"I am not a camper in any sense of the word… but to drift along in this fashion… passing sandy beaches and on either side, the sharply creased mountain sides, fragrant with vanilla-scented ponderosa pines, was completely tranquilizing....It was true that the food was delicious, the amount of work expected from us nonexistent, the accommodations almost luxurious, the scenery unbelievable...."
Tama Janowitz - Bon Appetit Magazine
"White water and red wines are the stars of two expeditions... from Idaho's Salmon River Outfitters. Spend days shooting the rapids and nights sampling West Coast vintages with dinner."
Food and Wine Magazine |
Appellation – January/February 1999
Imagine a topnotch gourmet dinner served in the heart of pristine wilderness, the sun’s last rays flickering off towering canyon walls, fine white sand under your toes, and the ever-present melody of a fast-flowing river underscoring it all.
Such a fantasy is played out every summer, and the food and wine are only part of the total adventure – to navigate an 80-mile-long stretch of central Idaho’s Salmon River.
Dished up by Salmon River Outfitters, a rafting company with a well-earned reputation for high quality, the six days on the river revolve around turbulent rapids and tranquil mealtimes, both of which are ultimately satisfying.
The guides for SRO know the river current by current and share fascinating stories about geological phenomena, the pioneers who settled the canyon, and the intricacies of upcoming rapids.
Rapids on this part of the Salmon are typically fun white-knucklers, but not the death-defying type. The stretches between rapids afford plenty of opportunities for sun-soaking, swimming, wildlife sighting (eagles, osprey, ducks, otters, Bighorn sheep and bear), hiking to parts scenic and historical, hot springs bathing, and just plain sitting still and staring at the scenery.
That the group remains one big happy family has a lot to do with the guides, who treat everyone with respect and courtesy without overdoing it. No one is indulged, everyone is pampered. All the equipment is provided, including dome tents, camp chairs and everything for dining and sleeping. And the food …
Such an incomparable experience might best be described as a six-day moveable feast.
|
