Whitewater Rafting
Specialty Trips- Snake River Jazz , Late Summer "Blue Ribbon"
Fly Fishing, Backpack/Float Combination & Fall Sportsman Specials
 These trips are "cool" because they
highlight special events, special trip focus, or simply an activity that we
"outfit & guide" rarely. If you have an idea for a "cool" trip let us know
your idea. We'll work with you to make it a reality!
 Late
Summer Middle Fork "Blue Ribbon" Fly Fishing
August 25-29, September 2-6, September
10-14 (5 Days/4 Nights) & September 18-21 (4 Days/3 Nights).
Check our schedule for current rafting and fishing boat rates.
Enjoy the wild & scenic Middle
Fork during Idaho's Indian Summer. Fly fish for wild, westslope
cutthroat trout in gin clear water. Regulations are "catch &
release". For full details check out the "site map" and click on
"Fly Fishing on the Middle Fork".
 Snake
River Jazz Trip
July 17-20, 2009 (4 Days/3 Nights)
$1270/adult, $1107/student
Brad Peters and Chuck Smith will be
two of the musicians traveling with us. Brad teaches at Boise State
University and has performed with orchestras throughout the northwest,
including: the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Opera,
The San Diego Symphony and Sacramento Symphony. He has worked with
Arturo Sandoval, Dave Brubeck, Ernie Watts, Lew Soloff, Diane Shure
and the Glen Miller Band. He has toured national and internationally
including concerts in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Taiwan
most recently a performance in Prague this last August.
Chuck Smith is active throughout the
Northwest as both a jazz pianist and a music educator. As a pianist,
he has appeared with numerous distinguished artists, including performances
with drummer Eric Gravatt, a founding member of the jazz group,
Weather Report. He was a contract pianist with Ben Arden and the
Carlton Celebrity Room in Edina, MN, and accompanied well-known
celebrities such as Johnny Mathis, the Mills Brothers, Gladys Knight,
Dionne Warwick, Bernadette Peters, Loretta Lynn, Rich Little and
Bob Hope. Smith toured as pianist and musical director for Paul
Anka for eight years, performing in the United States, Europe, South
America and Asia. He conducted for Anka at many notable functions,
including appearances at the Reagan White House and for the Atlanta
Symphony.
 2009 Snake River Photo Workshop with Chad Case
June 15-18, 2009 (4 Days/3 Nights)
$1270/adult; $1145/student plus an additional
$40.00/participant Workshop Fee
Join us for a landscape, macro, and adventure photography workshop in Hells Canyon. Whether you are a beginning photographer who wants to take the camera off program mode or an intermediate photographer who wants to learn more about the technical and artistic aspect of creating a pleasing photograph, this workshop will cater to both. Sunrises, sunsets, flowing water, spring flora and whitewater action will provide a wealth of opportunities to create lasting images in North America's deepest canyon.
Workshop Includes:
- Daily group as well as one-on-one instruction
- Equipment review and using camera features (bring your manual)
- Use of photo filters
About the Instructor:
Chad Case is a freelance photographer/writer located in Boise, Idaho. His photos have appeared in National Geographic Adventure, National Geographic Traveler, Holland America, Mountain Travel Sobek, National Wildlife, New York Times, Outside, Sunset, Backpacker, Woolrich, Blue Cross Hemispheres, Alaska Airlines and numerous other publications.
Chad was the winner of the 2009 Society of America Travel Writers Photographer of the Year Bronze Portfolio and 2008 Society of America Travel Writer Photographer of the Year Silver Portfolio.
Salmon River Canyon Jazz Trip with Dave Mendenhall & Chuck Smith
 August 17-21, 2009 (5 Days/4 Nights)
$1415/adult, $1315/student
Dave Mendenhall has spent the last 30 years as a music educator in Apple Valley, Mn. and as freelance musician in the Minneapolis music scene. His school jazz ensembles and bands have played at numerous festivals and conventions, earning outstanding recognition by educators and clinicians alike. Many of his original band methods are in publication. He has also served as an assignment developer for SmartMusic, a music software company. As a bass player, Dave has played in the corporate and jazz scene playing with national and local musicians. As a conductor, Dave has been primarily involved with developing and directing major Holiday concerts through Hosanna! Lutheran Church, a 6,000 member congragation in Lakeville, Mn.
Chuck Smith is active throughout the
Northwest as both a jazz pianist and a music educator. As a pianist,
he has appeared with numerous distinguished artists, including performances
with drummer Eric Gravatt, a founding member of the jazz group,
Weather Report. He was a contract pianist with Ben Arden and the
Carlton Celebrity Room in Edina, MN, and accompanied well-known
celebrities such as Johnny Mathis, the Mills Brothers, Gladys Knight,
Dionne Warwick, Bernadette Peters, Loretta Lynn, Rich Little and
Bob Hope. Smith toured as pianist and musical director for Paul
Anka for eight years, performing in the United States, Europe, South
America and Asia. He conducted for Anka at many notable functions,
including appearances at the Reagan White House and for the Atlanta
Symphony.
Backpack/Float
Combination "Seven Devils Mountains, Hells Canyon Wilderness, Snake River"
July-September dates (6 Days/5 Nights)
Groups of 6 hikers & 2 guides. Trips begin two days prior to
our regularly scheduled Snake River launch dates. From trailhead
at Windy Saddle to the Snake River, the hike emcompasses virtually
every climatic zone in North America: high mountain lakes, alpine
meadows, towering peaks, and views into America's deepest canyon.
The route begins at Windy Saddle, and continues to Telephone Saddle,
Hibbs Cow Camp, Bernard Lakes, & Dry Diggins. 3 Trail Days in
the Seven Devils Mountains and Hells Canyon Wilderness combined
with 3 Days on the National Wild & Scenic Snake River in Hells
Canyon. Check with our office for details.
Our Snake River trip was also ranked
19th in National Geographic Adventure's America's Best: The
Adventure 100 - to read this article, click here.
 Fall
Sportsman Specials Snake River/Hells Canyon & Salmon River Canyon
2 guests/boat & guide, plus a gear
boatman and large custom designed gear pontoon. Drift boats on Salmon
and Scenic Snake River. Rafts on the Wild Snake River. Fishing for
smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, steelhead (ocean run rainbow trout),
and white sturgeon. And, bird hunting for Chukar (red legged) partridge.
Groups of 8 can arrange dates of your choice.
Hells Canyon Geology
Trip with Tracy Vallier
 We are hoping to line up another geology trip in 2010.
Travel with Hells Canyon geologist, Tracy Vallier. (B.S., Iowa State
University, Ph.D., Oregon State University). Tracy has worked in
the canyon for more than four decades. He is author of Islands &
Rapids "A Geologic Story of Hells Canyon", and was scientific advisor
for the video "Exotic Terrane". Hells Canyon is the deepest major
river canyon in the conterminous U.S. The Snake River in Hells Canyon
lies nearly 8,000 feet below He Devil, a mountain that rises to
an elevation over 9,300 feet just six miles to the east. For those
interested, Tracy will discuss the stratigraphy, structure, and
petrology of the rocks that formed in an island arc, very similar
to the Aleutians, Marianas, and Tonga. The rocks were subsequently
attached to ancient N. America. Rocks range in age from about 300
million to 15 million years ago. Younger erosional and depositional
features relating to the Bonneville Flood (about 14,500 years ago),
landslides, and alluvial fans will be investigated on the trip.
Tracy also has interesting Hells Canyon stories about wild animal
and human encounters that he will share in the evenings.
We hope to arrange a 2010 trip with
Tracy. Our 2007 trip was a resounding success. Stay tuned! |
