Middle Fork Salmon paddler beta with lots of nerdy details: This was my fourth visit to the MFS and my second in a ducky. Level started in the lower 3ft and ended in the upper 2ft range, which equals big water class III perfection. Rapids were comparable to the named rapids in the New River Gorge when it is around 1 ft. We put in at Indian Creek, which means we skipped the top section. That also meant we missed some rapids that might have been more similar to NRG Fayette Station in terms of difficulty. For the rest, it was wide, busy beautiful lines. Big holes, but bigger lines to miss them, and the best wave trains over and over. A few technical moves that were harder for the rafts than the small boats. Some of the bigger rapids were III-IV, but I don't think anything crept into the IV range. The cleanest, clearest water quality, snowmelt cold at first, though towards the bottom of the run we were able to swim/hang out in the river at camp. Drysuit or drytop were necessary in the kayaks.
I paddled the Canyons ducky (inflatable kayak). Greg from Canyons worked with the owner of Maravia to design these for the MFS. It has high rocker in the bow, which makes it a very dry ride. I haven't paddled other ducks in big water to compare, but I think this design is a great big water duck that can accomodate different sized paddlers. If I had my own I might choose a smaller version but keep the high rocker. I should have brought my own paddle, because immediately the battle axe NRS ducky paddles started making my elbow tendonitis flare up. I rode the front seat of the oar rigs on the longer days, which I was surprised to find was a great treat. I was able to observe my surroundings and really be in the moment, instead of focusing on lines. Oh yeah it's a very wet ride through big rapids as well. I rode an oar rig through the Tappan series and another for some of the stuff below Hancock including Cramer. I have video I will post later. I could have run Fred's gear on some of the days; he brought his medium Dagger Code and his sprayskirt would have fit me. But I decided not to; it is dangerous demoing boats (dangerous to wallet). Big water fun in the duck on so many rapids including Weber, Rubber, and Hancock. Dreaming of them right now but had to return to work to pay for all this fun.
I have now had two big water runs and two low water runs of the MFS; one run in a Wave Sport EZ, one in a Shredder, one in the ducky and one in the duck/oar rigs. It did make me think about taking a hard boat next time though. I think the level this past week was my favorite. Proud of my SE boater peeps, they styled it.
GEAR NOTES:
My gear: Sweet Protection Rocker helmet, one NRS hydrosilk shirt I wore every day, IR thick skin shirt I only wore the first day in the duck, Kokatat Session semi-dry top, NRS capri pants (will bring longer leggings next time), Melgarita leggings in the drysuit, Astral PFD sandals - highly recommend and on sale right now on Astral's website 06-27-24.
GEAR NOTES:
My gear: Sweet Protection Rocker helmet, one NRS hydrosilk shirt I wore every day, IR thick skin shirt I only wore the first day in the duck, Kokatat Session semi-dry top, NRS capri pants (will bring longer leggings next time), Melgarita leggings in the drysuit, Astral PFD sandals - highly recommend and on sale right now on Astral's website 06-27-24.
Kokatat Icon drysuit w men's zip, Freshette funnel, Astral Hiyak booties, brand new NRS Ninja Orbit PFD which I will review later after some runs in the hard boat, but it was great for this trip.
For raft/ducky guests Canyons will provide PFDs but they are big rafting style and I knew they would annoy me, so I brought my own. They also provide NRS helmets to raft/ducky customers, which were OK and made me think I could have left my helmet instead of bringing it. Just FYI for packing considerations.
I wore the drysuit in the duck on the big water end of the trip and was glad to be in it. I only wore the semi-dry top on the oar rigs. In 2021 it was so hot I didn't wear the semi-dry top in the duck but noted that if I was in a hardshell kayak I would have. We didn't bring drysuits on the trip in 2021.
Gear I wished I had:
Spray on sunscreen, should have bought in Boise and didn't so I used Helen Hays'. I owe her a cocktail. Buff or similar face sun protection for sitting on the oar rig.
Small drybag I could keep nearby. We were given the big bag and a smaller bag to use on the trip but a personal size drybag like I use in my boats at home would have been handy.
Item I brought that was useful:
Item I brought that was useful:
My own camp chair. I was worried that Canyons would have the wooden green chairs again which frankly suck. They did not have the green chairs but said they were in use on another trip, so be aware (beware?). I brought this little chair which worked out great to have at my campsite: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RSBD32Z/?th=1
I found out about this chair from this review: https://youtu.be/rhIsUl08oI8?si=yy4dgvkvpc6OQXwp
Another useful item - changing robe. I used it to change, as a towel, and as a pillow! Available here: https://www.pd-performancedesigns.com/changingrobes.aspx
Important items! Sun hat and sun glasses. I brought two pair of sunglasses because I had only one pair in 2018 and lost a lens, and had to borrow Christine's spare pair.
Sun screen - use it or you will be cooked! Make sure it's not expired. Some camping areas do not have shade.
A few plastic grocery bags to put wet gear or dirty shoes in when you have to pack to go to the next site. Most wet items dried out overnight, but just in case.
Some zip lock bags. Wet wipes to clean up. Lotion for dry skin. Chap stick for dry lips.
