Category Archive: rafting

1. Offbeat Interview Series with Kiki

   February 15, 2017 6:08 pm Comments Off on Offbeat Interview Series with Kiki

   Kyle ‘Kiki’ Wykstra

   As the second oldest of four, Kiki grew up spending copious amounts of time outdoors. From horseback riding to commercial rafting in the Grand Canyon, Susan, Kiki’s mom, instilled the love of recreating into her children at a young age. Between her mother and her grandmother, Kiki learned everything she needed to know about living in and loving the outdoors. After spending a semester abroad in Spain, Kiki graduated from the University of Arizona with degrees in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Spanish. She spent many years commercial guiding in Grand Canyon and is now pursuing a certification as a Yoga Instructor. Kiki recently became a member of the California Women’s Watersport Collective and has teamed up with them to teach yoga. In the non-river guiding seasons, Kiki resides in Sausalito with her boyfriend Galen, on a boat. In the bay where they are parked, she assists in teaching SUP yoga.

   The Interview

   If you could be a river superhero, what would you be?   Super-strength so I could smash down dams; My skin would act as a filter to clean chemicals and fertilizer from our water-ways; I would have webbed feet and hands, for swimming of course; I would have the ability to breath underwater and chameleon-like camouflage; Most importantly I would have the ability to talk to and play with otters (they just seem so fun!). I am still trying to come up with a name…Swampy? 

   What is your favorite dress up theme?  Themes are the most fun when they are always different. Dressing up, any which way is my favorite. I’ll take any excuse to wear a tutu and a wig.   

   What is your ‘go to’ crazy hat night creation?   My favorite is when Riley Greer makes me a beautiful crown out of the local flora.

   What brought you to Canyons?   My inspiring friend and mentor Ari. We worked together in Grand Canyon and eventually I pestered her enough to get me a spot on a Canyons training trip. They still haven’t been able to get rid of me.      

   How many years have you worked here?   2017 will be my 5th season with Canyons     

   What is your favorite thing about Canyons?  The family. I have never worked for a company that had a more inclusive culture. From the moment I started, I was welcomed with open arms. Greg does an incredible job of making us all feel valued. In an industry where you can sometimes feel replaceable, it is refreshing to know that a company like Canyons exists. 

   If you could describe Canyons in 3 words?  All are welcome!

   When you hear the word Idaho, what comes to mind?  Wild rivers and wild spaces. Most people don’t know that it has the largest wilderness in the lower 48. Idaho is still the wild west!

   What are your top three favorite camps?  Ooooh, I don’t know. They are all so good. I really like the small camps that we don’t usually get to camp at on commercial trips. I guess I would say Sunflower and Fly on the Middle fork and Fawn Creek on the Main Salmon!

   Your favorite hike?   I don’t think I could pick a favorite, but any hike with steep elevation gain and I’m in! 

   Top three favorite rapids?   Very dependent on water level, craft, and river! The Middle Fork and Main Salmon rivers are special because they are still free-flowing, and because of that, they change so much. I love Big Mallard on the Main Salmon and the first 25 miles of the Middle Fork always keep me on my toes.     

   Currently, what is your nemesis rapid?   A wise guide friend once told me to never make a rapid your nemesis. If you are struggling with a certain rapid, stop at it, walk around, listen, look, get to know the rapid and make friends with it. This philosophy has served me well.

   What river do you want to run that you haven’t yet?   I would love to run the Futaleufu in Chile. I have been hankering to get down there for a few years now.  

   What do you consider a ‘real’ job?  River guiding is about as real as it gets!   

   If you could only have one kayak in your quiver, what would it be and why?  Dagger Mamba. I love that boat. There is no boat that will do it all, but I sure do like running rivers in my Mamba.

   What is your favorite thing to cook on the river?   Canyons’ breakfasts. Breakfast to order is the best!

   If you could take a musician or band down the river today, who would it be?   John Craigie. He would write some hilarious tunes and he’s pretty cute to boot.

   What is your most memorable swim in a river?  Fairly recently I was teaching a college student how to row a boat in Grand Canyon. Clearly, I could have given better directions, because he dropped us into some no-name keeper hole. We surfed an 18-ft oar boat for two minutes. I did not swim but lost a lot of things including an umbrella and some rubber ducks. The ducks were recovered but the umbrella is probably at the bottom of Lake Mead by now. That was certainly memorable. 

   What is one of your river rituals or superstitions?   Sometimes I get sick to my stomach or feel like crying when I’m scouting a big, scary rapid. When I start to feel that way I put on glitter. Glitter makes everything better.  

   What is your most valued non-river-related item that you bring with you on every trip?  My mom is a river guide in Grand Canyon, and when I turned 15 she gave me a Hopi migration bracelet that she got when she started guiding. One time I forgot it and my friend broke into my car in order to get it shuttled all the way to me at Lee’s Ferry!

   What is your favorite groover spot?   My very first river trip I was a little kid on the San Juan. The first night we set our groover up in full view of the river. I thought it was so funny that you could wave at other trips as they were passing by when you were grooving! After that, I became a big fan of any spot with a good waving view of the river. 

2. Offbeat Interview Series with Niki

   December 20, 2016 6:11 pm Comments Off on Offbeat Interview Series with Niki

   Niki ‘Noodle’ LeClair

   Hailing from Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Niki eventually migrated to McCall, ID after a stretch of time spent living in Alaska. From the boundless whitewater and beautiful elk herds to the limitless hiking and amazing powder skiing, Idaho felt like home. In 1984 she developed her clothing line ‘Niki Sports Wear’ and actively grew this business for 16 years and ultimately ran it for 20.

   In the 1990’s Niki worked her way into the Brundage Cat Ski operation, where she continues to work today. For many years (and maybe even still today), she was the ONLY female director of a Cat Ski operation in the USA.

   2018 brought the publishing of her first children’s book, written by Niki and illustrated by one of her best friends Janet. The book Critter Story was so well received (with a lot of feet pounding the pavement) that they did a second printing. Niki is currently working on Critter Story 2.

   Niki’s world revolves around her greatest companions, her dogs, and her girlfriends. In her free time she enjoys private boating with her friends, gardening, making her famous ‘Scape Oil’, hiking, skiing, elk watching, working on her yurt, traveling, reading and mountain biking.

   The Interview

   If you could be a river superhero, what would you be?   An Otter   

   What is your favorite dress up theme?   Lighted tutus!

   What is your ‘go to’ crazy hat night creation?   Rope wrap on my head 

   What brought you to Canyons?  Multi-day river trips on the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon, Wilderness, Les Bechdel (the river GOD)      

   How many years have you worked here?   Since 1989     

   What is your favorite thing about Canyons?   The amazing family of guides and wonderful memories with new and returning clients  

   If you could describe Canyons in 3 words?   Love, Life, and Memories 

   When you hear the word Idaho, what comes to mind?   The BEST OF THE BEST!

   What are your top three favorite camps?   Loon (MF), Otter Bar (MF), Groundhog (Main)

   Your favorite hike?   Corey bar to the ridge top overlooking the now submerged Salmon Falls rapid

   Top three favorite rapids?   Powerhouse (MF), Elkhorn (Main), Vinegar (Main)

   Currently, what is your nemesis rapid?  The Chutes on the Middle Fork at low water  

   What river do you want to run that you haven’t yet?   The Rogue River in Oregon  

   What do you consider a ‘real’ job?   River Guiding and Powder Ski Guiding   

   If you could only have one kayak in your quiver, what would it be and why?   A sea kayak for lakes and oceans   

   What is your favorite thing to cook on the river?   Southwest chicken night

   If you could take a musician or band down the river today, who would it be?  Carlos Nakai   

   What is your most memorable swim in a river?   Bailey rapid on the Main Salmon at 92,000 cfs

   What is one of your river rituals or superstitions?   I always wear my river amulets for luck!

   What is the most valued non-river-related item that you bring with you on every trip?  Pictures of my dogs in a compact case 

   What is your favorite groover spot?  Alder    

3. Offbeat Interview Series with Kelli

   December 7, 2016 6:21 pm Comments Off on Offbeat Interview Series with Kelli

   Kelli ‘Teacha’ O’Keefe

   Just a small town girl from South Dakota, Kelli is a college golfer turned river rat! After playing golf for two seasons at Northern Arizona University, Kelli decided to take a semester off of golf and study in London. After a weekend spent sea kayaking and surfing in Wales, she changed her major and became a guide. That spring she went back to school, quit the golf team and traded in her golf clubs for some river gear. The following summer she worked for Wilderness Aware on the Arkansas River in Colorado and ended up spending four summers there. They also had permits to run the Dolores, North Platte, Upper Colorado, Gunnison, and Salt River in Arizona.

   Now she considers herself lucky enough to work most of the year on a river, somewhere in the world. She spends her spring and fall seasons, working on the Colorado thru the Grand Canyon for Arizona Raft Adventures, and she spends her summers working on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon Rivers for Canyons! In late summer and early spring, she guides for Last Descents River Expeditions in Western China on the Salween and Daqu Rivers. In 2015, Kelli played an integral role in bringing a dozen-or-so young Chinese kayakers and their parents on one of Canyons Main Salmon trips, and a wonderful, well-produced short film resulted. Check it out here!  She has worked intimately with Last Descents as they have helped to establish a National Park in Western China.

   When not on the river, you’ll find Kelli traveling, crocheting, and playing in the snow! She has been running her own business FunHoggin’ Fleecewear out of her truck camper, the Canyon’s warehouse, a friend’s house in McCall and wherever else her travel bug takes her. Just this year (2019) she is embarking on a small batch of manufactured skirts and shorts. If all goes well she will have more time to market her product. FunHoggin’ Fleecewear is about to go BIG! Once you see them for yourself, you will want to have one of your own.

   The Interview

   If you could be a river superhero, what would you be?   Whitewater Wonder Woman  

   What is your favorite dress up theme?   Definitely Disco! 

   What is your ‘go to’ crazy hat night creation?   I’m a big fan of the Big Horn Sheep! All you need is a Cam strap and Aluminum Foil!

   What brought you to Canyons?   I met Greg on my first trip in Grand Canyon 8 years ago as an assistant for AzRA! Immediately I fell in love with Greg’s contagious attitude. I ran into him that winter and he said, “Hey! Come check out Idaho!!”. The following summer I was able to go on the Canyons training trip, and a few years later…here I am!     

   How many years have you worked here?   5 years  

   What is your favorite thing about Canyons?   I love the family atmosphere… our guides are amazing, our guests are awesome, and we get to spend our summers on two of the most beautiful rivers out there!  I also really love the fact that as guides, we get to switch boats every day which is all decided upon at coffee talk!

   If you could describe Canyons in 3 words?  Family, Love, Duckies

   When you hear the word Idaho, what comes to mind?  Hot springs, Whitewater, Potatoes

   What are your top three favorite camps?   Indian Creek (MF), Shelf (MF), Groundhog (MN)

   Your favorite hike?   Little Pine

   Top three favorite rapids?   Tappan Falls (MF), Powerhouse (MF), Split Rock (MN)  

   Currently, what is your nemesis rapid?   Sulfur Slide in a sweep boat or a willie

   What river do you want to run that you haven’t yet?   Futaleufu in Chile 

   What do you consider a ‘real’ job?   Getting paid to do something you love!

   If you could only have one kayak in your quiver, what would it be and why?   I’m a rookie in the old kayak….so I’m happy to be in a boat that I can successfully roll!  

   What is your favorite thing to cook on the river?  Migas!!  

   If you could take a musician or band down the river today, who would it be?   Creedence Clearwater Revival 

   What is your most memorable swim in a river?   Seidel’s Suckhole on the Arkansas

   What is one of your river rituals or superstitions?   I try not to have any rituals or superstitions    

   What is the most valued non-river-related item that you bring with you on every trip?   My pillow…. We tend to spend more nights on the river than we do inside. So it’s so nice to have a cozy sleep kit….especially for Team Canyons coffee talk! 

   What is your favorite groover spot?   Cradle (MF), it’s so fun to look downstream at that beautiful little ducky muncher  

4. Save the wild salmon of the Snake River Watershed

   November 1, 2016 8:23 pm Comments Off on Save the wild salmon of the Snake River Watershed

   The end of a wild species?

   Can we save the wild Salmon?

   As with everything in life, choices today determine outcomes tomorrow. We stand at a crossroads with the fate of two species in our hands. Unfortunately, we are a stubborn race and are often unable to remove our judgments in the interest of the greater good. The Chinook salmon of the Snake and Salmon River watersheds lay on the brink of extinction, despite our multi-billion dollar efforts to “SAVE” them. And in turn, the Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcas) are endangered. Because of their primary food source, the Chinook salmon, are all but gone. The Orcas are literally starving to death because the salmon population has hit an all-time low. We could save the wild salmon and the Orcas by breaching the 4 antiquated dams on the lower Snake River.

   THE PAST

   During the mid-1900’s the Northwest agriculture economy was booming.  Hence waterway transportation was deemed the most cost-effective mode of transportation for goods to the ocean. For this reason, lock dams made sense and opened the door for commerce in Idaho, Eastern Oregon, and Eastern Washington. The growing populations of the Northwest demanded power, which was easily answered with the addition of hydroelectric plants to the dams. For 30+ years these 4 Lower Snake Dams served a number of very vital purposes. They enabled Lewiston, ID to become a port for barge traffic and they produced renewable energy via hydroelectric power.

   Unfortunately, they stopped the flow of the river which had a detrimental impact on the native salmon population. The young salmon or “smolt” begins its journey by traveling backwards to the ocean. In the ocean, it then spends many years growing to maturity. Eventually it makes its way back to its birthplace in the river, where it then reproduces and dies. Since the fish couldn’t navigate the dams, the government devised a series of plans to help the salmon smolt get to the ocean. They then devised another series of ways to help the mature salmon get back to the river. Unfortunately the systems they devised didn’t work as well as they had hoped and the wild Chinook salmon population has been in decline ever since.

   It costs tax payers millions of dollars a year to try and save the wild salmon and at the end of the day….they ARE NOT being saved.

   THE PRESENT

   Around the turn of the 21st century, railways made a comeback. As a result the rail infrastructure has been updated and enlarged, drastically affecting the demand for barge use. Meanwhile the production of wind power has surpassed the hydroelectric production to a point of idleness. In conjunction with these changes, the dams infrastructure continues to age. In turn requiring costly repairs and upgrades, thus resulting in higher costs of operation. More and more companies have switched to rail transport as a cheaper alternative. Wind power has become less expensive while the cost of hydropower continues to rise due to maintenance and repair of the aging hydro plants.

   Meanwhile the native WILD Chinook salmon population is continuing to decline. There are many years when only a handful of fish make it back to the headwaters of the Salmon at Redfish lake. Historically Redfish was named thus for the thousands of fish it used to host. The surface of the lake would turn red with all of their backs as they spawned. Current projections indicate that the wild Chinook salmon population of the Snake river watershed will be extinct by 2019. Then the only Chinook salmon that will be left in these watersheds will be hatchery fish. Unfortunately hatchery fish are 100% more susceptible to disease and have a 75% lower survival rate.

   The Government

   The Army Corp of Engineers Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) states that at this point all of the necessary steps have been taken to study the financial and environmental impacts of maintaining the lower 4 Snake river dams and the next and final step is to BREACH THEM. This is actually written in the EIS. Why are we not moving forward with what the EIS states is the next and final step? Because people are afraid that by taking out the 4 lower Snake dams it will start a dam demolishing revolution across the country.

   This is NOT true!

   These dams are old and very expensive to maintain. They are no longer paying for themselves through hydropower and barge use. They are now costing tax payers 100’s of millions of dollars a year. To breach them would cost a fraction of what will be spent on them over time if they stay in place. Not to mention the billions of tax payer dollars that will be spent in the continued effort to save a species that doesn’t stand a chance unless these 4 dams are removed.

   THE FUTURE

   Wind power is in surplus and is cleaner than hydro power. The rail system is efficient and affordable. Removal of the dams would create 4000+ new jobs in recreation within the first year alone. Meanwhile 1000’s of acres of lake bottom sediments would provide revenue through industries and jobs in agriculture. And the economic development of river front properties would provide additional jobs and revenue. Any surplus trade transport could transfer over to the rail and truck systems that are already in place.

   The survival of the salmon is dependent on the removal of the slack water, warm water temperatures and aggressive predator fish that dams and their reservoir waters produce. By removing the lower 4 Snake river dams, the ecosystem would bounce back. It could begin to repair itself through diurnal cooling, sediment redistribution, currents to flush out predator fish and currents for the salmon smolt to follow towards the ocean. Thus with 4 less dams to navigate to and through, the wild Snake river salmon would actually have a healthy chance of surviving and could make a comeback. This in turn would help SAVE the Orcas at the mouth of the Columbia river.

   Wild salmon are a vital component of a healthy ecosystem. From feeding Orcas to bears, to providing nutrients for rich soil and healthy plant growth, they are a vital part of the cycle and without them we will start to see more catastrophic environmental changes.

   Do your part!

   After 7 years of study and $33 million dollars, the Army Corp of Engineers recommended in 2002 that breaching the dams was the best case scenario for salmon survival. The judiciary system has repeatedly postponed this action. The President could override this decision with an executive order.

   CALL……WRITE…..TAKE ACTION

   Hand write a letter today:

   President

   1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

   Washington, DC 20500

   1(202)456-1111

   For more information visit www.damsense.org

5. Our First Ever Beer Tasting Trip

   July 1, 2016 7:47 pm Comments Off on Our First Ever Beer Tasting Trip

   The relationship between Rivers and Beer:

   Rafters and kayakers love beer. (Well, everybody loves beer, but with river people, it’s special.) Without beer, can kayaking even exist? I’m doubtful. Typically, drinking is associated with debauchery and recklessness, but rafters and brewers share a deep-rooted connection beyond the veneer of immoderation.

   That connection is water. Out on the water, we spend hundreds of hours observing and debating the physical aspects of a river, determining the line, and discussing safety. Brewers, too, must go deep into water’s properties, choosing the purest source and a mineral content that will produce the best beer.

   We at Canyons have drifted into McCall from Montana, Idaho, Oregon, California, Colorado, Australia, Canada, Utah, and elsewhere. Every year, we return to those places for winter hibernation or venture to new locations abroad. Along the way we’ve tasted the waters of many rivers – boiling it for coffee, swimming rapids, drinking bootie beers – and find amazement as a river’s character changes based on geography, geology, flora, and fauna. Similarly, the water itself changes.

   How Uinta Brewing stewards the environment:

   Our friends at Uinta Brewing Company know the importance of rivers, clean water, and environmental stewardship. Beer production is incredibly water-intensive – six gallons of water is used in the production of one gallon of beer – but Uinta minimizes its impact by powering its brewery with 85% wind and 15% solar.  To provide the finest beers, they rely on the cleanliness of the rivers just as rafters do. We need each other. In this spirit, Canyons and Uinta just conducted our first Hops & High Water beer tasting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. Combining our passions for beer and rivers seems natural. The preservation of pristine rivers is something rafters, brewers, and all river people can share a beer about.

    

6. Understanding the whitewater scale

   May 30, 2016 8:38 pm Comments Off on Understanding the whitewater scale

   What does it all mean?

   There are thousands of rivers around the globe with varying characteristics. In the 1950s, river running became popular as a recreational sport and it was deemed necessary to devise a system that would differentiate between the varying levels of difficulty, that rivers presented. A class system of VI was hatched by the American Whitewater Association. Given that the characteristics of rivers are the same, despite where the river is located, it was agreed upon that a scale should be instituted. Thus the whitewater scale was born. The Class I-VI scale took hold and has been used internationally, ever since. The design of the scale was based on technicality and consequence. For an in-depth explanation of the different classes visit the International Scale of River Difficulty.

   The whitewater scale is meant as a general idea.

   The whitewater scale was not designed with the expectation that the rating of a rapid or a river would ever be set in stone. As the river flows and changes so do our interpretation of the class system. What one boater thinks is a solid class III, another may think is an IV-. These opinions stem from varying levels of skill and experience. Also, rivers’ characteristics and variables change with time, natural events and volume.

   Things that cause the ratings to change.

   As a river rises and drops, the technicality of the rapids change, sometimes becoming easier and sometimes becoming harder. There are also variations in the rating system based on whether a river is a high volume river or a low volume river. A class III high volume rapid may have big waves and strong eddy lines as obstacles. A low volume class III rapid may have rocks and pour-overs as obstacles. Spring runoff or volume change may cause a rapid or an entire river stretch to change ratings on the scale by one or two whole numbers. The length of a rapid or of a stretch of river with a series of rapids linked together can dictate it’s placement on the whitewater scale. And water temperature and the location or remoteness of a river are factors as well.

   The addition of ‘plus and minus’.

   Because of the wide range of variables crammed into a small set of numbers, the + and – were added, to indicate whether a rapid or river stretch was on the easier side or the more challenging side of the scale.

   In the Grand Canyon, a scale of 1-10 was created before the AWA developed the I-VI scale. Their thought was by having more numbers it would be easier to describe the difficulty of the rapid more accurately, thus using a number description instead of using a plus or a minus. Because of the history attached to the 1-10 scale, Grand Canyon has chosen to continue using this system.

   What is CFS? Why are some rivers measured in FEET?

   Most rivers are measured in ‘cubic feet per second’ (CFS), which is the depth x width x speed, a volume reading. The gauge is a fancy little contraption that spins around in the water to gauge the speed at a set point in the river where the depth and width are pre-measured. The Middle Fork and a few other rivers are measured in feet, in which the gauge is a measuring stick in the water at a set location with markings on it like a ruler. The handy aspect of this method is you can float by the gauge and visually see what level the river is at. With CFS, the gauge is digital and the information is sent via a transmitter to the internet at which point the public can view the current flow.

   Why is the Middle Fork of the Salmon measured in feet?

   Along its journey, the Middle Fork gains volume from over 100 tributaries which causes a change in the CFS regularly, sometimes 2 or 3 creeks within 100 feet of each other. As a result, in its 100+ mile journey, the CFS can range from 1,000 to 15,000. So if the gauge was at the beginning of the river it would not accurately reflect the CFS at the end of the river and vice versa. Because of this fact it is more user-friendly to measure the river in feet. With this method, the characteristics of the river can be learned according to where the river falls on the feet gauge even though the volume is growing as one travels downstream.

   All wrapped up…

   As you can see there are a lot of variables. Volume, location, length, water temperature, etc.  Sometimes a class II can feel like a class V. There is no black and white, given that opinions, skill level, and mother nature are all players in the game.

7. 7 Reasons why your kids need a river trip

   April 25, 2016 2:57 pm Comments Off on 7 Reasons why your kids need a river trip

   And why YOU need one too!

   Camping:

   Spending time outside is the best thing we can give ourselves in today’s world of computers and smartphones, Netflix and Amazon Prime, Play station and Wii. Outdoor activities fuel the imagination and foster creativity. Today, KIDS NEED THIS MORE THAN EVER! They need to learn how to pitch a tent, sleep on the ground and play in nature without the distractions of i-pads and video games. Invaluable skills are gained by sharing space with other people, learning to work together and being considerate of others. Camping gives us the opportunity to realize how little we really need, to be comfortable and happy. It also gives us time and space to get in touch with ourselves and each other, unhindered by the busyness of modern life.

   Nature:

   Mother nature provides endless excitement through weather, beauty and fun opportunities. Elk, Deer and Big Horn Sheep roam the hillsides while Mink, Martin and Otter frolic in the river or peruse the shore. Eagles, Osprey, Falcons, and Hawks soar through the sky on the perpetual hunt, while King Fishers and shorebirds, flit about, looking for their next tasty meal. Wildflowers color the hillsides and fill the air with wonderful smells and the Geology changes around every corner.

   Playing in the water:

   What kid doesn’t like to play in water?  The river is all about water, morning, noon and night. During the day there are endless opportunities for kids to jump off of rafts and rocks, to have water fights and to swim. Alongshore there are beaches, pools, logs, rocks, and waterfalls. The river is like Mother Nature’s waterpark!

   Playing in the wilderness:

   When it’s time to dry off, the wilderness beckons. Stoic Ponderosa and Douglas Fir pines line the banks of the Salmon, while Huckleberries and Thimbleberries hide in the bushes. Ferns and Wild Prim Rose make for creative props in games and charades. Fallen logs and branches are just yearning to be built into forts, and sticks can’t wait to be a sword or a wand. An outdoor classroom, full of exploring, playing and creating!

   Learn new sports:

   A great place to try out new river sports is on a pool and drop river that’s rated class II-III, like the Main Salmon. The characteristics of a pool and drop river, provide for stretches of flat water with intermittent rapids. Class II-III whitewater is friendly and safe and a great place for beginners and intermediates to try out different types of crafts. Popular today are Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUP) and Inflatable Kayaks (IK). Hone your skills through the flat water and test your skills through the rapids. Other options include building your teamwork skills on the paddle raft or testing your strength and coordination on an oar raft. And if you are really feeling brave, be one with the river and swim a rifle in your PFD (life jacket).

   Social skills:

   What a better place to learn social skills than living with 30 people for 6 days on the river. As a sort of tribe, we move down the river, exploring, eating, playing and camping. It’s a great opportunity to learn about compassion, sharing, personal space, privacy, and appreciation.

   Unplugged from technology:

   Is it easy to just let the kids put on a program, watch cartoons or play video games? Do you feel guilty about allowing this more often than you’d like too? Well, you can change that, at least for a week or two on the river. The beauty of river trips is there is NO CELL SERVICE, which means NO INTERNET EITHER. There’s also no electricity, so the natural world takes over.

   IMAGINE….. campfire stories, star gazing, slumber parties, fort building, sand castle building, beach games, yard games, dress up and performances, water fights….all in lieu of digital entertainment.

    Immerse yourself and your kids in NATURE!

   More about the Main Salmon River

    

8. Traveling with Strangers

   April 6, 2016 6:23 pm Comments Off on Traveling with Strangers

   What’s it like traveling with a group of people you DON’T KNOW?

   Are you the type of person that likes to travel on your own? Does the idea of traveling with strangers sound like a nightmare? Well, you are not alone, but there are times when it can be the best way to travel, for instance on the river.

   River Tribe…

   The beautiful thing about a river trip is it attracts like-minded people. Only certain types of people choose to spend thousands of dollars to camp in the wilderness for a week or two. The majority of travelers in the world, when thinking about going on vacation, would envision a nice hotel room or beachfront cabana in some tropical location. But the more adventurous types dream of starry nights, campfires and raw, unrefined nature! These are the strangers that could become your friends on a river trip.

   

   CAMPFIRES

   

   MUD BATHS

   

   HOT SPRINGS

   

   

   SOLITUDE

   
   

   Who chooses camping?

   Adventure seekers choose to go places off-of-the-grid. People who want to unplug from the frantic pace of daily life. Folks who enjoy the dark of night, the sounds of nature and the exhilaration of weather.

   Strangers can become your new travel friends!

   More often than not, lifelong friends are made on river trips. What’s amazing about the river is it brings people together from all walks of life, who love to experience the outdoors! Quite often, folks are astonished to find similarities in places they’ve traveled, things they’ve seen and sometimes even people they’ve met, with the other travelers in the group.

   Can I get ALONE time?

   You are not stuck with people 24/7 like you would think. On a river trip, you can escape! During the day there are numerous crafts to choose from including IK’s (inflatable kayaks), which you can man yourself (hello alone time). You can also choose to ride on an oar raft with your party or join the social paddle raft. The camps are spacious, so there’s no need to camp right next to each other. We are in the middle of the wilderness, so you can wander from camp, go for a hike or a stroll and get some good quality YOU time. If you like to fish you can go upstream or downstream or explore a side stream. And when you ARE feeling social, you can wander into camp, join in some yard games, sit by the fire and visit, or check out what’s going on in the kitchen.

   A river trip, whether it be down the Middle Fork or the Main Salmon, or any other river in the world, is a true TRIP OF A LIFETIME! It’s a chance to put away your phone and emails and be ONE with yourself in the wilderness. It is therapeutic for your soul and along the way, you will meet others who have chosen this journey as well. Together you will share the beauty of raw nature with the comforts of modern camping technology. And who knows, you might just meet your next best friend!

    

9. Craft Beer Tasting on Middle Fork Salmon

   March 25, 2016 6:31 pm Comments Off on Craft Beer Tasting on Middle Fork Salmon

   Hops and High Water with Uinta Brewing!

   What?

   Craft Beer tasting with Uinta Brewing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon! For years we have offered Wine Tasting trips on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon rivers. Why wouldn’t you want to float through the pristine wilderness of Idaho and taste wines. Then we thought, why wouldn’t you want to do the same and taste BEERS! With Craft beer brewing on the up and up, there is a large audience of people who are into craft beers. What a better setting than the Middle Fork of the Salmon, to explore our beer buds and our wilderness at the same time. Uinta brew masters are excited to share some of their new and favorite creations. The Canyons staff are working with them to pair some special craft beers with our evening menu courses. Enjoy Uinta’s popular beers throughout the day and try some of their NEW and TRIED & TRUE craft creations at night. Along with tasting, there will be educational presentations, sharing with you the IN’S and OUT’S of craft beer at Uinta Brewing. Learn, Laugh, Taste and Enjoy!!!

   When?

   June 10-15, 2016 and hopefully not the last! We hope to do this every year, if it’s a hit. We’ve had a great winter so far and the snow pack is holding strong. There should be some good water this year and June 10th could shape up to be some fun high flows. With higher water, the river moves faster, affording us more time on shore. This allows for ample time to hike, play, fish and drink beer of course!

   Why?

   Why not? If There are two things that go hand in hand, it’s beer drinking and rafting. Craft Beer Tasting is the wave of the beer future.

   Where?

   The Middle Fork of the Salmon in the Frank Church Wilderness of No Return, Central Idaho.

   Who?

   YOU, US (Canyons River Company) and Uinta Brewing out of Salt Lake City Utah.

   Craft Beer Tasting…Awaken your taste buds to the future of BEER!