Checking in from Idaho's Endless Winter

By Devon Barker

Idaho’s Endless Winter is not going anywhere. With four feet of snow in my front yard in McCall, Idaho, morning temperatures between –4 to + 10, the winter melt has not yet started. Our normal runs and play spots are not in so Megan Fitzmaurice and I decided to try to see how low we could run the Little Salmon. This run has my favorite play spot at mile marker 180.

This run’s recommended cfs levels are 500 to 4000. Great news, 330, 360, and 410 cfs levels are good to go. The river was rocky and technical. It reminded me of the middle section of Fish Creek just outside of Steamboat. I sure do wish our endless winter would end but in the mean time, if you are in Idaho, I would recommend that you come out and “creek” the Little Salmon.

There are three large trees in the river. They are at mile marker 179, 181, and 182. They are all easily avoidable right now. If and when the water comes up they are likely to move and all three are much wider than the river. In addition, when you see the swinging bridge, just behind Pine Hurst (the largest drop), there are two trees high above the river that appear ready to fall into the river as well. You can check the flows here.

Devon

 


bottom drop @ 180


Devon in Hero mm180


Little Salmon low flow


low water on Little Salmon


Megan on Little Salmon


Pine Hurst Rapid