Adventures in Rafting

We spent Labor Day weekend rafting and camping on the Lower Salmon river. It was our best trip yet with plenty of good water and weather.

Some of the highlights were having great family and friends with us, camping under the stars, (intentional) rapid swimming, rock jumping, fun camp spots, great food, perfect weather and lots and lots of swimming.

It is one of those trips where you don't want it to end as soon as it does. 

Thanks everyone for a great trip!

Maren in the drivers seat

Campground on the Snake River

Bruce cleaning up at camp.

We had the perfect rapid for swimming at our first night's camp.  Almost everyone jumped in from the oldest (Grandma) to the youngest (Neil). Hannah and Paige did a great job.   Jake and Megan were the biggest fishes and really had fun.

Paige and Hannah loved rock jumping into the Snake River on our third night.

Bruce & family, Kelli & Brandon rowing the spicy tuna.

Keith, Jenny, Drew, Neil & Grandma on the river.  We never did come up with a name as good as spicy tuna for our boat or Keith's boat.  We were referred too as the refugee boat at times because of the number of people.  But Paige insists that that name is not good enough for our boat so we will continue to search for the perfect name. 

Grandma's, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and good friends.  Priceless!

Aren't they cute?  It doesn't look like Neil is quite ready for bed, does it?

Cousin Natalie was a favorite addition to the trip this year.

Next year Izzy will be old enough to go with us and we can have a complete family picture.

The Clark Fork

A great time was had by all as we spent last weekend rafting and camping with some of my family, most of Kirk's family and our good friends, the Riddles, on the Clark Fork river northwest of Missoula, Montana. Kirk guided as many trips as we could fit into two and a half days. The adults and kids all got their share of whitewater. The water was perfect, the weather gave us warm days and cool nights, the camping was convenient and perfect for a big group, and the food was delicious. Yes, there are 21 children and adults - a record for our large raft. A great time was had by all as the little kids rode the 'rapids' and swam down a gentle section of the river. Giggles were in abundance. The older boys had a great time on the smaller paddle boat with Aunt Kelli guiding. Jaxs was the only one lucky enough to get a piggy back ride on the kayak thanks to Aunt Jenny. I loved to see my kids having so much fun with cousins from the Davidson side and the Johnson side as well as a few Riddles mixed in. Pictured: Hannah, Megan Riddle, Halli Whitby, Paige, Natalie Johnson, Katie Riddle.

Lots of the kids became fast friends over the weekend. Sadie and Katie didn't seem to care that they had never met before.

Tent camping with cousin Natalie was heaven for Paige and Hannah.

I loved being with my brothers, sister and Kirk's siblings and parents. I feel lucky that we all get along so well and have so many neat people in our family. I can't wait for next year's 2nd annual Clark Fork Rafting adventure!