2007 Idaho Raft & Kayak Season

By Devon Barker

I had a great 2007 river season but I did not realize that I worked

1 Bruneau
1 Middle Fork of Salmon
5 Hells Canyons of Snake River &
5 Lower Salmon trips until I started teaching and I looked at my schedule. It has been a long time since I worked a 12-trip season in Idaho.

A lot of my multi-trips this year were in my kayak teaching so that made it so perfect. I know I have said it before, but come to Idaho and join me on a multi-day trip on one of our many Wild and Scenic Rivers!

One highlight of the summer was having 5 kayaks and 5 inflatable kayaks on the Middle Fork of Salmon with me! It was the best trip ever. I was able to work with lots of my favorite guides and met the Davey family and friends. One of my past ski racing coaches flew us into the River with our kayaks in the small airplanes. McCall Air Taxi flies all over the backcountry-transporting boater to put-ins.

Billy landed on the dirt strip outside of Stanley, Idaho and came over with a big hug. His brother had just taken off and told him I was waiting to load the kayaks! Mike and Billy Dorris were the best coaches I have ever had. It was so neat to see them. They worked so hard to make us fast on our skis. I only truly got “fast” when I began sitting on my bum in a kayak.

Another highlight of the season was the Kayak instruction, Women’s Retreat, and Mother Daughter trips on the Lower Salmon. My belly hurt from so much laughter! Enjoy the photos from my 19th season river guiding! You can see more photos at www.rapidimagephoto.com This website is Jessica Marsan’s. She worked the trips with me this summer. We met the first year I took a leave from teaching in 2001 on the Ottawa River in eastern Canada. It is such a small world and even smaller in the boating community.

Signing off from Idaho-famous whitewater- not potatoes!