Parma
@parma26
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2014
- Messages
- 756
For this year's family camping trip we loaded up the ole family truckster and headed for the river, and our river of choice was the Lower Salmon River. We started at Hammer Creek, which is near White Bird, Idaho (not too far from Riggins). Why the Lower Salmon? Because it didn't require a whole lot of planning/roll of the dice to obtain a permit. This stretch just needs a self-issued permit at the put in. Take out for this trip is at Heller Bar on the Snake River near Asotin, Washington. This is also on the edge of Hells Canyon. From put in to take out it's about 80 miles. We hired a shuttle company to move our vehicles to the take out.
This trip would be five days and four nights. The first night is at a campground at the put-in and then four days and three nights on the river.
Our group of 11 included six adults and five kids from ages 10-16. We used a large 12' raft, a 9.5' raft, a two-man inflatable kayak, and a one-man inflatable kayak.
Loading the gear
![thumb_IMG_5728_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5728_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32964-464533f0201337831289e7c2152a159a.jpg)
It was a busy day at the put in ramp. A good mix of outfitters and us regular folks.
![thumb_IMG_5729_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5729_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32965-7a047e75ac42573ea2a090e106d6849e.jpg)
Here are some shots on the river, most of the rapids this time of year are just fun waves. No big problematic holes or monster raids to deal with. All class II-III, Snow Hole Rapid is listed as a class IV, but still just a fun rapid. Thus a great trip for families. We did make sure kids had to have their parents, and no kids under the age of 10. Only people that ended up swimming were on purpose playing on flat water, or a couple times the one in the single kayak got bounced out...and we laughed.
![thumb_11011995_932957343413768_4405341356617657524_o_1024.jpg thumb_11011995_932957343413768_4405341356617657524_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32966-c3592eee24562ad9942c1dc125c6da2a.jpg)
![thumb_11754423_932957370080432_2465716819389086908_o_1024.jpg thumb_11754423_932957370080432_2465716819389086908_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32967-9bd6db8a0a04ee1c55a72aa53448a005.jpg)
![thumb_11782270_932958043413698_3726459926022223635_o_1024.jpg thumb_11782270_932958043413698_3726459926022223635_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32968-cc90d511c23176e3278aa087caf0d91e.jpg)
![thumb_11794274_932957926747043_8104454448093956260_o_1024.jpg thumb_11794274_932957926747043_8104454448093956260_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32969-0599753e8e8bf9d99a5bfb6347e94ad9.jpg)
![thumb_11816205_932957240080445_4906745446422549379_o_1024.jpg thumb_11816205_932957240080445_4906745446422549379_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32970-1f8efc7967be2db732e4ae15dc0e75c4.jpg)
Lunch stop
![thumb_IMG_5731_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5731_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32971-d7ab5d264de1ca56594fbe2cd44ae17b.jpg)
![thumb_IMG_5732_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5732_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32972-2cea309c46621dd8ebf92fd0bb5cc727.jpg)
Kids found a pool with a bunch of tadpoles and baby frogs
![thumb_IMG_5733_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5733_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32973-c5289ca7f9f9501af54f207f7c902536.jpg)
This was the site of one of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians' primary camps.
![thumb_IMG_5746_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5746_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32974-7382eeef94cd03dc351fbc18439f0881.jpg)
When it's time to stop for camp, here's what it looks like.
![thumb_IMG_5758_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5758_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32975-6a26d6a48ed289ba6890494520f237fc.jpg)
![thumb_IMG_5766_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5766_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32976-4dcd56dee37ff51eb02b915350ac8117.jpg)
And on river trips the food is amazing, here's some chicken and shrimp paella...a weee better than a mountain house.
![thumb_IMG_5747_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5747_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32977-3e32c4b84c7a501f64133e2c76a75e0b.jpg)
Here's another day's meal, london broil with potatoes.
![thumb_IMG_5778_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5778_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32978-98bd4a909d8c5049fcaa2bc6857713a6.jpg)
How do we get such amazing meals? You bring someone that was a river guide for 20 years and has done this millions of times before.
Here's what the kitchen looked like at all our camps.
![thumb_IMG_5754_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5754_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32979-86b37b737935ab39b90dc34c78a6763f.jpg)
We also stopped to check out some ancient rock art from people they estimate from 10,000-12,000 years old.
![thumb_IMG_5743_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5743_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32980-7a09bb8acc7b7d2f7442be73f98a6eb5.jpg)
![thumb_IMG_5745_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5745_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32981-620b651b87d568225062d99d1d9cf6cd.jpg)
Here's what all the gear looks like loaded on the raft.
![thumb_11816303_932958536746982_2713297242851856187_o_1024.jpg thumb_11816303_932958536746982_2713297242851856187_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32982-f075ce6da5f63c3cfc2d9a7be1d7e1a1.jpg)
![thumb_11011715_932958850080284_2878366263680890286_o_1024.jpg thumb_11011715_932958850080284_2878366263680890286_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32983-101823830260e157a1cd093621b2bab5.jpg)
Looking back up at Snow Hole Rapid.
![thumb_11845155_932958493413653_2437198443727456869_o_1024.jpg thumb_11845155_932958493413653_2437198443727456869_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32984-e8869d5e24560d9f2a266e217044e245.jpg)
On the final day the Salmon dumps into the Snake River, and the jet boats are now coming thru.
![thumb_IMG_5800_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5800_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32985-11d97c3dee29a217e4e546c2980a8a07.jpg)
A fun little waterfall along the Snake River
![thumb_IMG_5785_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5785_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32986-adc64382c6f8beadc93f875f395a3d3e.jpg)
And it was cold....but felt good.
![thumb_IMG_5788_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5788_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32987-c47a255ed7acc2833dda6d83ab43ad8d.jpg)
Final day had a lot of flat water, so we hooked up the rafts and traded off rowing.
![thumb_IMG_5796_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5796_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32988-fddb4b05c553a2f17a5e332f37939b91.jpg)
At the take out at Heller Bar.
![thumb_IMG_5807_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5807_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32989-7f621b7914dc4491f41f978d39bdc4d0.jpg)
![thumb_IMG_5811_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5811_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32990-c6bdb26e93cb01c4f33771ac4ef29ae4.jpg)
So there you have it. It was a great trip and memories I'll never forget.
Featured image for home page:
![slide.jpg slide.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/33/33046-ce25e4c8a81c933d084d08f244015b70.jpg)
This trip would be five days and four nights. The first night is at a campground at the put-in and then four days and three nights on the river.
Our group of 11 included six adults and five kids from ages 10-16. We used a large 12' raft, a 9.5' raft, a two-man inflatable kayak, and a one-man inflatable kayak.
Loading the gear
![thumb_IMG_5728_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5728_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32964-464533f0201337831289e7c2152a159a.jpg)
It was a busy day at the put in ramp. A good mix of outfitters and us regular folks.
![thumb_IMG_5729_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5729_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32965-7a047e75ac42573ea2a090e106d6849e.jpg)
Here are some shots on the river, most of the rapids this time of year are just fun waves. No big problematic holes or monster raids to deal with. All class II-III, Snow Hole Rapid is listed as a class IV, but still just a fun rapid. Thus a great trip for families. We did make sure kids had to have their parents, and no kids under the age of 10. Only people that ended up swimming were on purpose playing on flat water, or a couple times the one in the single kayak got bounced out...and we laughed.
![thumb_11011995_932957343413768_4405341356617657524_o_1024.jpg thumb_11011995_932957343413768_4405341356617657524_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32966-c3592eee24562ad9942c1dc125c6da2a.jpg)
![thumb_11754423_932957370080432_2465716819389086908_o_1024.jpg thumb_11754423_932957370080432_2465716819389086908_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32967-9bd6db8a0a04ee1c55a72aa53448a005.jpg)
![thumb_11782270_932958043413698_3726459926022223635_o_1024.jpg thumb_11782270_932958043413698_3726459926022223635_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32968-cc90d511c23176e3278aa087caf0d91e.jpg)
![thumb_11794274_932957926747043_8104454448093956260_o_1024.jpg thumb_11794274_932957926747043_8104454448093956260_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32969-0599753e8e8bf9d99a5bfb6347e94ad9.jpg)
![thumb_11816205_932957240080445_4906745446422549379_o_1024.jpg thumb_11816205_932957240080445_4906745446422549379_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32970-1f8efc7967be2db732e4ae15dc0e75c4.jpg)
Lunch stop
![thumb_IMG_5731_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5731_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32971-d7ab5d264de1ca56594fbe2cd44ae17b.jpg)
![thumb_IMG_5732_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5732_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32972-2cea309c46621dd8ebf92fd0bb5cc727.jpg)
Kids found a pool with a bunch of tadpoles and baby frogs
![thumb_IMG_5733_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5733_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32973-c5289ca7f9f9501af54f207f7c902536.jpg)
This was the site of one of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians' primary camps.
![thumb_IMG_5746_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5746_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32974-7382eeef94cd03dc351fbc18439f0881.jpg)
When it's time to stop for camp, here's what it looks like.
![thumb_IMG_5758_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5758_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32975-6a26d6a48ed289ba6890494520f237fc.jpg)
![thumb_IMG_5766_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5766_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32976-4dcd56dee37ff51eb02b915350ac8117.jpg)
And on river trips the food is amazing, here's some chicken and shrimp paella...a weee better than a mountain house.
![thumb_IMG_5747_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5747_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32977-3e32c4b84c7a501f64133e2c76a75e0b.jpg)
Here's another day's meal, london broil with potatoes.
![thumb_IMG_5778_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5778_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32978-98bd4a909d8c5049fcaa2bc6857713a6.jpg)
How do we get such amazing meals? You bring someone that was a river guide for 20 years and has done this millions of times before.
Here's what the kitchen looked like at all our camps.
![thumb_IMG_5754_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5754_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32979-86b37b737935ab39b90dc34c78a6763f.jpg)
We also stopped to check out some ancient rock art from people they estimate from 10,000-12,000 years old.
![thumb_IMG_5743_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5743_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32980-7a09bb8acc7b7d2f7442be73f98a6eb5.jpg)
![thumb_IMG_5745_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5745_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32981-620b651b87d568225062d99d1d9cf6cd.jpg)
Here's what all the gear looks like loaded on the raft.
![thumb_11816303_932958536746982_2713297242851856187_o_1024.jpg thumb_11816303_932958536746982_2713297242851856187_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32982-f075ce6da5f63c3cfc2d9a7be1d7e1a1.jpg)
![thumb_11011715_932958850080284_2878366263680890286_o_1024.jpg thumb_11011715_932958850080284_2878366263680890286_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32983-101823830260e157a1cd093621b2bab5.jpg)
Looking back up at Snow Hole Rapid.
![thumb_11845155_932958493413653_2437198443727456869_o_1024.jpg thumb_11845155_932958493413653_2437198443727456869_o_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32984-e8869d5e24560d9f2a266e217044e245.jpg)
On the final day the Salmon dumps into the Snake River, and the jet boats are now coming thru.
![thumb_IMG_5800_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5800_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32985-11d97c3dee29a217e4e546c2980a8a07.jpg)
A fun little waterfall along the Snake River
![thumb_IMG_5785_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5785_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32986-adc64382c6f8beadc93f875f395a3d3e.jpg)
And it was cold....but felt good.
![thumb_IMG_5788_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5788_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32987-c47a255ed7acc2833dda6d83ab43ad8d.jpg)
Final day had a lot of flat water, so we hooked up the rafts and traded off rowing.
![thumb_IMG_5796_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5796_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32988-fddb4b05c553a2f17a5e332f37939b91.jpg)
At the take out at Heller Bar.
![thumb_IMG_5807_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5807_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32989-7f621b7914dc4491f41f978d39bdc4d0.jpg)
![thumb_IMG_5811_1024.jpg thumb_IMG_5811_1024.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/32/32990-c6bdb26e93cb01c4f33771ac4ef29ae4.jpg)
So there you have it. It was a great trip and memories I'll never forget.
Featured image for home page:
![slide.jpg slide.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/33/33046-ce25e4c8a81c933d084d08f244015b70.jpg)