Middle Fork River Expeditions
Middle Fork River Expeditions

Mountain Travel Sobek

March 13th, 2013

The Egyptian God Sobek was believed to control the waters of the Nile River. He was depicted as a man with the head of a crocodile, and was worshiped to ensure fertility for crops and mankind. The waters of the Nile were filled with crocodiles and feared by most, so it made sense to appease them through the worship of their leader. According to legend, Sobek was a fourfold deity representing the four elemental gods: Rha of fire, Shu of air, Geb of earth and Osiris of water.

During the early 70’s, John Yost and Richard Bangs co-founded Sobek Expeditions, the first multinational rafting business. The name most likely came from the close encounters with crocs they experienced while running exploratory trips on the Nile and Zambezi in Africa. Sobek would later be recognized as the leader in commercial exploratory rafting adventures around the globe; claiming to have bagged around 35 international first descents including the Bio Bio in Chile, and the Yangze in China.

In the early 1990’s, Sobek merged with Mt. Travel to become Mountain Travel Sobek, still recognized as a leader in international adventure and eco-travel. Mt. Travel Sobek has expanded their focus away from solely running river trips, to offer an array of sea kayaking, trekking, and other cultural experiences. It makes perfect sense that a company like Mt. Travel Sobek would be savvy to the world’s most renowned rivers, explaining why they offer trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. In 1999, Mt Travel Sobek started operating in the Frank Church Wilderness, and continues to run quality wilderness river trips through the Middle Fork corridor. Rest assured your in good hands with Sobek if MFRE’s launch dates don’t correspond with your plans; these guys have been outfitting this class of adventure longer than most.

Sparrow

Helfrich

March 11th, 2013

If there is one legacy that is remembered and kept alive on the Middle Fork of the Salmon, it is that of the Helfrich family. Back in 1925, Prince Helfrich and his canyon comrades were the first to run a commercial trip down the Middle Fork. Helfrich launched their fleet of Mckenzie River drift boats at the head waters in Bear Valley Creek. After rowing 20 miles of technical whitewater, the boys would spend a long day portaging their wooden boats around Dagger Falls. At the time, they probably had no idea they were starting a legacy for what would later be remembered as the premiere wilderness river trip in the lower 48. Helfrich and company had many intentions while embarking on this daunting endeavor, and catching fish came first and foremost.

The Helfrich legacy has been passed down through four generations on the Middle Fork of the Salmon, and is owner and outfitter to three commercial launches separately run by different family members. Helfrich continues to offer exclusive fly fishing trips run only by the most skilled drift boat guides, many who still choose to run traditional Mckenzie wood boats. Planning a trip with Helfrich is a great idea if your plans don’t match with MFRE, and your looking for a first class fly fishing trip on the Middle Fork.

Join MFRE on the Middle Fork for the fly fishing experience of a lifetime. Drift Boat fishing the corridor in September is a time when the Cutthroat are consistent and boats on the water are scarce. MFRE is one of the few outfitters offering guided drift boat fly fishing trips on the Middle Fork this late in the year.
Give us a Shout!

Sparrow

ROW Adventures

March 9th, 2013

ROW adventures, based out of CeurD’Alene, claims to run more Idaho rivers than any other outfitter; their trip on the Lochsa being a favorite for many. ROW Adventures actualy has a lodge in Syringa, right on the Clearwater river, where they base their Lochsa trips out of. The Clearwater drainage is known as the farthest inland temperate rain forest in the lower 48; red cedars crowded with ferns and moss line the river banks, and the river runs solely from spring runnoff, not unlike the Middle Fork of the Salmon.

ROW Adventures runs a great trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon; their focus is aimed toward sharing the magic of the Frank Church Wilderness with families looking to get away for a week in nature. The guides at ROW Adventures are well rounded and skilled, as they often times will rotate around to all the rivers that ROW runs in Idaho and Montana.

Taking a trip with ROW Adventurest on the Middle Fork is a great option if our launch dates at Middle Fork River Expeditions don’t correspond with you and your family’s time frame. Give us a shout to find out all of the great options MFRE has to offer.

see you in the Middle,

Sparrow

OARS

March 9th, 2013

Lets give props to OARS, an adventure travel company that offers Middle Fork Trips, along with many other world wide exotic outdoor vacations. Matter of fact, OARS is out there running most of the nation’s designated wild and scenic rivers; not to mention, OARS also offers some non-river related outdoor vacation packages. The Crew at OARS is, to say the least… worldly, cultured, and committed to making a passionate living of adventure travel. Their trips in the Grand Canyon have been placed on the upper end of prestigious, as displayed by the fleet of hand made dories that they flaunt on the water. Lets be honest, every boatman and river guest alike dreams of floating the canyon in one of these beauties. These guys are a great alternative to booking with MFRE…that is, if the seats in our dories are already filled.

Inspired by the hands of those who cherish traditional boat building, along with the craftsmanship of Lost River Boat Works out of Pocatello, Middle Fork River Expeditions has also built a fleet of hand crafted wooden dories. Join MFRE on a Main Salmon Trip, or a Middle Fork trip and enjoy the pleasure of cruising the river in a traditional “Briggs” Colorado river Dory.

see you in the Middle,

Sparrow

Echo River Trips

March 7th, 2013

Echo River Trips is a company that has been running quality river rafting trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon for decades. Like most outfitters in the canyon, Echo River Trips offers a five or six day adventure exploring the wonders of the Frank Church Wilderness. Echo River Trips feature a variety of activity while in the river corridor, with something enticing for everyone. Echo River Trips feature white water, fishing, hiking, hot springs, historical interpretation, and overall family fun. On the water, Echo River Trips encourage folks to try out the inflatable kayaks for some added excitement, or simply relax on a raft while a professionally licensed guide rows you down the river. A day spent on the paddle raft is also a great option for those who enjoy a team building or family bonding experience. While traveling with Echo River Trips, endless opportunities unfold for viewing wildlife like bear and big horn sheep along the river’s edge. At camp, guests indulge in culinary delight prepared by Dutch oven masters and enjoy peaceful evenings watching sunsets glisten to the river’s voice. On any given night, it’s not rare that one of Echo’s many talented guides might bust out a guitar or mandolin and pick a tune or two; these river people are not only skilled on the oars! The guides come from all walks of life, and many will hop back and forth from Idaho to the Rogue River in Oregon, where Echo River Trips also operate.

Rafting through the Middle Fork of the Salmon River corridor with Echo River Trips is a great alternative to choosing Middle Fork River Expeditions, if for some reason our launch dates don’t correlate with you and your family’s plans; this river trip is undoubtedly the best way to see Idaho’s Frank Church Wilderness. Nowhere else in the lower 48 states can one experience 100 miles of dam free, motor-less, road-less river canyon. Unplug and reconnect with nature in one of the nation’s last remaining gems.

SWilson

Expedition Leader for Middle Fork River Expeditions

Aggipah River Trips

March 7th, 2013

Aggipah is the Shoshoni word for the Salmon River, which translates to big fish water. Aggipah River Trips is a company that has been running exceptional river rafting and fishing trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon longer than most. Aggipah runs six days on the river exploring the wonders of the Frank Church Wilderness offering something intriguing for everyone. Aggipah’s trips feature river rafting, fishing, hiking, hot springs, historical and natural interpretation, and all around family fun. Aggipah River Trips are fun all day while folks paddle inflatable kayaks for some added excitement, or maybe just relax on an oar rig while a professionally licensed guide ushers you down the river. The paddle raft is also a great option for those who enjoy a team building or family bonding experience.  Aggipah river trips offer endless opportunities for viewing wildlife like bear and big horn sheep along the river’s edge; and at camp, guests indulge in culinary delight prepared by Dutch oven masters while enjoying peaceful evenings watching sunsets glisten to the river’s voice. During some afternoons, Aggipah’s founder Bill Burnt has been known to show folks how to pan for gold along the river bank, just like the old homesteaders in the canyon used to do. Bill Bases his outfit out of Salmon, Idaho, and is recognized as one of the oldest and most knowledgeable outfitters on the river.
Rafting through the Middle Fork of the Salmon River corridor with Aggipah is a great alternative to choosing Middle Fork River Expeditions, if for some reason our launch dates don’t correlate with you and your family’s plans; this river trip is undoubtedly the best way to see Idaho’s Frank Church Wilderness. Nowhere else in the lower 48 states can one experience 100 miles of dam free, motor-less, road-less river canyon. Unplug and reconnect with nature in one of the nation’s last remaining gems.

Family River Rafting Vacations in Idaho

February 13th, 2013

Family River Rafting Vacations in Idaho are the best way to stay connected as a family.  The Middle Fork Salmon River and Main Salmon Rivers are perfect for families in July and August when the water has warmed up to a nice 70F which is ideal for swimming.  Family River Rafting Vacations in Idaho can be booked at any time this spring.  Just call MFRE at 800-801-5146 for info on Family River Rafting Vacations in Idaho.

Family River Rafting Vacations in Idaho can be multi-genarational and are perfect for family reunions.  To unplug from modern society and reconnect in the largest wilderness area in the US is a wonderful gift to give to all your family.  Kids and grandparents alike.

For more information on trips, go to www.idahorivers.com for details.

Hope to see you in Stanley for a Family River Rafting Vacation in Idaho

Best, Ellsworth

Family River Rafting Vacations in Idaho

Family River Rafting Vacations in Idaho

idaho river trips

August 18th, 2012

idaho river trips are the best. Nothing compares to idaho river trips in general. Come along for a idaho river trip this summer or next. Idaho river trips are a great opportunity to see nature in it’s natural state, in the largest roadless wilderness area in the lower 48 states.

Come and enjoy idaho river trips soon!

idaho river trips

idaho river trips

Idaho Whitewater River Rafting

October 8th, 2011

Idaho Whitewater River Rafting is one of the best activities you can do as a family these days. Idaho river rafting has more than 13,000 river miles to choose from. At MFRE we focus on the best idaho river rafting destinations by floating on the Salmon River. We offer both the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and also the Main Salmon River as well.

Idaho river rafting on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River are 6 days, and we float 100 miles. Idaho river rafting on the Middle Fork has over a half dozen hot springs, incredible Blue Ribbon cutthroat trout fishing, visits of lots of homesteads, and float through a canyo that is deeper than the Grand Canyon. Idaho river rafting on the Middle Fork Salmon River has more than 400 rapids in it’s 100 mile distance. Most are un-named as they are class I and class II rapids, but there are still over 60 rapids that are class III or above. Idaho river rafting does not get any better than on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. It is fun for the whole family to enjoy a vacation or holiday together rafting the great rapids of Idaho, some of the best in the country. No doubt about it, Idaho River rafting is fun for everyone who gives it a try.

So come on out in 2012 and join MFRE for some of the best Idaho River rafting ever.

We also offer Idaho river rafting on the Main Salmon in Idaho. We offer 4 day trips in 56 miles. We start the trip in Salmon, Idaho and then on Day 4 we fly you out at 10am from Mackay Bar Ranch. The Main salmon does not have excellent Idaho River rafting. It is know as the “River of History” both natural history and also human history. We visit three “working Homesteads” while on the river. These include Yellow Pine Bar, where we meet Greg and Sue. Greg makes knives out of the old cable from the cable Crossing at Campbell’s Ferry. He makes the handles for the knives out of Mountain Mohagany from the Salmon River Canyon.

We also visit Doug and Phyllis Tims at Campbell’s Ferry. They are amazing people. Doug is the founder of Maravia INC., which are the types of boat we run on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon. Both Doug and Phyllis give us an amazing interpretation of Francis Winemiler and also Jim Moore, who lived across the river and ran Campbell’s Ferry. They are in the process of finishing a book on the history of the Main Salmon River.

The last place we visit is 5 Mile Bar, which is where Buckskin Bill used to live and make his own guns. Barbara and Heinz now live there and run a permaculture garden and live off the grid completely. We can watch a video on Buckskin Bill and connect with Barbara and Heinz, who are great people that immigrated from Germany in the early 80’s and found the Main Salmon River Canyon and never left.

Idaho River rafting is best with Middle Fork River Expeditions. Please come out next summer and join us for an adventure of a lifetime. We hope to see you soon for a fun family vacation and the best Idaho river rafting, connecting with each other in the largest wilderness area in the US.

Hen Wen Rides Again

March 23rd, 2011

MFRE bought Hen Wen, an 18 foot Wooden River Dory last May and she did three descents down the river.  She’s back again with a new sister Dory that is being built this spring inn Stanley by Willis Mcaleese, her name is yet to be determined.  In fact, we just bought the 1/4″ marine grade plywood yesterday and the resins as well.  So you can be sure to have twice the fun on the Main Salmon River in Idaho this summer.  Whitewater rafting at it’s finest.  The Wood Dories make it super fun thru the wave trains of the Main Salmon and as it has more water than the Middle Fork we don;t worry as much about hitting rocks.  Although it can occur and we bring lots of Gorilla Tape along.  These Dories are beautiful historic river craft that beckon to the Gondola’s of Venice.  But you ride these historic boats right through the heart of the largest roadless wilderness area in the US outside of Alaska.

So come join Hen Wen and her sister this summer on the Main Salmon River in Idaho.

There are no strangers here, only friends we have not met.

Yours for Rivers, Ellsworth

 
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