The Slide
confluence of the Snake and Salmon
Cherry Creek Falls
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Pine Bar and the Group Grows Bigger
After two days of Linda and I lounging on the beach, we packed up and floated down to the Pine Bar put in. Approaching from up stream we checked out the campground above the put in and noted that they have a pump for water. This is good to know if you don't want to haul water down to the put-in, and we had never looked over the camping area so that gave us some good reference information.
The rapid above the put-in had about three slots you could use to get down, I chose the center right run and we had no problem getting through. When we arrived at Pine Bar the group had not gotten there so Linda went for a run and I read my book. The wind came up and was blowing sand everywhere. Our boat was getting covered with the dust, so after Linda finished running we loaded up and ferried across the river into an eddy that was in the shade where we washed the boat off with our squirt gun. By the time we finished the group had arrived so we crossed back and lent a hand with the set up of boats and the stowing of gear.
The group consisted of the Outdoor Pursuits staff, Paul, Jon and Rachel and employees of NIC. We were working to put together a paddle boat, a gear boat and two boats with gear and passengers. OP put the trip together as a team builder for the staff and everyone who signed up was very excited. The group consisted of Erna Rhinehart and Ron Cole; Tami Haft and Bob Grigg, Rolly and Jeannie Jurgens; Betsy and Todd Conery; Holly and Ryan Edwards; Ernie and Linda Michal-Hawks; Steve and Karen Ruppel; Chris and Carmen Compton. When we ferried across the river everyone had already been assigned duties and the boats and equipment were comming together.
Once everything was stored we had a brief chat about river safety and off we went.
The plan was to float down to some where by Killer Goat Beach and camp. We made the miles in good time but the camps we were thinking of were taken so we pushed on and found a good one on river left at (45 58.301N 116 28.043W). We ate dinner, sat around and talked. Most folks were in bed by 9:30 PM that evening.
The morning brought coffee and breakfast. We didn't hurry to get on the river so we started floating about 11:00 AM. Ahead of us we had most of the bigger rapids. Entering the Green Canyon and Cougar Canyon we would face such rapids as Lorna's Lulu, the two Bunghole Rapids, Harm's Hole Rapid, Bodacious Bounce, Half and Half Rapid and then Snow Hole Rapid. Snow Hole is considered the "big one" on the Lower Salmon and our group scouted it from the left bank. Linda and I went down first and had a good run. The group did excellent and everyone made it through in style. I set up in the eddy located below the tooth rock on the right and took pictures. They are posted on our photo page and available as a dotPhoto slide show.
Lunch, shade, and cool drink followed the run through Snow Hole. Our camp for the night was somewhere down river below China Rapid. We continued down around the oxbow past Maloney Creek, the Northern most point on the Salmon River, and we came to China Rapids, a blind class III s-curve, that managed to part Steve Ruppel from his boat and crew. It was only a short separation, everyone was right there to help gather the floaters and help right the boat. Jon, Paul and Steve flipped it back upright with very little effort. Little gear was lost and nothing was hurt except for a little pride and some confidence. The second night camp was just across from a private cabin that has a landing strip. It was a great beach with lots of camp sites and some shade up in the Locus Trees. There were a few bees and a couple folks got stung but other then that it was a good camp. After dinner people sat around and talked until dark. Some when to bed and everyone listen to Erna as she laughed so hard she fell over in her chair. I was in bed, but the next day everyone was smiling about the noise.
The next morning we loaded and set off traveling through the Cottonwood Creek area. Linda and I were talking about a beach we liked that was located
just at the end of the small rapid leading into the slow water before Wapshilla Rapid and entered the Black Canyon with Frog Beach set as a stopping point.
Some of the group wanted to keep going, but the majority wanted to stay the night and do a day hike to the top of a small peak. Once again dinner was great and we turned in early so we could get on as soon as possible for the push down river to the takeout.
The rapid above the put-in had about three slots you could use to get down, I chose the center right run and we had no problem getting through. When we arrived at Pine Bar the group had not gotten there so Linda went for a run and I read my book. The wind came up and was blowing sand everywhere. Our boat was getting covered with the dust, so after Linda finished running we loaded up and ferried across the river into an eddy that was in the shade where we washed the boat off with our squirt gun. By the time we finished the group had arrived so we crossed back and lent a hand with the set up of boats and the stowing of gear.
The group consisted of the Outdoor Pursuits staff, Paul, Jon and Rachel and employees of NIC. We were working to put together a paddle boat, a gear boat and two boats with gear and passengers. OP put the trip together as a team builder for the staff and everyone who signed up was very excited. The group consisted of Erna Rhinehart and Ron Cole; Tami Haft and Bob Grigg, Rolly and Jeannie Jurgens; Betsy and Todd Conery; Holly and Ryan Edwards; Ernie and Linda Michal-Hawks; Steve and Karen Ruppel; Chris and Carmen Compton. When we ferried across the river everyone had already been assigned duties and the boats and equipment were comming together.
Once everything was stored we had a brief chat about river safety and off we went.
The plan was to float down to some where by Killer Goat Beach and camp. We made the miles in good time but the camps we were thinking of were taken so we pushed on and found a good one on river left at (45 58.301N 116 28.043W). We ate dinner, sat around and talked. Most folks were in bed by 9:30 PM that evening.
The morning brought coffee and breakfast. We didn't hurry to get on the river so we started floating about 11:00 AM. Ahead of us we had most of the bigger rapids. Entering the Green Canyon and Cougar Canyon we would face such rapids as Lorna's Lulu, the two Bunghole Rapids, Harm's Hole Rapid, Bodacious Bounce, Half and Half Rapid and then Snow Hole Rapid. Snow Hole is considered the "big one" on the Lower Salmon and our group scouted it from the left bank. Linda and I went down first and had a good run. The group did excellent and everyone made it through in style. I set up in the eddy located below the tooth rock on the right and took pictures. They are posted on our photo page and available as a dotPhoto slide show.
Lunch, shade, and cool drink followed the run through Snow Hole. Our camp for the night was somewhere down river below China Rapid. We continued down around the oxbow past Maloney Creek, the Northern most point on the Salmon River, and we came to China Rapids, a blind class III s-curve, that managed to part Steve Ruppel from his boat and crew. It was only a short separation, everyone was right there to help gather the floaters and help right the boat. Jon, Paul and Steve flipped it back upright with very little effort. Little gear was lost and nothing was hurt except for a little pride and some confidence. The second night camp was just across from a private cabin that has a landing strip. It was a great beach with lots of camp sites and some shade up in the Locus Trees. There were a few bees and a couple folks got stung but other then that it was a good camp. After dinner people sat around and talked until dark. Some when to bed and everyone listen to Erna as she laughed so hard she fell over in her chair. I was in bed, but the next day everyone was smiling about the noise.
The next morning we loaded and set off traveling through the Cottonwood Creek area. Linda and I were talking about a beach we liked that was located
just at the end of the small rapid leading into the slow water before Wapshilla Rapid and entered the Black Canyon with Frog Beach set as a stopping point.
Some of the group wanted to keep going, but the majority wanted to stay the night and do a day hike to the top of a small peak. Once again dinner was great and we turned in early so we could get on as soon as possible for the push down river to the takeout.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Solo at Hammer Creek
Making sure we have everything has become a game with Linda and I. Prior to leaving we ask about items that we may have forgotten and all the way down to the river one of us will suddenly say "did you put in the...?" There was nothing missing for our trip that we could find and I guess that is good. We got to the White bird Motel and Shuttle Service (208 839-2308) and talked to Carveth right on schedule. Smelled like old Carveth had been cooking cabbage in his place, but he was happy to see us and promised that our rig was safe with him.
We drove to the Hammer Creek put-in and it was hot! All we had to do there was fill our water jugs and back the trailer in and we were off. Of course the launch ramp was full. Full of TWO old farts putting together two cats! To the left were three spots open and ready for building boats. In the middle of the ram were the two cats, just the cats and gear, blocking all access. No they could not have set their gear and boats to the left side and put them together there. It all had to be in the middle of the ramp.
I backed down and one of the old farts grumbled and swore, but with my help, move the boat off the ramp to the right and within two minutes Linda and I were launched and off down river.
Our goal was to get down a few miles and set up our camp where we could stay for the next two days. The camp we found was on river left; just past the end of the road that provides access on the right bank. Our campsite was perfect. We had sand and a great place to swim. ( GPS Coords. 45 50.047N 116 18.040W) Our plan for a layover before meeting the rest of the NIC group was a good one. We lounged under the shade of the para-wing and unwound from the prior weeks of preparation.
I backed down and one ot the old farts grumbled and swore, but with my help, we move the boat off the ramp to the right and within two minutes Linda and I were launched and off down river.
Our goal was to get down a few miles and set up our camp where we ould stay for the next two days. The camp we found was on river left, just past the end of the road that provides access on the right bank. Our campsite was perfict. We had sand and a great place to swim. ( GPS Coords. 45 50.047N 116 18.040W) Our plan for a layover before meeting the rest of the NIC group was a good one. We lounged under the shade of the para-wing and unwound from the prior weeks of preperation.
We drove to the Hammer Creek put-in and it was hot! All we had to do there was fill our water jugs and back the trailer in and we were off. Of course the launch ramp was full. Full of TWO old farts putting together two cats! To the left were three spots open and ready for building boats. In the middle of the ram were the two cats, just the cats and gear, blocking all access. No they could not have set their gear and boats to the left side and put them together there. It all had to be in the middle of the ramp.
I backed down and one of the old farts grumbled and swore, but with my help, move the boat off the ramp to the right and within two minutes Linda and I were launched and off down river.
Our goal was to get down a few miles and set up our camp where we could stay for the next two days. The camp we found was on river left; just past the end of the road that provides access on the right bank. Our campsite was perfect. We had sand and a great place to swim. ( GPS Coords. 45 50.047N 116 18.040W) Our plan for a layover before meeting the rest of the NIC group was a good one. We lounged under the shade of the para-wing and unwound from the prior weeks of preparation.
I backed down and one ot the old farts grumbled and swore, but with my help, we move the boat off the ramp to the right and within two minutes Linda and I were launched and off down river.
Our goal was to get down a few miles and set up our camp where we ould stay for the next two days. The camp we found was on river left, just past the end of the road that provides access on the right bank. Our campsite was perfict. We had sand and a great place to swim. ( GPS Coords. 45 50.047N 116 18.040W) Our plan for a layover before meeting the rest of the NIC group was a good one. We lounged under the shade of the para-wing and unwound from the prior weeks of preperation.
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