Idaho • September 11-26, 2010

TRIP DESCRIPTION:
Strategize with Wild Gift leaders from several class years about the continuing success of their current projects. Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of one of America’s charter wild rivers at a low water stage. Optional in/out at Cache Bar on Sept. 20. Three spaces available. Choose to raft or inflatable kayak. Fitness level – moderate.

The goal of Wild Gift is to foster a life-long commitment to leadership that benefits humankind and the natural environment and to build an expanding network of leaders who provide a collective wisdom and are a resource for individual and collaborative leadership projects. To this end, we support the skill and well-being of the individual leader during and after the Wild Gift learning opportunity.

Near the end of their leadership action projects, Wild Gift recipients travel Idaho, the home of the Wild Gift organization. Reunited in the largest wilderness in the contiguous forty-eight states, Idaho’s Frank Church River of No Return wilderness, they present their project results to peers, alumni and investors during a seven-day synthesis trek. Current projects may be expanded and new collaborative projects spawned.

ITINERARY:
Saturday Sept, 11th: Arrive Sun Valley. Equipment shakedown and trip overview. Pack for 8 AM departure for trailhead.  BBQ at Bob and Sarah’s house 7-9 PM.

Sunday 12th:  Drive to Boundary Creek put-in on the Middle Fork.  Boat rigging, safety and
boating technique briefing. Optional hike to waterfall.

Monday 13th: Float 7 miles to Trail Flat Camp.  Hot springs here.

Tuesday 14th: Float 15 miles to Pistol Creek Camp.

Wednesday 15th:  Float to Marble Creek or Sunflower Hot Springs
camp. Pass Indian Creek backcountry air strip  - an entry and exit point.

Thursday 16th: Float 17 miles to Loon Creek Hot Springs.  Pass Morgan Creek air strip.

Friday 17th: Float 10 miles to Camas Creek Camp. 

Saturday18th: Float 15 miles to Survey Creek. Pass Flying B Ranch, last backcountry airstrip.

Sunday 19th:: Float 16 miles to Otter Bar Camp.  Main Salmon only boaters arrive Sun Valley;
drive to Cache Bar on the Salmon next day.

Monday 20th: Float 10 miles to Cache Bar take-out, Main Salmon River.  Some folks return to
Ketchum/fly home next day; some arrive for Main Salmon Float.  Float 5 miles to Corn Creek.

Tuesday 21st : Float 13 miles to Devil’s Teeth Rapid Camp.  Visit Legend Creek pictographs.

Wednesday 22nd : Float 11 miles to Poor Bar.  A hot springs camp

Thursday 23rd : Float 19 miles to Groundhog Bar Camp.

Friday 24th : Float  24 miles to Dry Bar Camp. 

Saturday 25th : Float 8 miles to Vinegar Creek take-out.  Long drive back to Ketchum via
Riggins, McCall, Banks, Lowman and Stanley. 

Sunday 26th.   Debrief / return home.

TRIP LEADERS:

Heather Lukcas, Wild Gift Class of 2003

Heather has infused the passion of the Wild Gift in her research, guiding, and mentoring. The year following her trek, she led a group of MIT engineering and business graduate students to the Dominican Republic, partnering with local non-government organizations to study small scale appropriate drinking water treatment technology. She also applied for, was accepted into, and has been working toward a PhD in Stanford University's Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. Heather's research projects have included studying the sustainability of rural water supply systems in Bolivia, and most recently, her dissertation focuses on grassroots community groups working to restore and protect rivers and streams in Appalachia.  Her love for rivers and sharing this love with others has spurred her to continue to paddle and guide whitewater rivers - with friends, commercial clients, and to volunteer on the river with non-profits such as the Wild Gift. She has had the opportunity to float the Middle Fork of the Salmon with Wild Gift these past three years, guide commercially on occasion in California and West Virginia including educational trips with state legislators, and row the Grand Canyon.

Bob Jonas, Wild Gift Founder and Executive Director

Bob is a resident and native of the Wood River Valley in central Idaho.  He has degrees in wildlife biology and education.  He has worked as a fishery biologist in Alaska and Greenland; as a wilderness ranger and middle school teacher in Idaho.  At 68, Bob has explored a lot of wild Idaho and Alaska, his favorite country.  He’s shared many trails with new and old friends as an outfitter and guide who founded Sun Valley Trekking Company and Wild Gift.   His trip leader qualifications include alpine, nordic and backcountry ski and avalanche certifications plus Wilderness First Responder.  To explore remote, off-trail wild country in all seasons he has become a competent trekker comfortable on all land terrains, snow/glaciers, river systems and oceans as a backcountry skier, backpacker, rafter and kayaker.   Bob has explored, by inflatable kayak or raft, the length of the South and East forks of the Owyhee River, its main stem to the Owyhee Reservoir and the Deep Creek drainage.   Hiked its side canyons and rims.  Hunted in the high country.  Has done over a dozen spring and autumn trips from a week to three weeks duration in all weather conditions from snow to heat. 

The following Wild Gift alumni are planning to participate in the 2010 Middle Fork float:

Heather Lukacs, Class of 2003 »
Pete Land, Class of 2003 »
Lauren Baumann, Class of 2007 »
Jessica Bell, Class of 2007 »
Cody Hopkins, Class of 2008 »
Erica Bertucci, Class of 2010 »
Chris Howell, Class of 2010 »
David Sone, Class of 2010 »