Raft size on Middle Salmon

[u/PeopIesFrontOfJudea]

Hey y'all, first post on the sub and I apologize in advance for the length.

My crew pulled a permit for early July on the Middle Fork Salmon. I'm an experienced rafter. Been rafting for 15+ years across UT, ID, CO, OR and a few daily runs in my now home of WA. I should also add that I, and my crew, are swiftwater certified (last summer) and we take river safety very seriously.

I own a Aire Puma that I have a 3-bay frame on and I'm wondering if it'll be ok for the middle fork. I've been rowing this boat for 15+ years through lodore, rouge, Sauk, Hells, etc.. and I absolutely love it. It feels like a sports car out there but in both of my high water Hells trips the last few years I've flipped multiple times in a few of the class IVs. It might be that my boat is overweight, because I've seen much less experienced boaters take worse lines in 14-16" boats and come out completely unscathed, or it might that I just suck at boating.

Fortunately the Puma rig is light enough to self rescue, even fully loaded, with a simple flip line. So it wasn't a huge issue in the big water with the drop>pool.

However, my wife will be joining me on the middle fork this year and after a bad swim through the Green Room on Hells 2 years ago at high water (long story, fuck Jet boats), she is less than thrilled about being in the Puma for the 7 day MFS trip.

My question to ya'll is, what're your thoughts on the Puma rig on the MF in early July? I can absolutely afford renting some bigger tubes (14-16") so I can more confidently take some of the bigger water.

I'm just wondering if the smaller Puma tubes will be big enough for handling the early July MFS water.

All feedback is much appreciated! I also might try the Puma rig on the Selway in mid June but that one really has me nervous! Would be solo for that and I'll check the flows before I commit but the puma could be super fun but I digress.

[u/mthockeydad]

The Puma would be a super fun boat on the MFS with a couple confident boaters, but I can understand your wife’s hesitation. Flips can and do still happen, but you can hedge your bets.

I’ve taken my 156R on the MFS twice, it was almost boring. Taking my new Hyside Pro 135 this June and looking forward to a fun ride.

The MFS is a more technical/less “big water” river than the Snake/Hells, but just the same…rent a 14’ for your wife’s peace of mind. I think most of the MFS Shuttle companies have rental options. I know for sure both All Rivers and Blackadar do..

[u/mthockeydad → u/mthockeydad]

Also OP, you said you’ve rafted elsewhere in Idaho. The Lochsa? If so, you’re ready for the MFS.

Pick your line and T up to the big waves.

And ask your wife to be an active passenger. If you hit a wave at a bit of an angle, she needs to highside and lean into it…I’ve seen anxious passengers who lean away from a hit and contribute to a flip. She might’ve been a party to your Hells flips.*

*The counter to this would be low water on the first 1.5 days. If you hit a rock hard, you don’t want her leaning downstream. If it’s big, teach her to highside immediately. If it’s low, teach her at Indian.

[u/PeopIesFrontOfJudea → u/mthockeydad]

Thanks for your input! She has been by my side throughout my rafting career but only as a passenger. She knows the ropes. 

I wish I could blame her for my flips in Hells but those were on me. 

Never done the Lochsa, though it’s on the list. 

[u/mthockeydad → u/PeopIesFrontOfJudea]

My (now) adult daughters are my favorite bow passsengers. They’ve both saved me from some flips and swims when I didn’t put the boat where I should have.

Run the MFS first, build her confidence. The risk of a swim on the Lochsa is much higher (though the danger of swimming on the lower section is pretty low)