Join The Wilderness Society (TWS) on the Middle Fork and/or the Main Salmon River’s in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, the largest roadless area in the US. Help raise money for TWS efforts as all proceeds from this trip will benefit The Wilderness Society. James Ellsworth, owner of Middle Fork River Expeditions and a member of TWS President’s Council, has donated this trip to TWS. Bill Meadows, President of TWS, enthusiastically endorses this extraordinary outdoor experience and encourages your participation. Bill joined the TWS trip in 2010 and his write up can be seen on the TWS website blog.
The Middle Fork of the Salmon and Main Salmon Rivers in Idaho are the premier wilderness rafting trips in the US. Join us in 75 miles of the Middle Fork and/or 60 miles on the Main Salmon River. These Wild and Scenic free-flowing rivers penetrate the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, the largest roadless wilderness area in the US at 2.3 million acres. The fantastic river canyon is the second deepest in North America, deeper than Grand Canyon. The Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Main Salmon are unspoiled, remote and roadless so you can be sure you will “get away from it all”. Simply put, these are the best river runs in the West!
Middle Fork River Expeditions, a licensed and bonded outfitter, has run safe and well-managed river trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. We are celebrating our 31st Anniversary in 2011 and invite you to share this experience with other family or friends. Our equipment is specially designed for wilderness whitewater rafting, and offers mild and wild boat choices (Mckenzie Drift Fishing Boats, oar boats, paddle boats, inflatable kayaks and stand up paddling surf boards). Our river guides are seasoned professionals, licensed by the state of Idaho and First Aid Certified. They are expert river runners, magnificent cooks, great storytellers, and knowledgeable, helpful outdoorsmen.
Join The Wilderness Society and Middle Fork River Expeditions for a magical wilderness river vaca-tion in September 2011! Somebody said it from last years trip “It feels great to have an amazing vacation and know at the same time you are benefiting a wonderful organization like The Wilderness Society.” Come join us, there are no strangers here, only friends we have not met.
MIDDLE FORK SALMON ITINERARY
Please arrive in Stanley, Idaho on August 31. Stanley is a 45-minute flight or 2 1/2 hour drive from Boise or a 1 hour drive from Sun Valley. We have a pre-trip orientation at the MFRE Warehouse at 7:30pm the evening before the trip begins. We will get acquainted, answer questions, invite a TWS staff person to talk about the region’s amazing wild lands, and have a short orientation to show you how to pack the waterproof gear bags we provide for your personal gear. Please note lodging in Stanley is on your own. We recommend the Sawtooth Hotel at 208-721-2459 or the Mountain Village Lodge at 800-843-5475.
Sept 1 – 3
We will take a short 22 minute flight (5 seater Cessna 206 or 9 seater Islander) to Indian Creek on Sept 1. Upon launching our rafts you’ll enter a river with sparkling clear waters that careen through boulder-choked rapids with names that guides speak with reverence, such as Jackass, Ski Jump, Dejavu and Tappan Falls. Stops at mountain hot springs and pioneer homesteads provide the perfect balance to the on-river excitement. Evenings find us relaxing by the campfire, playing horseshoes and listening to the river and watching for shooting stars!
Sept 4 – 5
As we drop in elevation, the river widens and the spruce forest opens to vistas of pine-studded mountains and we enter Impassible Canyon, where no trails can be cut as the sheer walls go up over 6,000 feet. Between rapids, you’ll drift quietly over deep pools of transparent water, home to native cutthroat and rainbow trout. Hikes underneath Waterfall Creek and up to Veil Falls are highlights for many of our guests.
Sept 6
The last day has some of the best and biggest rapids of the trip, which is a wonderful way to end a week in the largest wilderness area in the continental US. We either continue (on Main Salmon River) or drive back to Stanley, arriving between 4-6pm for the night before heading home in the morning. Tonight join an optional “farewell” dinner in Stanley which is on your own. If you continue on the Main Salmon you will spend the evening in the canyon with the guides and await the Main Salmon River Only people the next morning.
(overnight in Stanley is not included)
FOR MAIN SALMON PARTICIPANTS ARRIVING SEPT 7
Please arrive in Salmon, Idaho the night before the trip begins on Sept 6. Salmon is an hour flight from Boise, which costs approximately $190/person and can be arranged through Sawtooth Flying Service (800-798-6105). We have a pre-trip orientation at the Stagecoach Inn (208-756-2919) at 7:30pm the evening before the trip begins. We will get acquainted, answer questions, and have a short orientation to show you how to pack the waterproof gear bags we provide for your personal gear. Please note flight from Boise to Salmon and lodging at the Stagecoach Inn is arranged on your own.
MAIN SALMON RIVER ITINERARY
SEPT 7- 10
Upon launching our rafts at Corn Creek, 3200 feet above sea level, we journey into the pristine heart of the Frank Church Wilderness, each day brings new discoveries: exciting rapids like Salmon Falls, Big Mallard and Growler, historical sites such as Buckskin Bill’s homestead and Jim Moore’s place (maybe you’ll find the fortune he buried in the hillside!), and the much anticipated Barth Hot Springs. Avid hikers may enjoy a challenging climb to Rabbit Point, where the beautiful views are well worth the effort of getting there. The fishing is excellent during these days, and on trips in July and August, warm air and water temperatures encourage frequent refreshing dips in the river. Evenings find us relaxing by the campfire, playing horseshoes and listening to the river and watching for shooting stars! On Sept 10 we overnight (or camp tonight based on availability) at the Mackay Bar Ranch for showers and beds and a festive farewell dinner with the guides.
Sept 11
We say farewell and take a morning flight by Cessna 5 seater airplanes to the Boise Airport. We should arrive by 10-11am so schedule your flight after 12 noon. If you drove to Salmon for the meeting and did not drive we can fly you back to Salmon instead of Boise, just let us know.
COST
MIDDLE FORK ONLY – 6 days
Sept 1-6 – $1850*
$125 for flight from Stanley to the river at Indian Creek
MAIN SALMON RIVER ONLY- 5 days
SEPT 7-11 – $1500*
$200 for flight from Mackay Bar Ranch to Boise International Airport.
MIDDLE/MAIN COMBINATION TRIP – 11 days
SEPT 1-11 – $2500*
$325 for flights above.
* plus 3% USFS user fee & $4.00 per day USFS fee demo
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