Reflections on the Salmon

Captured this shot on a one day rafting trip on the Salmon River by Riggins, Idaho in 2005. This calm part of the river was just before we got back to Riggins where we had lunch on the banks of the Salmon, then continued on for a few more hours of whitewater rafting. Hard to believe a disposable waterproof camera took a shot this nice.

The view of Frances' bridge from the old ferry landing.

One of the barns at Campbell's Ferry on the Salmon River in Idaho. I can almost smell the pine trees. Really makes me want to go back there in May for the celebration of what would have been my great aunt Frances' 100th birthday.

Riders In the Storm

Heading into the Bitterroot Mountains on ID 28 on the last day of Spring. Snow storm on the mountains dropped a nice dusting as we were driving through.

Wide Open Spaces

This shot makes me want to go on another road trip! It was taken on the road to Salmon, Idaho. Amazing how long and straight this road is. West Texas highways have nothing on this road. Plus the view is fantastic for miles and miles.

Bitterroot Morning

Sunrise over the Bitterroot Mountains in Idaho on the first day of summer.

Sheep Camo

The steep mountainsides on the road to Corn Creek on the Salmon River provide excellent camouflage for the Bighorn Sheep. If these were not so close to the roadway when we passed through I do not know if we would have noticed them at all.

Road to Nowhere

On the Salmon RIver Rd headed to Corn Creek, aka the end of the road.

Home Alone

A home by itself at the confluence of the Middle Fork of the Salmon and Main Salmon Rivers. The road is on the side of the river I took the photo from. Not sure how they get in and out of this place other than by river.

Big Red

When there are no roads, your transportation choices become limited. On the Salmon River in Idaho, that is just the case. Only way to travel from one side of Idaho to the other on the Salmon is by jet boat or raft. We chose the faster route for our excursion.

Our River Taxi

Our captain's mate and wife reviews the scene as we prepare to head down river to Campbell's Ferry.

Ever Ready

On the lookout for rafters, both human and canine on the River of No Return. What a great life for a water loving dog!

Rafting the Salmon

River rafting on the Salmon River. I've done a one day trip on this river in Riggins, ID, but I have it on my bucket list to do a multi day trip on the Salmon like the folks in this shot are doing.

Rusting Away

Doug and Phyllis Tims have prominently displayed antique farm equipment used in past years at Campbell's Ferry as you approach the property from the Salmon River. Anyone care to guess what this piece of equipment was used for in the past?

Informal Classroom

I wonder if Phyllis ever imagined she would be lecturing in the great outdoors at Campbell's Ferry, Idaho when she was teaching at the University of Utah? If you ever go on a rafting trip down the Salmon River and are lucky enough to stop at Campbell's Ferry, maybe Phyllis will be there to provide you with your own personal history lesson on this historic site on the River of No Return.

Air Mail

Campbell's Ferry is one of 7 stops on the only air mail route in the lower 48. The runway the pilots use is on the left. If you look closely over the shoulder of Doug Tims (middle individual), you can see the windsock for the runway. The runway is 400 feet long and on the side of the mountain. The pilots land going uphill to slow down quickly and take off downhill to gain speed and lift quickly.

Room with a View

In the backcountry, there is no indoor plumbing. Outhouses are the way to go. In the case of my great aunt Frances, she wanted hers to be seen from the Salmon River, in hopes of irritating Sierra Club members floating the river. So she painted hers blue. After one choice encounter with a said Sierra Club member that declared once the area Frances lived in was made into the Frank Church Wilderness, River of No Return, she would have to leave, she made it her mission to do what she could to tick off any and all Sierra Club members. Little did each know that they were both there for a common reason, keep the area wild and free of development.

Lifetime Member

Honoring our friend Doug Tims who received an honorary lifetime membership award from the Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association yesterday. One of my favorite shots of Doug. Glad I've been lucky enough to sit across the campfire from him and listen to his stories. I wonder how many others have been so lucky?

Mountain Music

While we were at Campbell's Ferry this summer we were treated to a private concert. I thought I'd create a black and white out of this shot to give it an old time feel for days gone by. I almost feel like it could be from the collection of photos from when my great aunt lived there. Thanks go out to Larry and Linda for entertaining us with their musical talent.

Salmon River Dreaming

Afternoon on the Salmon River at Campbell's Ferry, Idaho in the The Frank Church—River of No Return Wilderness Area. The wilderness area was created in 1980 by the United States Congress and renamed in 1984 as the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area in honor of U.S. Senator Frank Church. At 2.367 million acres (9,580 km2), it is the second largest protected wilderness in the contiguous United States, after Death Valley. Nicknamed "The Frank," the wilderness protects several mountain ranges, extensive wildlife, and a popular whitewater rafting river: the Salmon River. - wikipedia

Bridge over the River Salmon

This pack bridge was constructed in 1956 as a result of the tireless efforts of my great aunt Frances. Before the bridge was built, she and her husband ran Campbell's Ferry on this part of the Salmon River, but due to high water in the spring and winter conditions for much of the year, there was only a short window of opportunity that the ferry could be operated. Trying to cross by any other means was to take your life in your own hands. In 1994 this bridge, the only crossing of the Salmon River for over 40 miles in either direction, was dedicated to my great aunt. The Frances Zaunmiller Wisner Memorial Pack Bridge is in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. It connects 2 national forest (Nez Perce on the left, Payette on the right) and 2 time zones (Pacific on the left, Mountain on the right). It is also on the Idaho Centennial Trail that runs from Nevada to Canada.

Four Arms

I always thought it would be nice to have an extra set of hands. Guess this is what it would look like. :-)

Centennial Sunset

Never would have seen these mountains if we hadn't followed our GPS's instructions. I had checked the map and it showed this was a dirt road, which it is by the way. However, if we had taken the road more traveled we never would have seen the Centennial Mountains or this great sunset.