A little late is better than never. Here are some photos from a picture perfect day jet boating the Snake River earlier this month. The Snake forms the border between Idaho and a part of Washington and Idaho/Oregon. According to our pilot, it is the deepest river gorge in North America, eclipsing the Grand Canyon in total depth.
We took a jet boat with 56 of our closest friends. Actually, only 7 of our friends; the rest, riff raff from who knows where! We started out in Clarkston WA and went 100 miles south with the current, then turned around and came back 100 miles against the current, which was quite a ride as we estimated we were traveling about 45 mph. The whole day took 11 hours.
Supposedly, it was to only take 9 1/2 hours, but the pilot announced as we were leaving historic Kirkwood Ranch after lunch that we were a little low on gas and shifted around some of the seating. One member of our party was sitting close enough to the front to watch the gas gauge hit bottom about 20 minutes before we were due in for a landing at the refilling stop. As they were approaching the dock, the boat suddenly smacked into the dock quite hard. To those of us in the back, it was a bit of a jolt! Turns out we ran out of gas at that moment, engines stopped working and we were proverbally up a river without a paddle. They managed to grab the dock and hold us close enough to tie up before the boat started drifting down the very strong current.
Long story short, it took an hour to prime the pump, move the boat to the refilling dock, fill the tanks, come back to the passenger dock and let us on for the final trek to home base. Wasn't too bad as we were at a place called Heller Bar which has BATHROOMS, cabins, a lodge and gift store. We stood on the deck of the lodge pondering a worse-case scenario, and glad that the excitment wasn't more than we could handle.
The traveling crew
This guy knows how to travel! I have never really thought I would be up for a rafting trip, but after watching all the rafters on the river that day, I think they had the right idea! The river was still running high from the snow melt off, so the rapids were higher and not as exposed to all the rocks. This part of the river, and the feeder rivers we passed are prime rafting and kyacking territory for the very brave souls who get their thrills going very fast down a very powerful river. The Snake River has Class II, III, & IV rapids.
A rare stretch of still water
The view of the river through the trees at Heller Bar.
We stopped for lunch at Kirkwood Historic Ranch.
It was first homesteaded in 1890. It was the largest sheep ranch on the Idaho side in the 1930's. It is now run by the US Forest Service and serves as a respite stop for boaters and hikers.
On the day we were there, the creek was running strong and full of water. I am sure that in the middle of summer in 100+ heat, this creek looks mighty refreshing.
Old farm equipment
The boat...
.....with Dave standing on the bow wondering where in the heck I was! I was having a very interesting conversation with the USFS volunteer who, with her sister, was at the ranch for a full month as caretaker. Everything they need for the month is brought in with them by boat at the beginning of their stay. She had been serving as caretaker for the month of June for five years. I learned that people wait for years to get the chance to be there and that when you finally get your month, you hold on to it for dear life! The boat didn't leave without me, but I was the last person on!
Our wake with rafters in the distance.
About to get wet....... something which happened a few times on the trip back. We were sitting in the very back of the boat with nothing but those chains between us and the water!
It was a fun trip and I am glad we went, but next time I am riding on the mail boat. It goes down river once a week and takes two days to make the same trip with many stops at the homes and resorts along the river in a boat that only holds 6 people. I like the idea of going slower and getting up close and personal with the river.
