The Middle Fork - A political novel

In 2004 I had the pleasure of running an all lodge Main Salmon raft trip with Rick Glaze who later went on to write a fun book titled, "The Middle Fork" which is loosely based off of his trip down the Salmon with us.  I had a chance to sit down and read through the page turner and found it to be a fun summer page turner.  Find yourself a copy at www.themiddlefork.us and then sign up for a trip, it's very possible Rick will be on it.

Here is what Rick has to say about the Book

I wrote “The Middle Fork” to share my profound love of the wilderness and the great excitement of steering my own kayak down a wild river with a group of both friends and strangers. I admit I got carried away with flash floods, snake attacks and exciting romance, but what the heck, it’s fiction. When people travel to disparate environments, they almost always bring everything they are caught up with at home with them. So it is on “The Middle Fork”. The characters debate hot-button political issues until they are faced with life and death decisions.  Yes, the debate is interrupted by vicious rapids and pesky snakes, but it all weaves together to entertain and provide food for thought. Finally, this is an American story. No “old country” shtick or quaint references—just people like us in real-time thinking, talking and running the river. 

My first trip with Orange Torpedo was on the Main Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho in 2004.  This five day lodge trip was followed the next summer by a three day lodge trip on Oregon’s Rogue River.  My first novel needed a dynamic plot.  White water plumes and big holes along with the fabulous outdoor setting on the river were just the ticket.  If you are attracted to the wilds of nature, first sign up for a trip and second read “The Middle Fork.”

Rafting Guide of the Month for April 2010 - Mike Slagle

Mike is going into his 39th year as an Orange Torpedo Trips guide.  To say that he has seen it all only begins to describe the river experience behind whom we affectionately call the old guy, the great one, captain skirt, and many other things.  During his Orange Torpedo Trips carrier Mike has guided the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, the Deschutes, the Main Salmon, the Lower Salmon, the Middle Fork of the Salmon the Klamath River, the North Umpqua River, and then finally his home river, the Rogue.  Mike arguably has more days floating the Wild and Scenic Rogue River than anyone alive and he has the stories, jokes, and friends to prove it. 

How many years have you guided?  38 years

What is your favorite river?   What do you love about it?

Rogue for the history and beauty.  Main Salmon for the wilderness and great whitewater--the best OTT has to offer.

A favorite river trip memory?

Watching Tim Satre and Robbie Henderson do the glo-stick dance at the lodge would have to be a highlight of anyone's life.

Why you keep coming back?

The relationships with the guides and many of our long time guests. I enjoy sharing the river and all it has to offer with all our guests.

What you are looking forward to or are excited about this season?

I hope to be on the June 23rd Main Salmon Lodge trip--the best trip OTT has. Also looking forward to seeing many old friends. (Side note: Mike purposefully brings this June 23rd lodge trip up because he has been trying to convince me he should go instead of myself, as it is the favorite trip of us both.)

What do you do in the off-season?

Retired teacher--still do a little work around school for the athletic department

Other sports or activities you love?

Fishing, hiking, traveling.

Mike with a group at Nugget Falls on the Rogue River

White Water Rafting on a Cold Day: How to stay warm

Even when the water is 60+ degrees on the Lower Salmon or the Rogue River, those chilly spring mornings or late afternoon rain storms do occasionally make it a little brisk to be relaxing in a torpedo wearing only a swimsuit and PFD.  There are some tricks to staying warm, and when you can stay warm, some of the most fun paddling can be in the middle of a rain storm.
Tricks to staying warm.

1. Dress Correctly:  This is absolutely essential to staying warm.  How to dress is dependent on what type of cold you're dealing with.  On a chilly morning a splash jacket may be all you need; however in the middle or a rainstorm some more serious gear may be required.  One main factor for staying warm is AVOID ALL COTTON.  Never wear cotton on the river.  When it gets wet in makes you cold.
OTT Provided Stuff: to be combined with your non-cotton swimwear.
1. Paddle Jackets: This simple Nylon Paddle Jacket retains a little heat and deflects the splashes from your skin.  This can go a long way towards keeping you warm.  This simple jacket worn under your PFD can be the difference between warm and happy and chilly.  Not effective at keeping you warm when swimming in the water.

2. Wet Suites: On trips where being chilly is a possibility we supply "Farmer John" style wetsuits.  This open shoulder style makes the suits much more comfortable to paddle all day while keeping the core of your body insulated and warm.  This combined with a paddle jacket is enough to withstand 90% of spring and summer cold weather.

What you can add and supplement:
Often times a wetsuit is just too much but a paddle jacket alone is too little.  There are also times when even a paddle jacket is overkill, but just a swimsuit and PFD is a little brisk.  Below are a few of our favorite pieces of clothing to wear on the river.  If you click the image it will take you to the item at NRS or REI where you can purchase them.
Hydroskin tops : These are great on an early morning.  More breathable than a paddle jacket and they continue to warm even if you are swimming in it.  I love mine both on a brisk morning for that little extra warmth until the sun comes up or for wearing under a paddle jacket on a cold day.  The paddle jacket breaks the wind and keeps the splashes off while these insulate and help keep you warm even in a swim. Combine this with a wetsuit AND paddle jacket for the coldest summer weather and stay warm and toasty.

Fleece: A basic fleece under a paddle jacket is also a great insulator.  When fleece gets wet is retains its ability to keep you warm.  It's not as comfortable to wear when wet as the hydroskin, but it dries fast and is much more comfortable around camp making it a little more versatile.  If you are on a raft where swimming is unlikely, a good SIMPLE fleece jacket under a paddle jacket is great for the coldest weather. Click the image to see a nice simple jacket.

Lower Body:
Generally not as important in the summer time.  Especially since we will supply you with a wetsuit.  However often times a wetsuit is just too much so a shorter version comes in handy.
Rodeo Shorts: Many of the guides find these wetsuit shorts, generally worn under a pair of swim trunks, to be an on the water savior.  These are great when paddling a torpedo on a brisk morning.

Splash pants:  If you are exclusively going to be riding the raft splash pants can be a great way to keep the wind and water off.  They are not at all helpful if swimming or sitting in water so not much good in a Torpedo, but on raft these are a glorious comfort.

2. Consume Correctly:
Make sure that on cold days you eat some extra food.  Being active paddling on the river your already burning through more calories than you are probably used to, and if you are cold your body needs even more fuel to try and keep you warm.  On a cold day ask your guides for some extra snacks like granola bars.  If it is real chilly your guides may have a thermos of hot tea or hot chocolate.  It is also crucial to stay hydrated.  Often on chilly day people will drink less even though they are still burning through fluids paddling.
3. Know your body:
Don't be afraid to acknoladge you're getting cold.  It is much easier to stay warm than get warm.  If you start to get chilly let your guide know and they can help avoid waves to keep, move you to the raft, get you additional food or maybe a warm drink.  Often times guides will even have some additional cold weather gear hidden away they can outfit you with.  All it takes is letting a guide know you're getting chilly before you get cold.  After you are cold it's much more difficult to get you warm and happy than it would have been just to keep you there.

OF NOTE:
This advice is for the rare cold SUMMER weather experienced when rafting the Rogue River, Salmon River, North Umpqua River, or Klamath River.  Paddle trips in the winter can be extremely enjoyable but require an entirely different approach to staying warm.  
Have fun out there.

Orange Torpedo Trips is a for profit company and while all advice on this blog is based on it being good advice and products shown are shown strictly because they are good products, we reserve the right to profit from the sales of these items both online or in our retail store.
 

Salmon River Rafting Lodge Heaven - Shepp Ranch

Rafting trips on the Salmon River in Idaho are one of the premier vacation experiences in the United States.  Relatively warm water, abundent wildlife and incredible white water are only part of what makes this such a unique family and adventure friendly experience.  Here at Orange Torpedo Trips we view the Main Salmon rafting trip as the premier multiday white water family expedition experience.  One reason we think this is such a great trip is the lodge we stay at the last night of our float.

Shepp Ranch has a rich history in the Salmon River canyon.  Not only is the history long, but it is detailed.  A daily journal from the ranch stems back over 75 years giving its history un-equaled accuracy and detail in the Salmon River Canyon.

The ranch at the mouth of Crooked Creek which float into on day 4 of our Main Salmon raft trip was founded by Charlie Shepp and Pete Klinkhammer in 1909.  They purchased the ranch for $1000 with the plan of growing produce to sell to the miners in the local area.  In 1910, their first year, they planted early and were something less than succesful but in following seasons they had a plentiful garden which included: potatoes, corn, beans, beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips, asparagas, rootabagas, watermelons, squash, tobacco, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, and hops.   Gardening was mostly up to Charlie Shepp who maintained this bountiful garden in the summer seasons between floods.

Living deep in the backcountry of Idaho on the Salmon River was not, and is not, without its adventures.  Simply getting in to town could be a life or death undertaking.  The River of No Return by Johnny Carrey and Cort Conley tells a great tale of Pete Klinkenhammer and Jack Wilson trying to go from Grangeville back into the canyon when they became stuck in snow so deep it was up to the chest of their horses.  The group hunkered down for the night and started a small fire simply hoping to survive.  Eventually men from the local mining community who heard the men were on their way assumed they had become stuck in the storm and went out in the middle of the night looking for them.  "Suddenly, through the darkness, came flashes of light and voices - 20 men on snowshoes, with swinging lanterns, from Humptown.... Each man had a bottle of whiskey, some had two.  They brought food, everything, even hay for the horses.  Shoveling out a clearing, they built a massive bonfire, set coffee pots to boil, then sat around the fire and talked and sang all night."  That is a true Idaho rescue party!  The stories continue and you can read more about the great Salmon River Canyon history book The River of No Return

Shepp Ranch still holds onto its historical roots with the original cabin at the heart of the facility.  Mike and Lynne who have been managing Shepp since 1982 are two of our favorite people with an unmatched ability to make everyone feel at home.  When you arrive at Shepp Ranch Mike and the staff help load your gear onto the tractor while Lynne guides you up to the ranch house for fresh lemonade and cookies before you spend the afternoon relaxing in the shade, playing sand volleyball, fishing the creek, or hiking.

On our Salmon River rafting trips, Shepp Ranch is always a highlight for both customers and guides.  Everyone loves the home cooked meals with vegetables fresh from the garden.  A highlight for me is always the bonfire on the beach giving us guides a night to relax and spend time with our guests.  If we have not seen you on a rafting trip down the Salmon River before I hope we do this year.