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pre-trip info
Thank you for choosing Middle
Fork River Tours as your host to the most pristine wilderness
river in the country. We are thrilled to have you aboard and
hope the following information will be helpful as you plan for
your adventure vacation with us. Please do not hesitate to contact
us with any questions. We are happy to help in any way with travel
logistics or extended Idaho vacation plans. |
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where and when
We start our trips from
Stanley, Idaho, located approximately 135 miles east of Boise
via Highway 21, and 60 miles north of Sun Valley via Highway
75. Please contact the Mountain Village Lodge in
Stanley for overnight accommodations before and after the trip.
Their phone number is 1-800-843-5475 or visit them online at www.mountainvillage.com.
You will need room reservations for the night before your scheduled
launch and also for the night that we get off of the river.
Make your reservations as soon as possible as the Mountain
Village Lodge fills up quickly for the summer season. Remember
to tell them you are floating with Middle Fork River Tours
.
We
will greet you for a pre-trip orientation meeting at 8PM
the evening before your scheduled launch behind the Mountain
Village Lodge office at the picnic tables. At this time we will
give you the waterproof duffel bags, help you pack, and go over
our low-impact camping routine.
We will leave Stanley at 8AM the
morning of the launch and take a bus to the river put-in
at Boundary Creek. Transportation will be provided back to Stanley
after the trip, arriving at the Mountain Village Lodge
between 5:30 and 6:30 PM on the last day. |
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water levels
Certain water levels require
us to fly to the Indian Creek Airstrip to launch. Indian Creek
is inside of the wilderness area and has no road access. If we
have to fly in to launch, there will be an additional charge
of $70 per person for the flight. |
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getting to Stanley, Idaho
Most folks fly
into Boise and then either rent a car or take an air taxi flight
to Stanley. United, Delta, Northwest, Alaska , Southwest, American
West, Horizon, Frontier, and Sky West are the carriers that service
Boise.
Renting a car
It is
a 3+ hour drive from Boise to Stanley via
Highway 21. The drive is very scenic and winds through the
Boise National Forest and over high mountain passes. There is
no car rental agency with a drop system in Stanley .
The best rates we have found are with National 800-227-7368
/ www.nationalcar.com,
Thrifty 800-367-2277 / www.thrifty.com,
or Budget 800-527-0700 / www.drivebudget.com.
If you have a large party, you can rent or charter a van through
Sun Valley Express 877-622-8267.
Air Taxi Flight
Salmon Air Taxi offers flights
from Boise to/from Stanley and Salmon. They have a desk at the
Boise airport. It is a 40 minute flight and is the fastest and
most convenient way to and from Stanley . Flight cost per
person is about $200 round trip. You would also have the
option to fly out of Salmon Idaho after the trip.
This will save you some time on the bus. Please ask us about
the Salmon to Boise option. You can contact
Salmon Air Taxi at 800-448-3413 / www.salmonair.com.
If
you fly into Stanley, the Mountain Village Lodge has a courtesy
van that will pick you up at the airport. Just ask the pilot
to give them a call.
If you drive to Stanley
, you will be able to park your car at the Mountain Village
Lodge at no charge.
We have a secure, locked storage room at the
Mountain Village Lodge for luggage and other items that you
do not want to take on the river. |
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menu
Our river menu is designed to include
the highest quality foods. We strive to make the meals innovative
and delicious. All recipes are freshly prepared on the river
and our kitchen is literally a traveling bistro. The menu ranges
from traditional western to European gourmet cuisine. Although
we prepare for the hearty eater —because, hey, you’re
on vacation— there are always enough choices so that vegetarian
and low-fat dieters can also enjoy satisfying and healthy meals.
If you have specific dietary needs or food allergies, please
be sure to let us know.
A selection of upscale wines will be served with
dinner and a light cocktail bar is provided for happy hour.
Our bar consists of Bourbon, Gin, and Vodka with appropriate
mixers. Please feel free to bring your favorite wine or liquor
to enjoy during the trip. Pop, beer, and juice are also provided—we budget 2-to-3 cans of pop or beer per person each day. If
you will be drinking more than this amount, please bring along
more to suit your needs. Pop, beer, wine, and liquor can be purchased
in Stanley before the trip. However please note that the Idaho
State liquor store in Stanley is closed on Sunday. |
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clothing
Weather conditions in the Middle
Fork canyon can change rapidly. Being prepared will ensure your
comfort no matter what the weather conditions (it has snowed
on us in August!). We provide raingear if you don’t have
your own, but the proper layering of clothing under the raingear
is essential. Although cotton is great on a hot day, it is nonfunctional
on a cold, wet day. When cotton clothing gets wet, it stays wet
and will pull the warmth right out of you. Synthetic thermal
long underwear and pile fleece garments are wonderful for the
river — they wick moisture away from your skin, helping
to keep you warm, even when wet, and the material dries very
fast. We strongly recommend that you have at least one pair of
mid-weight, synthetic, thermal underwear, top & bottoms,
and either a wool sweater or pile fleece jacket for your trip.
If you live in a warm climate and cannot find these items locally,
you can go on-line to www.rivertraveler.com and
find clothing made for the river adventures. There is also the
Riverwear store in Stanley that stocks this clothing for summer
floaters. |
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fishing
The Middle Fork is renowned for
it’s
westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout fishing. Please bring rods
in a hard case to prevent breakage while in the rafts. You will
need to pick up an Idaho fishing license the evening before the
trip in Stanley . Fishing regulations are catch and release only
with single barbless hooks. We do not provide fishing rods or
tackle but rental equipment is available in Stanley.
Fly Sizes
10-14; Rod Wt. 4-5; Tippet Size; 3X
There is a Stone Fly hatch the first two weeks of July. Grasshoppers
start coming out in early August. Generally, most attracter patterns
work well throughout the summer. Here are some recommendations.
Caddis (brown & olive)
Golden Stone (orange)
Stimulator (orange & yellow)
Royal Wolfe
Humpies |
Parachute Adams
Parachute Hopper
Madam X
Hoppers (yellow & green)
Chernobal Ant |
Nymphs are not typically as productive
as dry flies but a beadhead pheasant tail or prince can be
tied onto a dry fly as a dropper and this combo works well.
Although the Middle Fork is ideal
for dry fly fishing, spin casting can be lots of fun. Typical
trout lures work well such as; Mepps #2, Roostertails, etc. |
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If you would like to read about the Middle
Fork and it’s history before the trip, there is a great
book available. It is The Middle Fork, A
Guide; by Johnny Carrey
and Cort Conley, published by Backeddy Books. A US Forest Service
waterproof map is also available. We can provide both of these
to you. Please give us a call at 1.800.445.9738 or e-mail to
order. The book is $20 and the map is $9, please add $3 shipping. |
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cancellation policy
Because of our limited
season and trip size, if you have to cancel, all fees are non-refundable.
However, if we can refill your cancelled seats at full price,
we will refund all fees received less the deposit amount of $400
per person. We strongly advise that you purchase travel
insurance to protect your investment in this trip. Please
contact CSA Travel Protection at 800-348-9505 or on-line at www.csatravelprotection.com. |
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gratuities
Our crew is an extremely hardworking
group of guys and gals and their enthusiasm will enhance your
trip. They are appreciative of any gratuity that you might extend
to them. Typical gratuities range from 10% to 15% of base trip
cost. |
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packing list
| what we provide |
what to bring |
Transportation to Boundary Creek
Transportation back
to Stanley
Waterproof duffel bag
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Pillow
Tent
Eating tables
Chairs
Beverage mug
Waterproof day bag
Camera case
Raingear (if you don’t have it)
Wet suit & booties
(June trips)
Dinner wine
Cocktail bar (Gin, Vodka, Bourbon)
2-to-3 cans beer/pop
per day
Juice & drinking water
First aid supplies
All rafting equipment (lifejacket, etc.)
Meals (first-day lunch – last day lunch)
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Hat (1 sun & 1 warm)
Midweight synthetic longjohns
Pile fleece jacket or wool sweater
Warm shirt
Raingear (if you have it)
Swim suit
T-shirts
Shorts (nylon for quick drying)
Long pants or sweats for camp
1 pair river sandals for raft
1 pair shoes for camp
Socks
Soap, wash cloth, toothbrush, etc.
Towel
Sunscreen lotion
Insect repellent
Small flashlight
Camera & film
Fishing gear (rods in hard case!)
Sunglasses with neck strap |
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please, do NOT bring |
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Pets
tape decks or radios
cell phone
expensive jewelry |
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