Rescue Mission

After returning from Montana, I was back on Idaho's Middle Fork Salmon. The last night of the trip we happen to be camped at Stoddard, the same camp where the Foamy incident happened two weeks earlier. I decided I would go on a search and rescue mission for Foamy before dinner. The nasty undercut bank below Stoddard Falls that had claimed Foamy two weeks earlier had opened up with the lower water. With many roots hanging down, it had formed a net that had caught Foamy. As it turns out being a kayaker made of foam has its advantages, and spending two weeks in an undercut seemed to have done no damage. I guess we were a little earlier with the the "Foamy Rest In Peace." After a short trip in the U.S. Postal system, Foamy will be returned to his rightful owner and will certainly live on for many more white-water days.

Well, for me its off to the great north now for an Upper Alsek and Tatshenshini trip. With a new camera in hand, I hope to have many great photos to share when I return.

Seth Tonsmeire

Flathead Update

Hello from the Flathead! We've just gotten off the second Middle Fork Flathead trip, and so far the season up in Montana is going great. With the trip just off the river, Seth, Shane, and Jessie are on a whirlwind ride back to Idaho for more Salmon River adventures. I'm off to Glacier Park to sneak in a backpacking trip into the wilds of Glacier Park with Joe Biby before we have to prepare our upcoming South Fork trip. Here's a few photos from the Middle Fork...

Richard behind the wheel

Beargrass flowers and hikers on the trail to Mount Bradley

Susan kayaks into the gates at Twenty-five Mile


Wildflowers and Snowpeople

River Side Kayak Report

Eli drops into Cramer Creek

The first kayak trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon was a huge success. Five kayakers made their way to Idaho from Tennessee for the trip, two father-son combos. Jason Darby brought his two sons, Zack and Eli, ages 15 and 11. Ken Cofer also joined us with his son Taylor, age 14. These five kayakers were perfect for the trip; they brought great enthusiasm to the trip about Idaho's awesome Whitewater and Wilderness. Zack and Taylor are both definitely go-getters, wave-wheeling and surfing any chance they get. Eli at only age 11 paddled a Jackson Sidekick and finished his run with the big waves of Cramer Creek. With Will Parham out for the season with a shoulder injury we had Tyler Maxwell filling in the guest coaching position. I also took the week off of rafting to do some kayak guiding.

Seth shows Jason and Ken the line in Rubber

Zack rippping it up at the Marble Creek Wave

With the Middle Fork running between 4.59 ft and 4.20 ft, it was a great level for kayaking. The water was low enough that not many rapids were washed out, but high enough that lots of great surf waves were scattered throughout the trip. We were able to camp at Marble Creek, with a surf wave and eddy access. These flows also made for some great rapids: Pistol Creek, Cove Creek, Webber, Rubber, and Cramer Creek all provided excitement.

Taylor and Zack

Airtime on the Middle Fork

There were many highlights along the way besides the kayaking: fishing, hiking, bocce ball, river baseball, and watching Foamy putting down some first descents. For those people that don’t know who Foamy is, he is a miniature kayaker that is made out of foam and always pushes the limits in the miniature-kayaking world. Foamy's waterfall decent of Sunflower Shower was definitely record-breaking in the world of miniature kayaking.

Sadly, Foamy would not complete his trip. At the last night's camp, Foamy was putting down some first descents on Stoddard Creek when tragedy struck. On his third descent of Stoddard Falls, Foamy was swept into a deeply undercut bank. Rescue efforts continued after the incident, but Foamy was never recovered. Foamy was a truly great miniature kayaker who was dedicated to doing the miniature things that he loved. Rest in peace Foamy.


I look forward to many more RiverSide trips on rivers in Idaho and beyond with Wilderness River Outfitters.

To see more of Henry's photos from the trip, go to www.flickr.com/henrymunter

The Desert Report

We have just returned from the deserts of southern Idaho and eastern Oregon.  It is always an amazing experience to explore these narrow cracks in the Snake River Plain.  We did one trip on the Upper Owyhee, one Middle Owyhee, and a Jarbidge/Bruneau.  All three were truly spectacular journeys through a cross-section of an ancient caldera volcano.  The Owyhee Canyonlands in one of the most remote areas in the lower 48.  Total on all three trips, we only saw one other rafting trip in the three week period.  

The remote area, hard to predict spring run-off, challenging white-water, and fluctuating weather of the Owyhee River all combined for epic adventures.  The two kayakers, Owyhee enthusiast Marcy St. John, and the guides involved will certainly have stories to tell from the Upper trip.  We dealt with just about every kind a weather condition out there, portaging, challenging technical white-water, and low water.  With that being said we shared great company and had a memorable time in this remote desert canyon that very few people ever get to see.  There was great canyon hiking, brillant displays of birds of prey, good food, and Marcy even found a California Big Horn Ram winter kill (a real treasure of a find).  The night before we planned to exit the canyon at Garret Crossing the desert skies put down over an inch a rain.  That kind of rain in the Owyhee desert makes for sloppy 4WD conditions.  With all four tires chained up and some skilled driving we were able to make it out of the Canyon with all of our gear as planned.

With more rain, the put in for the Middle Owyhee also proved be another 4WD challenge.  For this section we were join by three more rafters and one more kayaker.  With more water now the white-water excitement picked up, the weather improved, and with wild flowers in full bloom, a variety of bird life, and impressive Indian artifacts this Middle Owyhee trip in Oregon was fantastic.

After the Middle it was a quick turn around for the Jarbidge Bruneau trip.  We had long time WRO guest Bill Bush doing a row your own, along with his son Beau also in his own boat.  This proved quickly to be exciting for everyone involved.  With each of these two in their own boat and two guides with their own boats made for a unique trip.  With the Jarbidge section of the trip being fast water the whole way with substantial rapids scattered throughout the whole trip made for good excitement.  It was a great trip for practicing river rescue and river safety.  All in all though these two texas boys did pretty well in the Idaho desert.

The Owyhee and Jarbidge/Bruneau Rivers have proven to be some of my favorite places I have ever been.  Truly special places that few people are fortunate enough to ever see.  After returning from guiding trips in these areas always leaves me feeling pretty lucky.  Also I am reminded of how when traveling in these areas there will always be adventure, just accessing these rivers can be an adventure in its self.  You can always have plan A, but sometime you can quickly find yourself at plan B, C, or sometimes even D when your out there in the desert paradise of Southern Idaho and eastern Oregon.

Seth Tonsmeire

RiverSide Kayak School

RiverSide Kayak School is a new section of Wilderness River Outfitters.  We have been doing kayak and canoe trips in the past, but we just got a little more serious about it.  There are now certain trips that are offered to kayakers, ranging from beginner to advanced.  I have been kayaking for around 10 years, and learned on the Main Salmon River in Idaho.  This river is perfect for someone wanting too learn how to kayak.  The warm water and fun but also gentle rapids make for the perfect combo for beginner kayaking.  We offer Main Salmon trips throughout the summer.   We now have a fleet of kayaks available for rent, as well as instructors can be hired.  So for someone wanting to start kayaking:  you can fly into Salmon Idaho, spend a day on our private lake with an instructor learning the roll and some basic paddle strokes, then jump onto a WRO six-day Main Salmon trip for a great introduction into the sport of kayaking.  Our specific trip for beginner kayaking is offered on August 25th, but a kayaker is welcome to add on any of our trips.  This trip is also great choice for someone who has kayaked before, but just wants some help getting more comfortable with class III rapids and basic kayaking skills.  From the Main Salmon there are trips that just keep stepping up in difficulty.  Middle Fork Kayak Camp is another RiverSide trip, this is an intermediate/advanced play-boating trip on the Middle Fork Salmon in June.  Trips also range to class IV-V for experienced kayakers, often providing raft support more than instructional kayaking on these runs.  Full web-page coming soon.  Feel free to call or e-mail me about different trips, pricing, kayak rentals, or any questions about RiverSide.

Seth Tonsmeire

(406) 579 -8677

seth@wildernessriver.com

Kayak Fleet

Jackson Hero – A full on river-runner.  Great for a beginner kayaker just learning, but also a great boat for running harder white-water.  This boat fits an average sized adult (140-190 lbs)

Jackson Fun (2) – This boat is a play-boat, but also paddles well down river.  If you are a go-getter beginner, this is great boat that will not slow you down in your progression.  Also a great boat for more advanced boaters that just like a little more room  than todays play-boats have to offer.

Jackson Star – This is one of today’s best play-boats on the market.  This boat will not hold you back from any of today’s newest play-boating moves, it’s a freestyle machine.  If you can keep up with this boats ability, your going to have a guaranteed good time.

Jackson Sidekick – This is a boat for the kids, or very small adults.  If you have a kid who really wants to learn how to kayak, throw him or her in this boat on any Main Salmon trip with an instructor and watch them go.

Jackson Rocker – This boat is designed for creek boating.  If you are a solid kayaker and would like to jump on a Jarbidge trip, this boat or the hero would be good choice.

Wavesport Project 52 – Another play-boat.  A good play-boat for an average sized adult.  This boat will not hold you back from any of today’s wave or hole tricks.

Pyranha S6 (190) – This boat is an older play-boat, but it was ahead of it time.  Still a great play-boat for a smaller adult or kids.  Once you have your roll down and want to start getting a little more playful, this could make a good choice.

Pyranha H3 (235) – This kayak is a great river-runner or big water boat for a smaller adult.  This boat has seen some river miles, it knows the way down.

*  Inquire about paddles, spray-skirts, helmets, and other kayaking accessories available. 

*  Kayaks also available for rent, even if your not joining a RiverSide Trip.