Category Archive: Idaho RIver Rafting

1. The Gift of a River Trip for Dad.

   January 29, 2024 8:34 pm Comments Off on The Gift of a River Trip for Dad.

   The Gift of a River Trip

   August 2023
   This old button-down has ‘DAD’ written all over it: drawings of fly fishing flies labeled with their unique names like ‘wooly bugger’ and ‘caddis pupa’ pattern the frayed flannel. I’m checking off items from the Canyons Packing List as Dad sorts through his clothes. He offered me his beloved Orvis flannel, saying it had shrunk in the wash and I could keep it if I liked.
   Greg, the owner of Canyons, offers full-time guides an incredible benefit of bringing a family member or friend on a Canyons trip. As a Christmas gift, I invited Dad on a September, Main Salmon River Trip. So we are going over the packing list again and I’m triple checking his flights and travel plans. I am prepared. Prepared to keep him comfortable on the bumpy bus ride and whitewater roller coasters. Prepared to help him hike the steep mountains, catch a trout in the river, stay warm through the crisp fall nights, break the ice in conversations with the other guests… I have magnesium if the groover doesn’t call, a cot if he’s uncomfortable sleeping on the ground, a chair to support his back as he rides in the rafts… I am prepared.

   Sept 2023 – Day 2 of the trip
   I am not prepared for my dad to have an absolute blast.
   This morning I tried to pry Dad away from an engaging conversation with a new friend and fellow guest on the trip so he wouldn’t miss breakfast. After yesterday, I realized that my dad and I haven’t spent that much time together as adults separate from family gatherings or reunions. I forgot that Dad is a social butterfly. He is so drawn to the Canyons ‘social circle’ that he hasn’t even cast a fly!

   Sept 2023 – Day 4
   Dad is my guest, but also my dad out here. Sweat rolled down my neck as I roasted the New York Strip and Dad kept a fan on me! Tonight he ‘filmed a cooking show’ as I layered the lasagna and we partnered for an impromptu act in the Talent Show. We’ve had a couple of times where it’s just been us in the raft; he’s listened to my human history and geology talks…as well as some grumbles about the headwind. I’ve watched him engage with every guest on the trip and eventually, catch a trout (with a little help).

   Sept 2023 – Day 5
   Launching on a new moon, we bundled up each night to watch the shooting stars together. He hiked a steep scramble to a ridgeline, smiled through the whitewater, and slept deeply each night, tuckered out from the pace and excitement of the river trip. It warmed my heart to see my fellow guides take care of Dad: Colin crafted a special ‘anatomical heart-shaped pancake’ (Dad is a cardiologist) and Greg reserved a seat in the dory for the big whitewater day.
   I spent all my energy preparing for the logistics of this river trip–not realizing that the experience will speak for itself. Dad surprised me on all fronts. I’ve watched guests enjoy the Salmon River with their family and now I truly understand how special it is to share a river trip with my dad.

2. Meet Velvet, A Dory on the Salmon!

   January 23, 2024 1:35 am Comments Off on Meet Velvet, A Dory on the Salmon!

   Welcome to the Team, Velvet!

   “Is that…a dory?!” Folks at the boat ramp crane their necks to get a better view of the elegant wooden boat. Only 13’ 6” long, she’s one of three ‘Double Chubble’ dories ever built. She’s the perfect size for both big water and low technical flows which characterize the free-flowing Salmon River. Greg, owner of Canyons River Company, strokes the little boat gently and then fluffs the pillows that adorn her benches. He welcomes the onlookers to admire the fine craftsmanship of Fretwater Boatworks.

   Greg is good friends with Brad Dimock, owner of Fretwater Boatworks. One of Greg’s dreams was to row a lavender dory on the Salmon River, so Brad and his co-worker, Cricket, brought this dream to life by building Velvet.

   Working both in the Grand Canyon and on Salmon River, Greg quickly learned of dory-lore. He had the opportunity to row a friend’s dory named Thunder River down the Grand and it was love at first stroke. Greg describes the allure of captaining this special craft: “It feels like you’re kayaking…but you can take friends in your boat!”

   Velvet Falls is the first significant drop on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Back in 1995 when Greg was a young river guide, Velvet Falls stood out to him as a “beautiful rapid” and since then it has “always held a special spot”. It just so happened that after Velvet was built, named, and christened in the Salmon River, the rapid of Velvet Falls changed forever from a massive landslide.

   Landslides in the Salmon River corridor often occur after forest fires. A fire cycle is natural and healthy in this ecosystem; however, a history of poor environmental decisions have had detrimental consequences. Downstream dams preventing the keystone species of salmon returning to the ecosystem and forest mis-management are two major human impacts that have contributed to the recent catastrophic fires.

   Dories are often named to memorialize the earth’s natural wonders that have been badly injured by human activities; some historic dories are Marble Canyon, Hidden Passage, and Quartz Creek. Martin Litton, a devoted dory pioneer and environmentalist, began this tradition as a way to inspire river activism. He believed that if you got people down to rivers, it would inspire them to take care of these places. Unintentionally, Velvet followed tradition and became a living memory of her namesake.

   Velvet has navigated the mighty Main Salmon and Lower Salmon. In 2024, Greg says “she’ll be making her way upstream to the Middle Fork, just like a little salmon returning home”.

   We hope you’ll have the chance to ride in her. “She’s a spunky little filly, always ready to ride!”

   written by Canyons guide, Jessie Longe

3. Offbeat Interview Series with Ren

   February 15, 2021 6:12 pm Comments Off on Offbeat Interview Series with Ren

   

   Hi! My name is Kathryn (Ren) Egnew, and I was born and raised right here in McCall, Idaho. I grew up skiing, kayaking, rafting, and mountain biking, but soccer and horseback riding were my main focus until college. After a (very) short stint as a college athlete I moved to Moab to be a river guide for Sheri Griffith River Expeditions. After a summer in the desert I relocated to Bozeman MT to go back to school for GIS and Snow Science. Five years in Bozeman taught me to love the outdoors more, took me all over the world to ski and kayak, and helped me find my passion at the crossroads of guiding and backcountry awareness and stewardship.

   I was living abroad when the pandemic began, so I bailed back to the States and landed in McCall. What was supposed to be a couple months “reset period” turned into a year and a refound love of Idaho. I am currently spending my time working towards my AIARE teaching and guiding certifications in the winter, and playing on the river and tending to my garden in the summer. Happy to be home!

   In your guiding career (on or off river), what has been your favorite “woohoo!” moment?

   Rowing the Big Drops in Cataract Canyon for the first time.

   In your guiding career (on or off river), what has been your most memorable “uhoh!” moment?

   Going left at Bedrock Rapid in the Grand Canyon…it wasn’t technically a guided trip, but no one in my boat knew much about rivers and it was certainly a spicy line!

   What is your favorite dress-up theme?

   Anything leopard print!

   What intrigues you about working for Canyons?

   I have always been drawn to the sense of camaraderie and family at Canyons. It is this unwavering sense of place and unconditional love that has made me want to be a part of Team Canyons for a very long time.

   What are three words that describe you?

   Adaptable, bold, creative.

   What is your favorite thing about the Middle Fork or Main Salmon?

   The beautiful clear water and the hot springs!

   If you could be a river creature, which one and why?

   I would be a river otter because they are so good at playing and napping with equal voracity.

   If you could bring anyone on a river trip, who would it be and why?

   Beyonce.

   What is one of your river rituals or superstitions?

   Never talk about the Big W! (wind)

   What are your personal top 3 MUST HAVES on a river trip?

   A sketchbook, coffee/cocktail mug, and a good river dress.

   Where is your favorite groover spot?

   Any spot overlooking a big rapid. It helps move things along and gives you another chance to scout!

   What is the most important lesson the river has taught you so far?

   I know this is extra cheesy, but the river really has taught me to go with the flow and to be comfortable working with what I have at the moment.

4. Offbeat Interview Emily

   February 1, 2021 9:51 pm Comments Off on Offbeat Interview Emily

   Meet Canyon’s Social Media Diva, Emily Sedgwick! Maybe you have delighted in our Facebook feed or re-lived your Salmon River adventure through the pictures and video on our Twitter posts and on Instagram. If so, then you have been touched by the work of Emily, Founder and Principal of Em and Em Marketing. In the dynamic world of social media, Emily is a wellspring of experience, ingenuity and creativity.  Pairing her graphic design and marketing expertise, she creates posts that are joyful, positive and uplifting, with the hope of spreading kindness to all of our followers, guests and interested parties. Through Emily’s endless hustle and results driven leadership, Canyons won the prestigious Thrive Award for Social Media at the America Outdoors Conference this year! All hail Canyons Social Media Diva!

   When you meet Emily in person, you are immediately drawn to her vivacious personality, up-for-anything energy and 1,000 watt smile. As competitive skier and division one soccer captain, Emily knows a thing or two about focus, motivation and drive. Emily had been working in hospitality, advertising and marketing field when Canyons owner/guide Greg noticed she had a gift for seeing the beauty in things and creatively translating that beauty into social media content that underscores the values that Team Canyons lives by. Canyons strives to create community through offering deeply meaningful river trips and employing guides who are experts in their field (and experts in FUN). We recognize the value of the wilderness experience and strive to create community on our trips and back in town through honest and authentic engagement.  Emily drives our social media content to reflect these core values and add beauty and substance to the world.

   As our principal marketing advisor, Emily has joined Team Canyons on many trips. Her delightful personality has earned her the titles of: river sommelier, Canyon’s Guide-In-Training-For-Life (by Canyons guide Chris Madden), official raft sunbather, hot springs activist, side canyon explorer, dishline dancer, campfire closer and rescue ducky-ing delight!

   If you want more from Emily and Team Canyons, sign up and sign in on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram!

   

5. Yoga and Whitewater Adventure on the Middle Fork of the Salmon

   December 14, 2020 10:56 pm Comments Off on Yoga and Whitewater Adventure on the Middle Fork of the Salmon

   Join Jenny and Sami, avid outdoors women and passionate yoga teachers on a six day yoga and whitewater adventure on the wildly pristine Middle Fork of the Salmon River!
   
   Explore the beauty of the Earth and how deeply we are connected to ourselves, each other and the planet. Well seasoned yogis and those brand new to the practice will enjoy this retreat. A variety of yogic practices will be shared including creative asana, breath work, meditation, and nidra.
   
   The trip includes 2-3 yoga practices daily, three gourmet meals daily, two drinks a day (beer or wine), wild white water rafting, hot springs, hikes, opportunities to kayak and fun connection activities. Evenings we will gather around the campfire and connect. Sign up here!
   
   A highlight will be a heart opening cacao ceremony and a dress up dance party.
   
   Take this time to be wild and free in the Frank Church wilderness on the Yoga and Whitewater Adventure. It will be life changing!
   
   Please contact Jenny at 208.410.1238 or email at [email protected].

   
   ——

   
   Sami Ruggles, RYT 200, is a seeker. She is always looking for meaning, symbols, and secrets hidden in the natural world around her. She knew that it was possible to live an authentically, happy life but she never knew the profound impact that yoga would make on one’s ability to do so.
   Her first yoga class took place 9 years ago, and she’s never looked back. Under the guidance of skillful teachers and the lens of her own devoted curiosity to the art of yoga her practice has evolved and unfolded. She teaches powerful yoga experiences and is a firm believer that yoga can give everyone the power to be the most authentic version of themselves.

   
   Jenny Greenough Hanson, ERYT 500, is passionate about yoga, connection and authenticity. She believes yoga is the best tool to create these both individually and as a collective. She is convinced if anything can save the hearts and minds of people and the planet, it’s yoga. It brings her great joy to share it. She is grateful to be a part of the global yoga community whether teaching in a studio or on retreat in some beautiful corner of the world. Always curious and astonished at the journey of yoga she hopes to share and study it as a lifetime pursuit. She is trained in vinyasa, yin, restorative, nidra, and Buti yoga. Retreats are her great joy to share.

6. Cheers to A Semi “Normal” 2021!

   10:00 pm Comments Off on Cheers to A Semi “Normal” 2021!

   Oh 2020. You’ve certainly made the history books and I don’t know about you, but I look forward to closing this chapter (maybe even slamming it, just for effect)! So much has happened this year and there is no need to recount it here. It’s been a wild and sobering season at Canyons but as 2020 draws to a close, the Team is feeling invigorated by the prospect of a vaccine and optimistic about next season. Cheers to a semi-“Normal” 2021!
   
   Staying positive seems to be one of the great challenges of this year. If ever there were a year to work on your gratitude practice, this has been it! We are feeling grateful that our work is creating extraordinary experiences in a wild land that is worthy of every opportunity we can create to save it. We feel fortunate that we can offer folks the chance to get back to their true selves and create moments of deep peace. Our 2021 season looks to draw in almost 500 guests we look forward to connecting with, learning from and inspiring.
   
   In high school, I had to take Calculus II / Trigonometry with Ms. Duncan. It was beyond challenging for me. In fact, it was like being thrown into Advanced Placement Mandarin without ever having taken the beginners course. It was rigorous, defeating, shocking, inexplicable and maddening. Now, several decades later, I still get a physical reaction when thinking of that class. My heart rate increases, my breathing becomes ragged and I could swear I’m breaking out in hives. I suspect remembering 2020 will incur the same reaction for years to come. But, however hard Ms. Duncan was, however hard that class was, I learned some very, very hard won lessons that made tiny victories ever sweeter (like the relief and exhilaration of receiving a C instead of the alternative!). And I’d like to think I’m the better for it.
   
   So here’s to 2020. May we take in the lessons we need to from it, appreciate whatever gains were made no matter how seemingly insignificant or mediocre, and walk out of that classroom into the fresh air of a new year!
   
   Cheers everyone to 2021! Never has a return to “normal” ever felt so needed or hoped for!

7. Capture the Canyons Magic

   February 27, 2020 6:54 pm Comments Off on Capture the Canyons Magic

   The Power and Magic of a Canyons River Trip

   Aiden Chambers wrote in ‘This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn’:

   “I thought how lovely and how strange a river is. A river is a river, always there, and yet the water flowing through it is never the same water and is never still. It’s always changing and is always on the move. And over time the river itself changes too. It widens and deepens as it rubs and scours, gnaws and kneads, eats and bores its way through the land. Even the greatest rivers…must have been no more than trickles and flickering streams before they grew into mighty rivers.”

   This is the Magic of Canyons. While one may be fortunate enough to return for the “same” trip: it is never the same. The river itself is different, the runs are different, the guides, while still amazing, are different; however, so much more changes than the obvious. Each time I have returned to the Salmon, I have been the same, yet entirely different. I long to return at every stage.

    

   When setting out to try to capture this magic, I initially was going to discuss the ability the river and Canyons have for taking you away from reality. My first trip with Canyons, my mom was very ill. However, when we were on the river, it was all about fun and adventure. This compartmentalization is sometimes imperative to reset in order to move forward once you are back in reality. I cried when we were loading the bus at the end of the trip. Was I mourning the end of our amazing time? Definitely. Was I also a young girl mourning the return to a reality she was afraid to face? Most definitely. 

    

   Upon return to the Salmon, the same but different, I was stronger. My mom had since passed away. We were starting our trip at the usual put-in but on foot. The river was low, and we would be meeting everyone else downstream after a 3-day hike. I have since run a marathon without training and have had two children. This 3-day hike remains one of the hardest things I’ve done physically and emotionally. With over 100 degree weather, little to no shade, and challenging terrain, my pack was proving possibly too large for my adolescent frame. This challenge paired with the rapids on the river taught me that I am capable of more than I realize. Each rapid must be faced head-on. You cannot stop paddling if you want to successfully get through. Stronger still. 

    

   Just as the river “gnaws and kneads, eats and bores”, so does life. The last time returning to the river was for mourning as well as a celebration of the life of a beloved uncle. I was stronger than before but softer, more perceptive, older. The cleansing power of the river was felt. The presence of my uncle and my mom was so felt being surrounded and immersed in nature. This is the Magic of Canyons. The river is peace. You are surrounded by the overwhelming beauty of nature and can, momentarily, forget about all that is gnawing and kneading, changing you. For a moment, you only can focus on the “lovely” and “strange”, ever-flowing river. 

    

   Written by Michele Rich, Canyons Guest 1999

8. Natural or Synthetic Clothing?

   January 20, 2020 2:48 pm Comments Off on Natural or Synthetic Clothing?

   

   What to wear on your Salmon river adventure!

   When considering what clothes to bring on your Salmon river adventure, you may be wondering what is the difference between natural or synthetic fibers? Which is most comfortable on the river?

   First, consider that you’ll need to pack river clothes and camp clothes. Please see our webpage here for details on exactly what you’ll need to bring.

   Synthetic Clothing on the River

   Synthetic fibers are more durable than most natural fibers and can offer you functions like sun protection, quick-drying, stretchy, flexible, “waterproof” and stain-resistant material like this shirt. Synthetic materials you may want to throw in your bag include Capilene, polypropylene, and good ole’ fashioned fleece. You’ll frequently be wet on the river and synthetic fibers dry quickly to keep you warm and comfortable. Especially consider long quick-dry pants in the summer. They will dry quickly and you do not want to experience “boatman’s butt” on your trip. Just ask your river guide and watch them cringe as they explain the embarrassing horrors that a continuously wet rear-end can give you!

   Natural Clothing in Camp

   Evenings, nights and mornings are when it’s most comfortable to be in natural fibers. It also gives your skin a chance to dry out and air out which your fellow river runners will be appreciative of. Hanging out constantly in non-breathing synthetics can keep your new friends at bay! Nothing feels better than getting out of a hot spring on a cool evening and slipping into some cotton and wool layers before happy hour. Of course, you’ll always want to have rain gear and heavyweight gear like fleece handy just in case!

   Award-Winning Versatility of Wool

   Wool is also an excellent option on the river and in camp. Heavy to mid-weight wool in June can keep you warm even when it gets wet. In warmer months, lightweight wool is comfortable and offers great protection from the sun.

   If you have sensitive skin like me, you’ll find that high-quality wool-like companies such as Smartwool and Icebreaker offer, does not irritate the skin as some starchy feeling synthetics can.

   Happy packing and happy shopping! Don’t hesitate to call Canyons if you want to discuss the viability of the contents of your suitcase!

9. Roasted Red Onion Flower Recipe

   December 22, 2018 7:22 pm Comments Off on Roasted Red Onion Flower Recipe

   To Blossom…

   I was just thinking about the holidays and how it’s this special time where we all gather with friends and family to celebrate. We talk about our lives and what we’ve gone through in the last year, what we’re grateful for, what we’ve learned, all in the moment of rejoicing just how amazing life really is and of course, reminiscing about those unforgettable life experiences.

   With those thoughts, it shot me back to the Salmon River and those magical moments I’ve experienced as a river guide.  The years can go by, but the memories never fade. As guides, we get to witness something very special that happens to our guests when they first meet the river.  There’s apprehension in the air, excitement, gusto, and quiet respect as they take that first step into a boat and are suddenly whisked down the river. It’s a sudden rush and the apprehension that was first felt at the put in is washed away and replaced with a purity of embracing the moment.

   Yes, we get to watch our guests blossom from the river experience.  As guides, it is our goal to nurture our clientele. We instigate here, we instigate there, always in search of creating a safe and encouraging space for them to experience their own bond with nature and one another.  It’s the perfect little recipe. A dash of guest, a handful of nature, a cupful of the river and you’ve got magic!

   So, in the spirit of the holidays, we’d love to share with you a beautiful recipe that may remind you of your own blossoming, whether you are a seasoned river guest or plotting your first river adventure.  Enjoy the ride and Happy Holidays!!!

   Cheers,

   Whizzy

   Roasted Red Onion Flowers

   Ingredients:

   • 6 red onions, skin on, roots intact
   • 6 T of really good olive oil
   • salt (smoked is yum! – try smoked Maldon)
   • fresh herbs – rosemary, thyme or bay leaves (chopped)
   • fresh ground pepper & sea salt

   Instructions:

   • Preheat oven to 350
   • Make 8 vertical cuts in each onion to create wedges still attached at the root end.
   • Drizzle a little olive oil into the baking dish, then arrange onions root end down.
   • Spoon remaining olive oil into and around the onions. Sprinkle generously with salt, getting some into the center of the onions.  Sprinkle with fresh herbs.
   • Roast for 40 minutes.  You’ll begin to see the onions open like petals in a flower.  Keep drizzling the caramelized onion juices from the pan over the onions.  Do this several times. Roast onions until tender and you see crispy bits on the outer petals.  Season with pepper and salt to taste. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve hot or at room temp!

   Are you a foodie?

   Check out our annual Wine & Culinary Extravaganza, August 28-September 2 on the Main Salmon. Enjoy a worldly selection of wines paired with a mouthwatering menu, specially crafted by Whizzy (Lisa Whisnant with Blue Moon Yurt), a Chef and River Guide Extraordinaire.