Family Rafting in Idaho July 12-16, 2019
Gorges of the Lower Salmon River
HIGHLIGHTS ExcitingClassIIIwhitewater Warmwaterperfectforswimming&water ights Riversidecampingongiantsandybeaches Abundantwildlifelikeriverottersandbighornsheep Tryoutastanduppaddleboard(SUP) ADVENTURE OVERVIEW TheLowerSalmonRiverinIdahomeanderswarm,wideandmellow,makingitagreatraftinggetawayforfamiliesand irst‐timerafters.Idaho’sLowerSalmonRiverishometosomeofAmerica’smostbeautifulinlandriverbeaches,super‐sandyandsprawlingalongsideclear,mellowpoolswhichareperfectforstanduppaddleboardingandplayinginin latablekayaks.There’snoshortageofthrillseekingeither.SomeofIdaho’smostfamouswhitewaterrapids,gorgesandviewscapes—likeDemonsDrop,SnowHoleandBlueCanyonarejustaroundthebend.
WILLIAMS STUDY LEADER DavidDethier,professoremeritusofgeosciences,willbelendinghisexpertisetothisfamilyraftingtrip.Davidisanexperiencedtravel‐studyleader,havingpreviouslylednumerousraftingandexpedition‐styletripsforWilliamsCollege.
QUICK FACTS
ADVENTURE TYPE WhitewaterRafting
Dory
PRICES $1,249adult
$1,149youth(7‐15)
MINIMUM AGE 7(12athighwater)
ADVENTURE LEVEL ClassIIIrapids;coldwaterwithmoderate liporswimpotentialduringpeak lows;
moderatehiking
ACCOMMODATIONS Camping
DESTINATION Lewiston,Idaho
ITINERARY OVERVIEW
DepartLewistonforascenicdrivetoHammerCreekinIdaho
VisittheNezPerceMuseuminSpaldingandlearnaboutancientpictographs
ChallengeRollercoaster,GreenCanyon,WrightWayDrop,DemonsDropandPineBarrapids
JourneythroughCougarandSnowHoleCanyons—eachofferingauniquelydifferentperspectiveonthiswildrivercorridor
VisitremnantsofancientIndianculturesandtheremainsofChinesestonehouses
TrySnowHoleCanyon’smostexcitingrapids:HalfandHalf,SnowHoleandChina
Spoteagles,osprey,riverotters,beaver,cougarandbighornsheep
SlideRapidmarkstheentrancetoBlueCanyon,themostspectacularofthefourgorges
Goonanimpressivehiketoavistapoint,jointheSnakeRiverandswimarapid
Passthecon luencewiththeGrandeRonde;arriveatHellerBarforshuttletoLewiston
THE DAY BEFORE YOUR TRIP…
We’llmeetat7:00PMinthelobbyoftheRedLionHotelforapre‐tripmeeting.Thisisanopportunitytomeetyourfellowtravelersandtripleader,andaskanylastminutequestions.Yourtripleaderwillgiveyouathroughtriporientationandpassoutyourwaterproofriverbagssothatyoucanpackyourbelongingsthatevening.Wewillalsocon irmthemeetingtimeforthenextmorning.
JULY 12
We’lldepartLewistonforascenic2‐hourdrivetoourput‐inatHammerCreek.(PineBarisouroptionallow‐waterput‐in.)Alongtheway,wemaystoptovisittheNezPercemuseuminSpalding,afascinatingexhibitofNativeAmericanartifacts,includingbeautifullywovenbasketsandcolorfulhand‐madeheaddresses.Attheriver,wemeettherestofthecrew.Afteraninformativesafetytalkandsomebriefpaddleraft/in latablekayakinstruction,we’reoffonourriveradventure!ThoseofusreadytogetwetmightswimthroughRollercoasterrapid,attheentrancetoGreenCanyon.We’llstoptovisitsomeancientpictographs,andcontinuethewhitewateractionwithrapidslikeWright‐Way,DemonsDropandPineBar.Aswe loatalongtheriver,we’llkeepaneyeoutforthewildlife.Goldeneagles,ospreysandriverottersmakefrequentappearances;ifwe’relucky,wemightalsoseebeavers,cougarsandRockyMountainbighornsheep.
The irstdaygenerallysetsthepaceforourtrip.We’llspendafewhoursonthewater,sometimesstoppingforashorthike,aswim,oravisittopictographs,oranotherhistoricalsite.Comelunchtime,wepullovertoasandybeachandenjoyadeliciouspicnic.Afterfeastingandrelaxingonthebeach(orperhapsswimming,agameofFrisbee,anaturewalk),wegetbackinourboatsformoreexcitingwhitewater.Besuretotryyourhandatthepaddleboatandin latablekayak!Mid‐tolate‐afternoon,westopandmakecamp.Yougrabyourbagsandsetupyourtentwhilewetakecareofthekitchenand“livingroom”—campchairsandthesitefortonight’scamp ire(ifpermitted).Read,nap,orjustsitbackandlaughwithfriendsandfamily.Afterasatisfyingfeast,theeveningisyourstospendhoweveryouwish.Maybemusic,stories,orjokeswillbringustogethertonight;maybethepoppingofthe ire,thewhisperoftheriverandtheclarityofthebig,star‐illedskywillencouragesilentre lectionontheamazingwildernessthatis,fornow,ourhome.
JULY 13-16
OurjourneydowntheLowerSalmontakesusthroughGreenCanyon,thenintoCougarandSnowHolecanyons,eachofferingadifferentperspectiveonthestrikingsceneryaroundus.Allthewhile,theriverslowlyunfoldsitslongandvariedhistory,providingglimpsesofoldminingandranchingsites,geologicaldisplaysofbasaltformations,remnantsofancientIndiancultures,andremainsofoldChinesestonehouses.EnteringSnowHoleCanyon,wefacesomeofthebiggest,mostexcitingwhitewaterofourtrip:HalfandHalf,SnowHoleandChinarapids.
EarlyseasonboaterscanexperiencethechallengeofSlideRapidinBlueCanyon;perhapsthemostspectacularofthefourgorgesthroughwhichwe’vetraveled.Hikersinthegroupmightenjoyclimbingtoavistapointforanimpressivebird’s‐eyeviewoftheriverwindingthroughthesteepandslendercanyon.Finally,theSalmonmergeswiththeSnakeRiver,againdoublinginsizeonits’runnorthtotheColumbiaandwesttothePaci icOcean.
Thatlastdayonthebiggerriverwe’llseemuchincreasedboattraf ic,evidenceofdevelopmentandmultipleuseimpactsaswecontinueourloat.Amotormaybeusedonthelastportionof latwatertothetake‐out.Afterpassingthecon luencewiththeGrandeRondewearriveatourtake‐out,HellerBar,bidfarewelltoourguidesandtravelbyvanbacktoLewiston,abouta45minuteride.
PRE- AND POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS Werecommendthatyoumakereservationswellinadvanceinordertoguaranteelodging.(Pre‐andpost‐triplodgingisnotincludedinthetripcost).
RedLionHotel(800)232‐6730or(208)799‐1000
PleasementionyouarewithOARSwhilemakingreservations.ThespecialrateforOARSguests,foradoubleroom,startsat$95,dependinguponavailability.TheRedLionhasalounge,restaurant,andaccesstoanathleticclub.Italsoprovidesafreeairportshuttle.Youcanstoreextraluggage,whileontheriver,fornoadditionalcharge.
Amoreeconomicalchoice,theInnAmericaiswithinwalkingdistanceoftheRedLionandoffersfamilysuites.Pleasecallthemforrates(800)469‐4667or(208)746‐4600
Youmayparkyourcarfornochargeateitherhotelwhileyouareontheriver.
GETTING TO LEWISTON LewistonisservedbyDeltawith lightsconnectingthroughBoise,Seattle,andSaltLakeCity.
Youcanalso lyintoSpokane,Washington,thenrentacarortakeabustoLewiston.SpokaneisservedbySouthwest,Alaska,United,Frontier,Delta,andAmericanAirlinesandisapproximatelyatwo‐hourdrive(106miles)fromLewiston.
LimitedbusserviceisavailablebetweenSpokaneandLewistononNorthwesternTrailwaysbuslines:www.northwesterntrailways.com.Thecostis$42one‐wayor$80roundtrip,betweentheSpokaneairportandLewiston.
INCLUDED IN TRIP COST $1,249 ADULT; $1,149 YOUTH (7-15)
Skilledprofessionalguideservice
Allmealsfromlunchonday1throughlunchonthelastdaywithlimitedbeerandwinewithdinner
3or4nightscateredcamping
Twowaterproofbagstoholdyourgearforthetrip(approximatesealedsize:13”diameterx25”tall).YourSleepKitwillcomealreadypackedinoneofthetwowaterproofbags.Yourremaininggear,therefore,must itinone
Onesmallwaterproofbagforcameraandothersmallitemsyou’llwantduringtheday(approximatesealedsize:17”tallx9”diameter)
Two‐persontentsonasharedbasis(thereisa$30chargeforaprivatetent)
Sleepkitconsistingofasleepingbag,groundtarp,sheet,pillowandpillowcaseandsleepingpadisprepackedandwillbewaitingforyouatcamp
Personal lotationdevice(PFD)whichmustbewornatalltimesontheriverincompliancewithsafetyregulations
12‐ounceinsulatedKleanKanteenwithCafeLidtousefordrinksincamp
Forclientswithahighinterestinusingthein latablekayaks,wewillbringalimitedsupplyofwetsuits.Ifyouhaveyourown,pleasefeelfreetobringitwithyou
Campchairs
Eatingutensils,cupsandplates
Highestqualityin latableraftsandrelatedequipment
TransfersfromLewistontotheriverandback
Wetsuit–weatherdependent(doesnotincludefootwearofanykind,includingwetsuitbooties)
REGISTRATION ContactCarrieAronsonatO.A.R.S.
209‐753‐[email protected]
NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP COST TransportationtoandfromLewiston,Idaho
Pre‐andpost‐tripaccommodationsandmeals
Singlesupplementtent($30)
Insuranceofanykind,atravelprotectionplan
Itemsofpersonalnature(anequipmentlistisprovidedbelow)
Gratuities
AVAILABLE FOR RENT
2‐PersonTent:Weprovide2persontents.Itisassumedyouwillsharethistentwithanotherperson.Youcan(ifyouprefer)haveatenttoyourselfforanadditionalchargeof$30pertent.
BOAT OPTIONS
ThenumberandvarietyofboatsonanOARStripmayvarybasedonwaterlevels,thenumberofparticipantsandotherfactorswetakeintoaccountwhenplanningyouradventure.Pleasebeawarethatindoingsowewillaskyoutoshareboattimewithyourfellowtravelers.Wedon’tassignboats,norcanweguaranteeexactlywhichcraftswebring,buttrustustoprovideyouwiththebestpossiblemixforyouandothersonyourtrip.Thefollowingboatsmaybeapartofyourexperience:
OarRaft—TheOARS lagship.Theoarraftscarrythebulkofthegearonmostofourmulti‐dayadventures.Yourguidepilotswithlongoarsfromacenter‐mountedaluminumframe.Ampledeckspaceallowsforloungingincalmstretches,whilethesturdyweightandwidthoftheboatgivesyourguidecon idencetohitthebigwaveshead‐on.(Twotofourpassengers.)
Dory—DoriesarethekingsofbigvolumeriversliketheColoradoandtheSalmon.Theserigidboatswere irstusedcommerciallyintheGrandCanyonbywriter/conservationist/riverguideMartinLitton.Hard‐hulledandultra‐buoyant,doriesshootthroughrapidsandmakewavetrainsfeellikerollercoasters.Yourguidenavigatesfromthecenterwithtwolongoars.(Fourpassengers)
PaddleRaft(requires13ormoretrippassengers)—Thesportiestofcraftsweputonthewater,everybodyhandlesapaddlewhiletheguidegivesdirectionsandsteerswithoarsfromthestern.Paddlingtogetherisessentialto indingtherightrun,andteamworkbegetssuccess.Athrillingwaytobravetherapids!Helmetsrequired.AskanAdventureConsultantaboutthisoption,asitisnotavailableoneverytrip.(Fourtosevenpassengers.)
In latableKayak—In latablekayaks loatlowinthewater,puttingyouintouchwiththepullofthecurrentandsplashofeverywave.Onmosttrips,doubleandsinglein latablekayaksareavailable,dependingongroupsize.TwelveyearsistheminimumageinClassIIIrapids,7yearsforClassIIrapids.Helmetsrequired.(Oneortwopaddlersperin latablekayak.)
StandUpPaddleboard(SUP)—Rigidlikeasur board,butin latablelikearaft,standuppaddleboardsare10‐feetlongandsurprisinglystableatclosetothree‐feetwide.HoponaSUPtoturnstretchesofcalm, latwaterintoanactiveadventure!Helmetsrequired.(Funforonepaddleratatime)
T E R M S & C O N D I T I O N S
PhysicalRequirements Ourprimarygoalisforyoutohaveanenjoyableexperience.Thenatureofthetripissuchthatitinvolvessomephysicalexertionandpotentialexposuretotheelements,includingcoldwater,heat,sun,windandrain.Wehaveexperienceaccommodatingpeoplewithawiderangeofphysicaldisabilitiesand/orhealthconditions,butpleaseconsultyourdoctorifyouhavemedicalorhealthconditionsthatcouldimpactyourabilitytoparticipateinthisoutdooradventure.
DietaryRestrictions Weneedtoknowassoonaspossibleaboutanydietaryrestrictionsweshouldconsiderinplanningyourtrip.Ifyouhaveadditionalfoodallergiesornecessaryrestrictions,wewilldoourbesttoaccommodateyourneeds.However,theremaybeanadditionalsupplementalmenufeerangingfrom$5‐20perpersonperdaytocoverourincreasedcosts.
ReservationsandDeposits$400/persondepositisrequiredatthetimeofreservation.Thebalanceisdue90dayspriortodeparture(April13).
CancellationsandRefunds Yourdepositisfullyrefundablefor7daysafteryoubookwhenyousubmitadeposit7daysormorepriortothe inalpaymentduedate.Ifyoumustcancelyourreservationaftertherescissionperioddescribedabove,yourcancellationfeewillbedeterminedaccordingtotheschedulebelow.Wedonotmakeexceptionstothecancellationpolicyforanyreason,includingweather,wild ire,terrorism,civilunrestorpersonalemergencies.Thereisnorefundforarrivinglateorleavingatripearly.
DateofCancellation CancellationFee179–90dayspriortoyourtrip $100perperson89–60dayspriortoyourtrip $400perperson59daysorlesspriortoyourtrip Norefund
Insurance Westronglyrecommendthatyouprotectyourself,yourbelongingsandyourvacationthroughthepurchaseofatravelinsuranceplan.Theycoveryournon‐refundablepaymentsinmostcases,shouldyouhavetocancelyourtripduetoillnessorinjury—yoursorthatofanextendedfamilymember—evenatthelastminute.Ifcoverageispurchasedatthetimeofyourinitialreservation,pre‐existingmedicalconditionsmaybecovered.Noonewantsanexpensivehelicoptertobecomenecessary,butifyouneedtobeevacuatedorifanimmediatefamilymemberdiesandthelocalmanagementagencyisrequestedtonotifyyoubyhelicopter,thehelicopterexpenseswillbeyourresponsibility.Evacuationscanbeprolonged,dif icultandexpensive.Personalbelongingsandcamerasarecarriedentirelyattheowner’srisk,andA.R.S.acceptsnoresponsibilityforlost,damaged,delayedorstolenproperty.
Liability ReleaseEveryoneisrequiredtosignastandardliabilityreleaseformbeforethetrip,acknowledgingawarenessthatthereareinherentrisksassociatedwiththetrip.Duetothenatureoftheactivities,aconditionofyourparticipationisthatyouwillsignthisformandreturnittoourof icebeforethetripbegins.Anyonewhorefusestosigntheformwillnotbeallowedtoparticipate,andconsistentwithHatchcancellationpolicy,therewillbenorefundofthetripfeesatthattime.
Responsibility–AnImportantNoticeOARSDories,Inc.andcooperatingagenciesactonlyinthecapacityofagentfortheparticipantsinallmattersrelatingtotransportationand/orallotherrelatedtravelservices,andassumenoresponsibilityhowevercausedforinjury,lossordamagetopersonorpropertyinconnectionwithanyservice,includingbutnotlimitedtothatresultingdirectlyorindirectlyfromactsofGod,detention,annoyance,delaysandexpensesarisingfromquarantine,strikes,theft,pilferage,forcemajeure,failureofanymeansofconveyancetoarriveordepartasscheduled,civildisturbances,governmentrestrictionsorregulations,anddiscrepanciesorchangeintransitoverwhichithasnocontrol.Reasonablechangesinitinerarymaybemadewheredeemedadvisableforthecomfortandwellbeingoftheparticipants,includingcancellationduetowater luctuation,insuf icientbookings(thistriprequiresaminimumof4guests),andotherfactors.Thereisriskinwhitewaterrafting,particularlyduringhigh‐waterconditions.Rafts,doriesandkayaksdocapsize.Youcouldbesweptoverboard.Yourguidewillmakeeveryattempttoassist,butyoumustbestrongandagileenoughto“self‐help”and“ loat‐it‐out”withoutfurtherendangeringyourselforothers.Wereservetherightnottoacceptpassengersweighingmorethan260poundsorwithawaist/chestsizeexceeding56inches.Wemaydecide,atanytime,toexcludeanypersonorgroupforanyreasonwefeelisrelatedtothesafetyofourtrips.Weareexperiencedataccommodatingpeoplewithvariousdisabilities.Pleasegiveusanopportunitytomakeyoufeelwelcome.Weneedtodiscussanyspecialrequirementsaheadoftime.Onadvancementofdepositthedepositoragreestobeboundbytheaboverecitedtermsandconditions.Pricessubjecttochangewithoutnotice.