Photos

Amazing shot downstream of the water and canyon on the last day.

The traditional high fall- flowing at above average flows!

The most prevalent trees were Ponderosa pines you can see this one had been burnt in one of the many fires but had survived. Their bark is designed to protect them from the fires.

The last 25 miles go through a granite canyon called Impassable Canyon. You can see why in this photo. There is no trail in or out.

View from the Precariously Perched Tent.

The last night we had the coolest over look spot- it was barely big enough for the tent and required climbing up in it! It was soo worth it.

Trying to dry some clothes before it rained. It sort of worked.

More water flowing into the river. It kept getting bigger and bigger.

Kelsey reconstructed this butterfly, they often flying around us on the boats.

The pathway was lined with these pretty purple flowers. The rain drops nearly sparkled in the sunlight.

The two colors of stone represent two seperate rock ages. Nearly 100 million years apart.

Kelsey found a protruding rock and promptly climbed it for a photo opportunity.

More pictographs- there were many all along the wall. Although the area was used by natives for thousands of years, these have horses in them so can’t be older than the 18th century.

We stopped to admire a wall of pictographs still visible due to the sheltered nature of this area and the resilience of the “paint” made from blood and rendered animal fat.

All the private ranches have airstrips to get customers in and out. The only other mode of transportation other than river.

In addition to the mountainous terrain there were large fields. Most were owned by private ranches that were grandfathered into the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness area.

The large boats are dwarfed in the river by the mountains.

A cavern on the river’s wall caught the photographer’s eye from the river.

Kevin’s artsy photos of the boats lined up on shore.

Our well reserved spot got us a prime campsite at the confluence, you can see Loon Creek rushing by the front of the tent. Our clothes line created a friendly barrier to neighbor tents.

On her honeymoon, Kelsey couldn’t stop seeing hearts in everything around her.

On the hike back to camp from the Hot Springs we found a peninsula that stuck out over the creek.

Hiking up Loon Creek lead you to Loon Creek Hot Springs. The stream water was literally liquid snow at about 32* F and the hot springs were a relaxing 100* F. We went back and forth cooling off and getting warm.

This “Creek” feed the middle fork at the second night’s camp. Our tent site was right at the confluence. It nearly doubled the size of the river were they met.