Wednesday, November 7th 2001
Idaho River Sports at 7 pm
American Whitewater Presentation
Major Tim Kelley, Board Member of American Whitewater (AW) will speak about AW national accident database, the statistical analysis AW has done on the reported accidents and discuss the accident investigations and the reports themselves. Also, new safety initiatives AW is working on or considering will be discussed. Friday, November 30 2001
Esther Simplot Performing Arts Center, 6-10 pm
7th Annual Auction for the Rivers
Idaho Rivers United¹s biggest annual fundraiser, boats from AIRE, kayaks, tons of great gear, artwork, paintings, christmas shopping. Finger food and drinks served.

 Monday, December 3rd 2001
Idaho River Sports at 7 pm
Annual IWA Christmas Party, Gift Exchange, and Tatshenshini slide show.
Please bring a gift to put under the tree.

January 9th, 2002: Vince Thompson presents the Idaho Whitewater Page on the World Wide Web (Tentative).
February 6th, 2002 - Dutch Oven dinner Location TBA. Snow Pack?
March 6th, 2002 - Open
April 3rd, 2002 - Annual Meeting at AIRE, board elections
May 4th, 2002 - Annual Used equipment sale in Hyde Park

Eulogy for an Old Friend

It seems like no one but me cares about the demise of Staircase Rapid. Specifically, I believe it is amazing that we've witnessed in just a couple years some major geologic/hydrologic events on the Payette River. I'm of the (somewhat learned) opinion than both catastrophic and gradual geology have formed our river landscapes, and we're lucky to observe in our lifetimes some of the former on the Payette.

I'm referring to the 1997 debris flows that radically altered Bronco Billy and Slalom rapids and the event earlier this month that covered Staircase. Obviously this is how these rapids were formed in the first place.

I would suspect we're witnessing somewhere between 50 and 500 year events. Fortunately, in 1997 the Slalom blowout did not block the river to the point it covered the highway and it was left to its natural conclusion... which has made it the new crux of the "Staircase Run". At medium to high water, we've affectionately coined the name "33 1/3" to the big hole just past the new "flake" rock...since about 1 in 3 boats meets some form of carnage there. "Flips and Swims" could also work! Bronco Billy on the other hand did flood the highway, and I can personally attest it would have been one mean S.O.B if left in its natural state. But alas, we can only traverse much of this great state thanks to roads through the canyons, and the highway department had little choice but to do major channel alteration to open the obstruction...the road bed was 10 feet under water! Left to its own, however, and it would have been the biggest drop on the SF Payette after Big Falls.

So now we have the Staircase blowout. The rapid as we knew and loved it is gone. Period. That's acceptable, knowing it was a natural phenomenon that buried it. Will it be reincarnated? Of course, the gradient is still there. It would unbury itself from the smothering muds and gravels with the first winter flood or spring freshet, maybe leaving our old friends and adversaries such as Whale Rock, Elephant Rock, Fin Rock and Culvert Hole...albeit rearranged perhaps...and probably a fresh gaggle of their newfound compatriots. Who knows what new geologic enigmas await our sorry ranks of misguided rafts, cats, and test probes..er kayaks?! I can already hear the new true stories of adventure and mayhem...otherwise referred to as river lies. Given the chance, who knows what Ma Nature will give us?

 But sadly, the Idaho Department of Transportation has a different interpretation of nature¹s scheme. As I write this, there are two large trackhoe excavators in the river eating their way upstream through the debris pile in order to open the channel and prevent the road from being inundated when the flows pick up. Is this really necessary? I don't know, but I suspect little engineering and science went into the decision. Time for study is not a friend when it comes to securing emergency federal money.

From what I've seen of the blockage, and other personal reports, most of the material that made it to the river was fairly small to medium in size. The truck size boulders only made it to the roadside turnout; these have been drilled, exploded, and hauled off. So although the river was blocked off for a short while, the channel would most likely be quickly re-eroded as the water comes up next spring. This is not going to happen. The trackhoes are working their way upstream and removing mud and boulders, either by excavation or by drilling and blasting. New rocks, old rocks, who knows? Perhaps its time to go up there and grab a blasted bit of Whale Rock to frame and mount on your wall? You can tell your grandchildren about your old friend some day.

 Please take the time and effort to call the Idaho Transportation Department¹s supervisor for the project, John Whipple at 334-8944 and let him know you care about your old friend and are watching closely!

Middle Fork of the Salmon 
Blocked by Log

The portage will occur on the left and run about 200 yards. Rafts with any kind of load would want to think long and hard about this portage. Some folks doing IK trips reported knee deep mud.

 The Middle Fork management is guided by Wilderness guidelines. Debris is not removed and is considered part of the challenge and experience included in the wilderness trip. It is also critical fishery habitat. In the past the Forest Service has relied on Mother Nature to remove channel obstacles and for the most part she has come through. They will let high water run its course next spring and see where the log ends up.

 Photo's of the log blocking the Middle Fork of the Salmon can be seen on the Vince¹s Idaho Whitewater Page

Alaska Trip Produces Survivors

The trip was 140 river miles over 10 days. Mostly flat water, but highlighted by the 12 mile canyon stretch of continuous big class III water. Fantastic Scenery. Part of the crew took the Alaskan ferry Malasapina and a van full of gear up to the jumping off point of Haines. We hear that was a trip in itself. Important observations: when it rains, a vestibule on the tent is really important and a watch to tell time in the land of the midnight sun is recommended. The trip will be the subject of a talk this winter and a story an upcoming edition of Currently.

"Presidents Pitch"

Many of you travel to Idaho remote places to float the rivers or explore the area I would urge you read up on meth and meth labs so you can recognize a potential lab or waste dump if you should encounter either. Most of us are used to seeing waste material of various shapes and sizes on the side of the river from time to time. The difference with this stuff is that the containers will be full, there may be glass jars full of milky or milk-red material, old coffee filters with a pink residue and there may be a solvent smell like acetone or paint thinner in the air

Exposure to high levels of contaminants found in meth labs or their waste over a short period of time may cause shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, dizziness, lack of coordination, tissue irritation, contact burns, and possibly even death. Less severe symptoms, including headache, nausea, and fatigue may occur in people who are exposed to lower levels. Less serious symptoms will usually disappear after several hours away from the chemicals.

Who to call? To report a suspected lab, call Idaho State Police (ISP) at 208-884-7120 or the ISP Investigation office in your area. For general questions and concerns about the health effects of meth labs, call Idaho Division of Health at 208-334-6584 or visit the web site at http://www.state.id.us/dhw/behs/meth_gen_info.htm. For questions about outdoor contamination and cleanup, call Idaho Department of Environmental Quality at 208-373-0502.

-Mike Cooper

Board Activities

Long time editor and friend Madonna Lengerich is recovering from a major surgery. Since she¹ll be off work for a long time, calls and visits are welcome. She was sent flowers and a card on behalf of all IWA members.

Kudos to Sandy Thomas

Columns we’ll run on a if there is an interest in ‘em:
For Sale
I Want/Need
Guess What I Found (yes, river booty)
Did You See (yes, some people rip others off)
I need/have a ride (to/from)
See also:  Letters to the Editor
And, yes, your river trip articles, recipes, observations, can all be published…just send ‘em in
to the new e-mail  address or to the editor:
mailto:idahowhitewater@hotmail.com or
lattaslaw@home.com