Over Labor Day weekend, I finally made my first trip to Idaho. I was fortunate enough to meet up with ex-Boise-local Erik Larsen and the "Boise Boaters" crew, and head up highway 55 to the Payette drainage.
(Sara and I saw this crazy looking rainstorm just outside of Pendleton)
(Scouting the NF)

As we got to the put-in, I started to get really nervous. Sara later said that she'd never seen that look in my eyes. Whether we were NF vet's or virgins, the tension was in the air.
(Eric Arlington putting on)

As we got to the put-in, I started to get really nervous. Sara later said that she'd never seen that look in my eyes. Whether we were NF vet's or virgins, the tension was in the air.
(Eric Arlington putting on)
(Erik Larsen: "NF have many big holes!")
(Me nervous, and Sara calming me down)
(Myself taking the boof line at Hound's)
(Chris Arnold takes the main line at Hound's)
(Erik "sack-up" Larsen, aka "Uncle Lar-Lar" boofing it up at Hound's)
After Houndstooth, I started getting in to the swing of things on the NF; which is very different than the tight, technical creeking we have in Portland. At this point, the river became a lot of big and pushy fun!
I don't know if there are any named rapids between Houndstooth and Otter, but we cruised through what seemed like a mile-long, continuous rapid, and got to Otter. Mike told us the lines, and we headed though Otter. Halfway through, we eddied out on the left after a huge hole, and then ferried across to the river right. Mike said this was the "Scary Ferry".
(The group, minus our leader, Mike Copeland, halfway through Otter)
(Erik Larsen at the "Scary Ferry")
(Eric Arlington at the "Scary Ferry")
(Eddied out at the bottom of Otter)
(Erik Larsen in Juicer)
(The crew finishes off Juicer)
(Mike Copeland, Chris Arnold, and Erik Larsen at the top of Crunch)
(Mike Copeland gets ready to punch one of many, many holes at Crunch)
(Looking downstream of Crunch)
All in all, Idaho was f-ing amazing, and I can't wait to go back. A special thanks to Erik Larsen for inviting us PDXer's out... To Kelli for taking pictures... To Mike Copeland for leading us down... To Ben, Mike and Cathy, Jim, and Phil, for being super friendly and giving good beta. Hit me up if you guys ever come out to PDX.
(Lasty, I'd like to give a big F-you to the obnoxious 1:00am guitar player for not letting me get any sleep! I'll find you SUCKA!!!!! Just Joking, I'm not really THAT pissed.)
3 comments:
Great write up, sounds like a sweet trip. I'm getting eager to get on the water again, but work sucks and I'm busy getting ready for the Grand Canyon. Give me a call next time you plan on getting out, I'll see what I can do to get free.
Ryan
Dude glad you had fun! I'll let you know when im headed over that way. Hit me up next time you are in town and we'll boat again.
Mike
It is "Kelli" - but oh well. It was nice meeting and paddling with you guys, glad the NF pics turned out. Sorry for keeping you and Sara up, but I really had nothing to do with the guitar guy. Next time I'll think to offer you ear plugs from the "prize table".
Kelli
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