to be able to join them on this trip.
I used a waterproof point-and-shoot camera and was more concerned about staying upright than photography. The only interesting action photos I took were when we were on shore watching others run a rapid.
