What to Expect

A multi-day river trip is an exercise in simplicity. The excess and hurry of “the real world” is stripped away, leaving only the essential in its place.

Each morning, the birds and our guides will wake us with a coffee call and leisurely breakfast will follow. In the mornings, we will engage with a key question, goal-setting practice, or discussion to help focus and guide our writing. Time is set aside for writing and reading during lunch.

Each afternoon, at each new camp we visit, after we help our guides unload the rafts and change out of our river clothes, we will write and reflect independently or in small groups. You may choose to write some more, or you might take a walk along the beach, sit by the fire, or find a nook in which to read. Our Freeflow facilitator and instructor will be available to you throughout the evening and during periods of independent writing time.

In the evenings, we will regroup for seminar-style discussion around a campfire.

Integral to the course is intentional exploration of place: side hikes to historical sites, pictographs, or high points along the river will be offered daily. We will also visit homesteads along the way, listen to historical talks from Salmon River residents, and explore the many facets of human and natural history of the region. We will discuss the sometimes uncomfortable dichotomy of modernity (manicured lawns, logging, mining, and jet boats) in an otherwise pristine and protected Wilderness river corridor.

An element of personal challenge is inherent to the course. You will be encouraged to step beyond the limits of comfort, both physically and intellectually/creatively. Course staff will be there to guide and support you as you move through this new landscape. Even if you’ve been down the Salmon River before, we’ll help you to experience it with new curiosity.

Individuals with disabilities are absolutely encouraged to apply and participate, as special accommodations are easily made.

This river trip, though not excessively strenuous (it’s quite luxurious, actually!), will require you to move over uneven ground, across rocks, and through water. We recommend that you engage in regular, moderate physical training / activity for at least the two months prior to your trip. Basic swimming skills, though not necessarily required, will help with your comfort on the river. If you have any health conditions or concerns, please let us know and we will help you determine how to best prepare for your trip.

PRE-TRIP ORIENTATION June 22, 2019 in Montana, Missoula, 4:30 – 6:00 pm

If you’re coming into Missoula from out of town, let us know and we’ll help you choose a comfy B&B, hotel, or hostel. You’ll have time after the pre-trip orientation to enjoy dinner in Missoula, pick up any last-minute gear items at the local outdoor shops, and get a good night’s rest before we depart early the next day.

FIELD EXPERIENCE June 23 – 28, 2019 on the Main Salmon River, Idaho

We’ll meet at Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures’ office at 6:00 am, packed and ready to go. A few hours on the bus will take us down the Bitterroot Valley, through North Fork, Idaho (where we’ll stop for huckleberry milkshakes, a restroom break, and any other last-minute provisions), and on toward Corn Creek, our put-in on the Salmon. That morning, you should dress comfortably and with warm layers for a potentially chilly mountain bus ride. When we get to the river you can change into your shorts and river gear and pack away puffy jackets and fleece. We’ll meet our guides, eat lunch while they pack the boats, and then head on downstream toward several days of exploring, writing, and sleeping under starry skies.

On the return, you should plan to leave Missoula the next day (June 29), since there’s no guarantee of when we will be back after our take-out on June 28.