Main Salmon
Some rivers are renowned for their rapids . . .
and some are well known for their scenery. The Main Salmon is most famous for its personality. It is what every good friend should be: welcoming, tolerant, supportive, and just a little unpredictable. Everyone who travels down this magnificent river falls in love with it; with the grand scenery, the fascinating history, the big waves, the soothing hot springs, the gentle hikes, the diverse wildlife, and the giant sandy beaches.
Cutting due west across the heart of the Idaho backcountry and through the center of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area, (the second largest Wilderness Area in the lower 48 states), the Main Salmon has long been an alluring place. Native Americans inhabited the canyons for thousands of years and left behind mysterious reminders of their presence; William Clark (of Lewis and Clark) started down the river in 1805, then turned around and looked elsewhere for the fabled Northwest Passage; Polly Bemis, a Chinese immigrant, found solace from a cruel life (as described in A Thousand Pieces of Gold) at her homestead and in her gardens along the river; white settlers, some more successful than others, left a variety of cabins, homesteads, ranches and even a fort (“Buckskin Bill” built a gun tower to protect himself from invading government bureaucrats!). Today the river provides a reflective pathway through a beautiful canyon and a glimpse of American history.
Our whitewater rafting trips begin in Salmon, Idaho, a rugged cowboy town postponing the arrival of the 21st century, and end in McCall, Idaho, a beautiful lakeside resort, embracing it.
"This trip exceeded my expectations. ARTA has hired an amazing set of guides, who team well and create a comfortable setting even for us city folk."
Daliah Harris
"My ten-year old was ready to sign on as one of your guides and my seven-year old was ready to go home with any of your guides. What great role models for my kids."
Michele Maynard
ARTA GUIDE
KEVIN HOLMES
The first thing you notice are his biceps; then his smile; then those biceps again. But don't be fooled. Between those muscular arms and behind that toothpaste grin is the most humble and least assuming kid on our staff. On every trip, he is the clear favorite of all the pre-teen boys and probably the secret favorite of their older sisters. When necessary, he can carry on adult conversations about resource management and the environment (he has a degree in Recreation from Chico State University), but his real strengths are telling tall tales, re-inventing childhood games, and tossing rambunctious 10 year-olds in and out of his raft like toothpicks. How do you think he got those biceps?
