Trip report by Ryan Holter
Well . . .the trip to the Salmon's Middle Fork was interesting, and yet I'm still attempting to decipher if it was enjoyable. Unfortunately, I was just recovering from a nasty illness, which I had endured for no less than 10 days before the trip. (I had lost 12 pounds in less than two weeks) So, I was still fighting those symptoms a couple days at the trailhead. On the second day, we shouldered our 50-plus pound packs (winter gear, snowshoes, and 8 days of food) and hit the middle fork approximately 18 miles from Stanley, Idaho.
Approximately six miles in, we started postholing through the spring snow, despite having snowshoes. The days in late May were 45-55 degrees and raining; the nights of course were snow-filled. Meanwhile I had continued to experience symptoms similar to giardia. We departed the middle fork and visited a local hot spring.
Contemplating even deeper snow levels in the backcountry, we chose to visit Hell's Canyon at an obviously lower altitude. (Oddly, we were forewarned of the snow conditions in the backcountry as we were planning this trip and still decided to "go for it," believing that we would have a fallback plan in Hell's Canyon.) Outside of Riggins, approximately 15 miles back on the forest service road, we met its closure (due to snow levels) at the gate. We were told that the canyon was currently inaccessible via the Oregon side as well.
Although unpacified, we settled on a couple day hikes in the area, visited another hot springs outside of Donnelly, and called it quits three days early. We had driven 400 miles around the state, chatted with the outfitters, and wasted time in Boise trying to find a backcountry route. Well, it was enjoyable meeting my old friend. Nevertheless, for our future planning, we will definitely adhere to the seasons. I'm sure the Middle Fork is an enjoyable backcountry outing in, say, August?
Note: This is backcountry wilderness travel. Any trail can become very dangerous in winter conditions. You are responsible for informing yourself of the hazards and taking the necessary precautions. Please read Terms of Use.