FUN-travel: Idaho – Rafting Middle Fork of the Salmon River – Day 2
August 25, 2015 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Idaho – Rafting Middle Fork of the Salmon River – Day 2
- We slept surprisingly well on our cots with an added 2” pad. The coffee was good and strong! After a hearty breakfast we broke down camp and headed off for another relaxing, slow moving morning. Our first stop was another hike that took us up to see Indian Pictographs on the mountain rocks.
Indian Pictographs
- After another great lunch I decided it was my time to attempt the rubber ducky kayak. While I did manage to not “crash and burn” there were a few times I got stuck on the rocks. Luckily I was able to rock myself off and after an hour and a half of paddling I was done!
- For the rest of the afternoon I was on the fly fishing raft watching them catch and release small trout. When one of the poles went overboard our guide Lexie donned her snorkel and mask and dove in and attempted to retrieve it. Good thing she was such a strong swimmer and so determined. After her second go round she brought it up to rave cheers from out raft. Then it was more of the same nice leisurely ride down the river with the occasional eagle sighting and other birds floating above our heads.
FUN-food – Tonight’s dinner treat (after happy hour of course) was lasagna cooked in a cast iron Dutch oven with garlic bread and a salad. Unbelievably yummy!
Happy Camper
FUN-travel: 2nd 2015 Road Trip – Idaho – Rafting Middle Fork of the Salmon River
August 21, 2015 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: 2nd 2015 Road Trip – Idaho – Rafting Middle Fork of the Salmon River
- We stayed overnight in Stanley as our trip started there at 8:15 in the morning. Because the water level was so low, and we would have had a bruising and exhausting time trying to maneuver over and around all the rocks, they flew us down river 25 miles. That’s why we chose Sobek Mountain Travel for our rafting adventure. Everything was “first class” and taken care of so we could just sit back and enjoy the ride.
- After our raft briefing (we had 3 options – rubber ducky kayak, paddle or provision raft) we
End of the Hot Springs
opted for just chilling and not doing a thing on one of the provision boats. Taylor Wilcox aka Mr. T was our guide and he was the best. Extremely experienced, laid back and FUN! His self proclaimed title is “Professional Leisurest.” And he does it very well.
- We meandered down the river for awhile before we stopped to take a hike up to a deserted mine and have lunch. Then we continued down river and stopped at a natural hot springs. For the most part the rapids were light and easy.
- Along the way we spotted a golden eagle flying and an osprey nest perched atop a dead 40’ pondersona pine. The skies were a deep blue with an occasional big white puffy cloud floating by. Douglas firs and cottonwood trees dotted the rocky river’s edge.
FUN-food – We had happy hour wine with salami, cheese, and crackers before our dinner of fresh wild salmon, couscous, asparagus, and a spinach salad.