Melanie at Tough Love Travel raised her 4 sons, partly in their home in NJ and partly in her Ford van as they road-tripped all over the US! She's an expert on routes, national parks, and cool events (like this IK Slamon River trip!)
Let me tell you about it....
That August, I loaded my 4 sons, ages 8-13, into my Ford van and headed west. After a backpack out in the Tetons and another national park "stamp" at Craters of the Moon, we pulled into the Stagecoach Inn, by the Salmon River, in Idaho. Chewey was waiting for us.
Chewey would be our guide on the Salmon River for the next 5 days. He outfitted us in IKs, or inflatable kayaks, and strapped all of our camping gear to "The Pig", a giant raft that would run at the tail of our little flotilla. Tom, my youngest, too little for his own IK, floated the Salmon River on "The Pig" too, perched atop three huge coolers.
Helmets, paddles, lifevests... fully organized, we pushed off from the banks of Corn Creek, and into the wilderness of the Salmon River made famous by Louis and Clark.
On a early, quiet stretch of the Salmon River, kind Chewey studied Tom bumping along on "The Pig". Tom's disconsolate face looked longingly at his brothers as they splashed about, competing for "Gondola Man" (read as: stand in kayak, hold paddle crosswise and try to joust the other off their IK)
Chewey couldn't stand Tom's sad face.
He hauled an extra IK off "The PIg", and tethered a now-beaming Tom to float behind his own kayak.
But Tom -- as the youngest of 4 brothers -- had always had to keep up which had given him some extraordinary survival skills. He was no stranger to watersports, and soon he was paddling solo down the Salmon River. First through the flats, then through a tiny rapid, and then a rougher one, Tom tailed Chewey with intent concentration, and pride!
And that was that! No more "Pig" for Tom. He joined our ranks!
As the sun drifted low by the hilltops, we pulled ashore to camp on the banks of the Salmon River.
"The Pig" had arrived an hour earlier, and to our great delight, a mess tent was emitting delicious aromas, our sleeping tarps were erected in a neat row by the water's edge, and a privy was discreetly set out around the corner. A kayak paddle would serve as the privy door, Chewey explained. When you went to the "john", take the paddle. When you were done, replace the paddle so others would know the bathroom was unoccuppied. And what a view this bathroom had!!! Perched on a small bluff over the Salmon River, 15' above the rapids, with the mustardy walls of the canyon falling away from view.... it even had GQ magazines and real TP!
All that was needed for our complete Salmon River comfort was a lounge! Before we knew it, our IKs were turned on their sides in a U-shape configuration, tiki torches sent ablaze, and a bag of wine opened. It was 5:00 on the Salmon River!
That night, we enjoyed a fine feast of BBQ chicken, corn, and fresh fruit -- and by the time the strawberry compote came off the campstove, a blanket of stars came out above. Completely disconnected from civilization, I looked around our "lounge" at the circle of content faces, illuminated orange by the torchlight. It was bedtime of day 1 on the Salmon River.
Day 2 started early, a sunrise on the Salmon River viewed from our berths which were -- of course -- nestled inside the cushy IKs!Our morning was a jovial paddle, bounding through sections of rocking rapids, and snacktime on thin crescents of beach.
That summer had been usually dry in the Salmon River area and by end of morning, a thin wisp of smoke started to trickle across the blazing blue Idaho sky. We started to see a random flame, or two, dotting the hillside above us.
Then in early afternoon, a strange thumping sound snuck into our quiet Salmon River wilderness. Louder and LOUDER, a red helicopter with open doors finally burst over the canyon lip above us. Then another. As we rounded the river's bend, an almost war-like scene appeared. Firefighters were jumping out of hovering copters at many spots in the hills. Orange blazes, small from our distance down in the Salmon River, dotted the hillsides. The wind blew men and copters and smoke eastward, creating a anxious, getting-out-of-control scene. From some copters were suspended giant water pouches.
And sure enough, one copter lowered itself expertly between the narrow canyon walls, to dip its pouch into the Salmon River, right in our direction! As it came closer to us, we maneuvered our kayaks to cower in a small eddy, but despite the protection of a row of boulders, we were rocked about as the copter blades thrashed the air and the otherwise silent green surface of the river was whipped into foam.
Firefighting became the fascination of this day, and the next!
On day 4, a quick but violent thunderstorm appeared! As bruised clouds marched in, we hurriedly found a beach and, pulling our IKs ashore off the Salmon River, ran to the safety of the cliff walls. "Grab the bag" someone frantically called! That would be the bag of wine, of course. Thunderstorms were just an excuse for snacktime on the Salmon River, apparently!
As our 5 days closed, we became quite at home with the scenic privy and the day's routine. Chewey was now part of our family, and Tom, with his large brown 8-year-old eyes tearing up, could barely say goodbye.
Today, those orange IKs, the firefighting scenes, and those star-studded beach campsites of the Salmon River remain part of our family lore.
Tom and his brothers are all grown up now, but the Salmon River still awaits YOUR family!
Sawtooth Adventures is the outfitter to contact for the Salmon River! And remember to ask for Chewey. I wonder if he knows how we still miss him?
Yearning to take make your own family memories this summer?
Give me a call at Tough Love Travel: I CAN HELP!
(609) 923-0304
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