A beautiful, dry 105 degrees in the shade, windy during the day and feeling a lot like the high desert in Utah, this portion of the Salmon River is one of the few areas of this large, un-dammed river system that can be run in a single day.
The rapids had me swimming twice, once after capsizing in the inflatable kayak, and later in a Dagger sport kayak further downstream. Needless to say I got a good lesson in staying totally present…a few scratches, some bumps and a couple of tweaked tendons, plus a lost pair of sunglasses. But hey, I survived a long swim through Pine Creek rapids and I’d do it again tomorrow! (But stay upright the next time…8^)
End of the day shot first: North Fork of the Salmon River at dusk.
Heading toward the first rapid, Pine Creek.
Getting ready for the fun and adventure.
Great support from fellow kayakers…catching my boat and shoes after I went swimming.
Keep your eye on the guy in the orange life vest, he’s uh, nuts.
He’s also a novice when it comes to tackling technical water, as you’ll see.
The guy (yes, me) high sides on a rock and stops in the middle of the rapids.
Where’d the guy in the orange life vest go? Swimming!
Towering rock walls and blue sky
A great bunch who know how to relax, enjoy adventure, and have a good time.
Larry and Mary’s great dog, Monty, stands watch on the bow through thick and thin.
Igneous Intrusion vertical seam; rare, interesting and very tall!
Mary Chinn’s hairdo can only be created by paddlerolling like a dervish, and well.
The boatman is tired. Larry Chinn sleeps off a huge post evening meal.
Jack Herbert and Carl Barnum chow down.
Nightime descends after a great day on the water and a wonderful meal.
Think the water looks pretty mild for a whitewater river at low water? Think again. Here’s a video (20MB file) of one of the rapids, Dutch Creek, shot from the raft piloted by Larry Chinn. Any one of these waves could peel you out of a kayak or inflatable in a heartbeat. (And they did to me and a couple of the other kayakers…)
