Lower Main Salmon River

Submitted by Karl Mitsch

Launch: Thursday September 4, 2025
Takeout: Thursday September 11, 2025

This annual trip was moved past Labor Day to avoid the crowds and enjoy reduced competition for camps.  However, the boat ramp was more crowded than I ever recall seeing before with 4 large groups launching that morning.  We launched successfully with 8 boats containing 12 boaters that were all excited about spending a week on this beautiful river.  Stream flow was 3250 at Whitebird gauge.

First camp was set at Upper Pine Bar where we arrived without incident.  We enjoyed great weather and a wonderful meal on the first night.  The next morning one of the boats with two souls left our flotilla at Pine Bar Boat Ramp due to health issues.  Michelle from All Rivers was very helpful in arranging transportation at Pine Bar.  The balance of the crew set out early to get to Lower White House to set camp for a potential layover day.  With the number of parties observed on the river to that point our chances seemed to be slim, but we had to try as this is, by far, the boat crew’s favorite camp to layover at.  When we arrived at Upper White House, we found a large group that was just packing up - not a good sign.  We heard that a lone boater was camped at Lower White House and likely not laying over.  We hiked over the hill to find the camp empty to our great surprise and appreciation.  
 

The lower White House sand bar had completely changed from what it has been in recent years, with the lagoon in which we used to play volleyball almost completely gone.  Shade tarps were set and a fine time was had by all both days.  By the time we were ready to turn in the last night of the layover a pretty strong storm rolled in and we were treated to high winds followed by rain and a wonderful display of thunder and lightning most of the night.
The next day was clear and sunny.  We broke camp, packed up and headed for Billy Creek.  On the way we had to run Snowhole which was exciting at this flow.  We scouted, of course, and all boats made it through without incident.  China rapid was also run without incident and was enjoyed by the whole crew.
 

We set camp at Upper Billy Creek for a well deserved drying out and rest from the day.  Later that evening around supper time we all got a huge treat.  A member of our boat crew, Lt Colonel Eric Hodges, must have left his coordinates on the bathroom wall of the 446th Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord because we got a personalized flyover from not one, but 4 C-17 Globemasters!  The first three flew in formation right up the river canyon at very low elevation directly above us.  Each plane flew the same path with the same maneuvers, which was incredible considering the size of each aircraft.  A fourth plane showed up later and gave us a similar show – absolutely amazing.

After Billy Creek we headed for Geneva near the confluence.  We decided we would not motor out this trip and spent two nights on the Snake which was a lot of fun.  I had done this river several times over the last ten years and always motored out shortly after the confluence with the Snake River. 
We stayed at Middle Geneva - home of Groover Mountain aka The Grooverhorn aka Geneverest.  Here we played the bocce ball championship match.  Scores were settled. We set out early for our last night on Wild Goose Beach and were treated to calm weather with almost no wind.   Our last night at Wild Goose Beach was a stormy one.  High winds, rain and lighting most of the night.  The next morning we packed up and headed the remaining 4 miles to Heller Bar without incident.  Even with the storms this was a great boat trip with a wonderful boat crew.