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- Feb 12, 2014
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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
It was a busy day at the put in ramp. A good mix of outfitters and us regular folks.
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.
Lunch stop
Kids found a pool with a bunch of tadpoles and baby frogs
This was the site of one of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians' primary camps.
When it's time to stop for camp, here's what it looks like.
And on river trips the food is amazing, here's some chicken and shrimp paella...a weee better than a mountain house.
Here's another day's meal, london broil with potatoes.
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.
We also stopped to check out some ancient rock art from people they estimate from 10,000-12,000 years old.
Here's what all the gear looks like loaded on the raft.
Looking back up at Snow Hole Rapid.
On the final day the Salmon dumps into the Snake River, and the jet boats are now coming thru.
A fun little waterfall along the Snake River
And it was cold....but felt good.
Final day had a lot of flat water, so we hooked up the rafts and traded off rowing.
At the take out at Heller Bar.
So there you have it. It was a great trip and memories I'll never forget.
Featured image for home page:
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
It was a busy day at the put in ramp. A good mix of outfitters and us regular folks.
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.
Lunch stop
Kids found a pool with a bunch of tadpoles and baby frogs
This was the site of one of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce Indians' primary camps.
When it's time to stop for camp, here's what it looks like.
And on river trips the food is amazing, here's some chicken and shrimp paella...a weee better than a mountain house.
Here's another day's meal, london broil with potatoes.
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.
We also stopped to check out some ancient rock art from people they estimate from 10,000-12,000 years old.
Here's what all the gear looks like loaded on the raft.
Looking back up at Snow Hole Rapid.
On the final day the Salmon dumps into the Snake River, and the jet boats are now coming thru.
A fun little waterfall along the Snake River
And it was cold....but felt good.
Final day had a lot of flat water, so we hooked up the rafts and traded off rowing.
At the take out at Heller Bar.
So there you have it. It was a great trip and memories I'll never forget.
Featured image for home page:
