Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Summer 2011 Wrap-Up

The Montana summer is fading into fall. Leaves slowly are changing colors while the crisp mornings herald the cold weather, hidden just around the corner. Fortunately, we are heading south, chasing the summer into the southern hemisphere where the water will be running cold and clear, beckoning to wandering souls such as ourselves.

The last few months have been a whirlwind of activity for me and my new wife. Yup, I said it. The "W" word. This September 10, we (Rosalynn and I) were married out at the Montana River Guides Ranch, under a warm sun and big Montana sky. The summer itself was busy enough, with having to keep a rafting company afloat, but on top of that we had a wedding to plan and a ranch to clean. Fortunately, everything went off without a hitch, and good times were had by all. The dance party after the wedding was one for the record books, rivaling even the infamous Thunder Storm part in Banks last year. Those of you who were there know what I'm talking about. Those of you who weren't, well I guess you missed out.

Since the wedding, we did a week on the Wild and Scenic Salmon River, and are now road tripping down to Cali for the BRG Race, some more boating, and then to Phoenix to catch a flight to Santiago, where we are meeting up with Orion and Emily Meredith for some good springtime kayaking action in Chile.

Not the best lighting, but still a sweet drop on Boulder Creek, North Idaho.

The First big drop on Boulder Creek.

Nick Bandy, North Idaho local, about to get some goods on Boulder Creek.

Summertime Lochsa fun.

Grim-Reaper rapid on the Lochsa. My friend Drew and I went over to the Lochsa this past weekend and ran the Fish creek to Split creek section at a stomping 410 cfs! Haha. It was pretty neat to see the river at such a low level, with crystal clear water and huge fish swirling in the shadows.

Drunken South Fork Payette Bachelor Party Debauchery.

Apparently this is a good idea...
Searching for the hot-springs near our camp on the S.F.



Emily Meredith, Houndstooth on the N.F. Payette.

Will Parham, Orion Meredith and Myself, giggling somewhere on the North Fork.