Posts Tagged Idaho Rafting

Stanley, Idaho

Stanley, Idaho

Home to Sawtooth Adventure Company.   Located in the Sawtooth Valley in central Idaho and sits at 6,250 ft elevation.  Stanley, Idaho is surrounded by the Sawtooth Mountains, The Frank Church Wilderness and White Cloud Mountains. Idaho’s famous Salmon River of No Return flows past Stanley from its origin 30 miles up stream, on its 900 mile journey to the Pacific Ocean.

Stanley, Idaho summer weather

Stanley, Idaho has a reputation as the “coldest place in the lower 48”. While winters can be brutally cold, it gets its reputation for its cold summer mornings. It is not uncommon for Stanley to dip into the lower 30’s and upper 20’s at any point during the summer months.  The fluctuation of temperature between 6am and 11AM can easily swings 60 degrees.  This is due to the majority of land surrounding Stanley is above 9000 ft.  The cold air pours into the valley in the mornings and a temperature inversion sets hold until the sun warms the valley floor . Stanley sits at the bottom of the Sawtooth Valley where all that cold air pools. 

 

SAC + Middle Fork of the Salmon = Awesome!

 

 Sawtooth Adventure Company offering Middle Fork of the Salmon trips in 2013

A picture is worth a thousand words…

Its official, pending Forest Service and Idaho Licensing Board approval, Sawtooth Adventure Company and Rocky Mountain River Tours are joining forces to continue Rocky’s 35 year tradition on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon.  Roni, Maya and I are ecstatic to offer the  #1 River Trip in America to our SAC friends,  family, and clientele.  Imagine 100 miles of pristine wilderness, world class rapids, hot springs galore, amazing food and ridiculously good fly fishing!

 

Wow…lots of big and exciting changes are happening in 2013. One of the most exciting, the addition of RMRT’s guides to our crew.   The RMRT crew has set the standard for Idaho guides and we can’t wait to  learn their Middle Fork secrets and stories.    Equally as exciting…after 30 years  Rocky Mountain River Tours will be returning to Idaho’s famous Salmon River of No Return!

Beginning this spring,  our Family Rafting Trips on Idaho’s Wild & Scenic Salmon River will be offered by Rocky Mountain River Tours and operated out of our New Wilderness River Headquarters in Salmon, Idaho.  We cannot wait to inject Rocky’s 35 years experience and world-renowned Dutch Oven cuisine to our increasingly popular  family rafting vacations!

Sawtooth Adventure Company will continue to offer the best in 1-Day Rafting, Kayaking, Mountain Biking & Fly Fishing for Redfish Lake Lodge, Stanley, and Sun Valley Idaho visitors.  FYI…SAC received TripAdvisor.com’s highest ranking of excellence in 2012 !

Exciting things are happening daily.  Stay in touch!

Sawtooth Adventure Co. Facebook                        Sawtooth Adventure Co. Twitter

Rocky Mountain River Tours Facebook               Rocky Mountain Twitter

As always, give Jared a call at 1-866-774-4644 for more details.

Happy Holidays from the SAC family

Happy Holidays From Your River Family

Hard to believe that 2012 is all but in the books!  2013 will celebrate Sawtooth Adventure Company’s 13th season on the Salmon River.   Every summer we get the opportunity to share this amazing corner of our country and  expand our river family.  Thank you, we are extremely grateful.  We wish you all Healthy & Happy New Year!

 

This past September, during Andy and Vanessa’s (two SAC guides) wedding we were able to gather more past SAC employees than at any point in history. Picture Proof that SAC guides are the best!

Middle Fork of the Salmon River- 2012 SAC Employee Training Trip

Sawtooth Adventure Co’s annual training trip is a tradition.  Every spring the SAC crew enters the lottery to pick up an early season middle fork permit.  Considering SAC operates day trips on the Upper Salmon and the Main Salmon wilderness section, people ask why the Middle Fork?   The MF is the perfect mix of technical rapids (similar to the Upper Salmon) and the components of a  multi-day Idaho wilderness river trip like our Main Salmon Adventure.   Not to mention tons of hot-springs and  the opportunity to explore our own backyard.

Middle Fork of the Salmon
Guide Training on the Middle Fork of the Salmon

Well trained, quality guides make all the difference .    SAC’s  training trip not only helps the crew sharpen their whitewater skills,  but it is also a 5-day  social experiment.   There is not a better way to get to know your co-workers than on a wilderness river in Idaho.    SAC’s new employee orientation occurs around a campfire while we hold our HR  and  marketing meetings between rapids on a raft.  Senior guide staff has the opportunity to shape the rookie guides, while constantly learning tricks of the trade from each other.  Guides refresh their swift-water rescue, wilderness medicine and culinary expertise in the middle of the largest wilderness in the US.  The crew quickly gets to know one another on a personal level,  that only  5-days on a river can offer.  The teamwork and camaraderie gained through this experience benefits SAC every day, all summer long.  Great guide teams are the #1 ingredient for great adventures!

Middle Fork of the Salmon
Middle Fork of the Salmon

Stanley, Idaho- The Ultimate Family Destination

Lately I find myself explaining to potential clients across the globe why Stanley, Idaho is such a great family destination.

First, in an effort to offer full transparency… I not only make my lively hood catering to family’s adventurous desires, but I am also the Stanley Chamber of Commerce President. So if you are wondering if I am biased? Well… Yes, but I can also validate my opinion.

Like many of my clients I am always looking to exceed last years family vacation. To my wife’s dismay, I am a 34 year old kid. I love to play outside and can rival any 12 year old’s appetite for fun and adventure. I appreciate the common comforts, but also seek unique off-the-beaten-path locals that host a variety recreational opportunities, all while being safe and relaxing. I love finding a place that should be the next Jackson Hole or Moab… But is lucky enough to be overlooked by the development monster.

Stanley is a very unique place. It is like no other place in the world with its amazing rivers, endless trails, hundreds of mountain lakes and a variety of natural hot springs. No other town can boast such a magical confluence of the Sawtooth Mountains (American Alps) and the Salmon River of No return (longest free flowing river in the US) all smack dab in the middle of the largest wilderness in the United States.

Families can raft the Salmon, hike the Sawtooths, explore Redfish Lake, bike smooth singletrack, ride a horse through the wilderness, fish for trout and soak in natural hotsprings. All while enjoying a variety historic lodges, mountain ranches, riverside cabins, restaurants and shops.

Give us a call if you need help planning a vacation in this amazing valley. 1.866.774.4644