And quit calling me viener schnitzel- I was runnin' the Death Fork of Gnar Creek back when you were shittin' yer britches on the Pussamaskomish, or whatever you call your beginner run out here. Ha!

Thanks! I'll check that out. Drop a line if you want to join up for a trip sometime.

Chris,

Glad you enjoyed the trip -- too bad the weather wasn't a bit better for you.  Agree with ya re the nature of the whitewater -- try the Imnaha canyon or Joseph Creek for a bit more action.  I think the Imnaha has been cat boated, so it might be raftable too.

Might be a window on Joseph here in the next week or so, if anyone's looking.

The landowner issue on JC isn't too horrible.  The beta on AW is reliable, and you either want to put in carefully using the public access and a low profile, or contact the landowner and be polite.  We've built a pretty good relationship there. The run is worth the access hassles. 

Was on the Jarbidge Bruneau one year on a 4 day run at 500cfs.  Two dudes dropped all 70 miles in wildwater boats in a day.  Impressive.  Less work than the 37 miles from China Bar to Heller bar on the Lower Main Salmon in a day though lol

Early season MFS: It can be done, and is often done.  Hit up the idahowhitewater group on yahoogroups.  You can snowmobile in and launch at boundary, or you can tackle the upper section by launching on Marsh Creek.  It's usually cold, fast, and high.  Haven't done it, but did a preseason Selway that was an excellent trip.

Illinois is an obvious candidate for a good ww trip to bomb in a day.

Wow, that's an amazing offer, thanks Chris.  I'd love to make it, but I think I've been out of the office a bit much the last couple of weeks to pull that off.  Never managed to make it down the MFS -- I'll look forward to hearing about your trip. 

The Illinois is in Southern Oregon.  It's a somewhat short trip, ~40 miles.  It's a tributary of the Rogue, which is a III multiday staple which was made class III by dynamiting all the rapids 60 years ago with the FS' blessing.  The Illinois traverses a roadless wilderness of amazing biodiversity,  and hasn't been dynamited to hell.  Tons of IV rapids, and with water it's a IV-V raft trip.  At lower flows it's still a solid IV run with a couple of tougher spots.  We're right at the end of it's normal season now.  One of my favorite whitewater trips anywhere.

Enjoy the MF -- I assume you're going in on Marsh Creek?  There's several spots with wood right now.  the Idahowhitewater yahoo list has the most up to date info on Marsh Creek wood, often updated via sat phone calls from trips still on the water. 

man I wish I could join.  have a great trip!