Advice or Floating the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in 2024
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- čas přidán 19. 02. 2024
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Thanks Zach invaluable service you are providing. Have mid-June permit so I'll be watching reports from you all on impacts of runoff.
We flew in last year on 8/17 like a week after some of the blowouts. We were the only private trip that put in for several days. Had a great time. Heavy rain raised water levels to 2.5 or so which was a surprise. We used Middle Fork Aviation out of Challis. They were professional and safe. Thanks for the thoughts!
Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been waiting for someone to talk about this! Making me nervous for this summer of guiding.
Zach, thanks for this, and all your other work. In late May 2023 I ran Marsh Cr-MFS-Main-Lower Salmon to Heller Bar, in a kayak. Peak flow during Marsh and upper MFS. Water had redistributed most wood from August 2022 debris flows. Channel-spanning jams had broken up, except one immense jam on Marsh Cr. Many partially-spanning logs and jams on Marsh, which would have caused trouble if off-line or if did not scout in key places. Overhanging snowbanks from winter avalanches added spice. At high water, there was enough water to let a kayak pass in two places, but not anything larger. Probably fully obstructed when flow dropped. Those spots were logjam on Marsh, and Velvet on MFS. Would have been brutal portages for rafts. With more debris flows in August 2023, I expect similar or worse conditions in spring/early summer 2024. Keep alert and enjoy the river!
Thanks for the insight! Keep the speculation going! WV crew coming in for a middle fork run, give us a howdy, see ya in June!
I got my first permit to float the Middle Fork from Dagger Falls in 1974 issued by Ranger Bob Blackadar. He listed the 2 main dangers right on the permit. 1 Dark Nights, 2 Wet Water. I believe those same dangers apply this year. Have a great adventure.
Thanks for sharing
You should pick up Eager by Ben Goldfarb. It really challenged me in terms of my love of rafting and wanting clear rivers. I still want to run rivers, but you know, I can be in conflict about it a bit too. lol
The only thing I would add is if you have a permit be prepared to fly now or cancel your permit early. Talk to your group and be sure they know flying in could be a necessity. I called Gem Air last year and got on the list. It was well worth the $100 (split amongst the group) for the peace of mind that we’d be going regardless the log jams or water level. Thankfully didn’t need to fly, but we were ready to.
Thanks for adding you thoughts
what does it take to scout the river? a kayak? a bush pilot? curious what mid may will look like
A bush pilot or a kayak would work. You probably won’t know what mid May will look like until mid May.
How realistic is it that someone would charter a helicopter around mid April to do some air reconnaissance on the river?
Not very realistic. It also wouldn’t be very useful to recon before high water.
Not looking like it’s going to be a big runoff year
We are holding a seat for you at the poker table.
I need to get back on that!