Idaho the white water state 17-27 May 2002
Paddlers profiles Harvey Lyons: Recent paddling experience – Four days this season of which three days were over one weekend on the Dart. Fred Willerup: New father, now living in Denmark therefore sod all in the last two years.
Back ground Fred used to live in Boise Idaho and learnt to paddle and then did allot when he was over there. Still has lots of paddling friends in the area. He also married a local girl Teresa and visits his in-laws normally in the paddling season (surprise). Harvey happened to be state side so just extended his trip.
General characteristics of the area: Loads of rivers of all types and loads of water. Easy to hook up with paddlers.
Itinerary
Friday: Payette Main – III
About a 7-mile stretch of mature river with the odd drop but fine for a warm up and only 45mins from downtown Boise.
Saturday: Boise North Fork – III/IV
9-mile wilderness run. Mainly II/III with some good squirt spots but one continuous section of III/IV for about a mile that was fab.
Tuesday: Payette South Fork – Staircase run – III/IV
7-miles of the last throws for the main river before it become too tame. Characteristics changing annually due to floods in side canyons. The volume is significant so the half a dozen rapids are big and bouncy with some massive wholes.
Wednesday: Payette Middle Fork – IV
Great 10-mile large creek/small river with some smart drops on it quite a bit of tree hazard as well
Payette South Fork – Canyon run – IV
This is a great 7-mile run with some smart rapids. Don’t forget to portage Big Falls – effectively 15 foot in two consecutive drops, first OK but big nasty water and the second like a weir. Then straight up against a wall and a right angle turn. There was a fifty-foot tree with one end up against the wall on the riverbed and running back up the river leaning against one of the side walls. It was bobbing around like a cork but with only 10% of it in the water, that was just the hydraulics, as it can’t have been floating. The water was so aerated the bubbles were as big as a size 5 ball!!!
Thursday: Payette South Fork – Staircase run – III/IV
See Tuesday. But level was even higher and wholes even bigger. We were joined at the get in by another paddler that was experienced i.e. had very old kit. He unfortunately fell out of his boat at the start of the last rapid and had an unpleasant swim through 300-yards of big white water and 10 foot wave trains. Luckily he was able to get out of his boat despite his leg brace getting caught on his cockpit (we had to carry his boat down to the river) and recovered all gear.
Saturday: Clearwater North Fork – IV
9-miles of big river, big rapids. I fell into a hole at the end whilst avoiding a wall that was deflecting the river. Had to swim out. Luckily all gear recovered, as very busy section of the river. Inspection of the offending hole on the way back revealed 6-10 foot tow back and the obstacle was cordially named Blokes Whole.
Sunday: Park and Play on the Clearwater North Fork.
We had spent some time on this wave the day before while waiting for the shuttle, but after crying off Skull Creek which was narrow fast and potentially problematic (Gloy only with consequences) we took the safe option. Water level was up on the previous day and the wave wasn’t quite as holding, but still lots fab surfing on this 5-foot and clean beauty.
Monday: Clearwater South Fork – IV
Fred’s idea this one, and what a great one it turned out to be. 7-miles and straight into action after the launch, and the rapids just kept coming. We had another swimmer, who apparently “just fell out of his boat”. Despite this being on the longest and most difficult rapid all gear was recovered. On the drive back up stream at the same spot there appeared to be: a girl being consoled on the bank; a boat being chased down stream; and another boat pined on the river. Obviously something to be taken seriously!
They have some great rivers that we didn’t do:
Payette North Fork –V
Three five mile runs on this beauty available later in the season when they turn the dam on. Has been done twice in one day to give a vertical mile of decent!
Salmon Middle Fork – III/IV
This is a fabulous 100-mile wilderness run and the trip to do in the whole US after the Grand Canyon. The main season (June/July) is on permits allocated by lottery, but there is first come first served at either end Aug (low water) and May (very high water).
Harvey Lyons
Have a look at:
http://www.allaboutrivers.com/
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/