Dave Warren, a mighty friendly fellow who runs Warren River Expeditions with the help of his wife, Thyra, runs exciting trips on the Salmon River in Idaho's No Return Wilderness, the largest such area in the lower 48 states.
He organizes trips of 5, 6 and 10 days on the Middle Fork, the Main Salmon and other waters, as well as teaching kayak schools in 6 to 9-day workshops. The school runs $275 per day, and all kayak equipment is included. The regular rafting and kayaking trips cost from $1,500 for 6-day Middle Fork trips to $2,850 for 10-day Combo trips on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon rivers. There are also 6-day arrangements for seniors only (lodge stay, float trips), costing $1,950. All specialized river equipment and camping gear you need is included in the price.
The rivers involved run right across the middle of the state, in gorgeous land nearly unblemished by over-development or other aspects of "civilization." The Middle Fork offers blue ribbon trout fishing in addition to spectacular white water, which drops approximately 3,000 feet and runs for about 100 miles. You start in the high alpine area of the Sawtooth Mountains, traveling through constantly changing scenic delights, from the dense fir forests and mature ponderosa stands to the rugged granite gorge of Impassable Canyon itself. With an average drop of 28 feet per mile, the Class III-IV rapids make for a wonderful experience.
The Main Salmon River has a canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon, as well as an abundance of trees and wildlife, with clear and warm water. It's the longest undammed river in the lower 48 dates, so it flows fast in June, less so in August.
Dates for the Middle Fork trips run from May 6 through September 15, 2003. Other trips or lodge/camp stays run from as early as March 11 to as late as November 4, 2003.
In addition to the types of trips already mentioned, Warren offers grandparents/grandkids lodge stay float trips, general lodge stay white water rafting trips, kayak support trips, and summer float trips.
Kids 14 and under get a 25% discount, and seniors 55 and over receive a 10% discount. (These, of course, do not apply if you already have the 25% discount as a frommers.com reader!).
For more information or to make reservations, identify yourself as a Frommers.com reader and contact Dave Warren, Box 1375, Salmon ID 83467, phone 800/765-0421 or 208/756-6387, e-mail salmonriver@raftidaho.com, Web site www.raftidaho.com.