Idaho River Journeys Offers Summer Rafting Vacation Deals

Guests Can Take Advantage of Group and Family Discounts, Student Rates and Credit for Kern Rafting Trips

Taking a whitewater rafting vacation in Idaho has never been easier, nor more affordable, thanks to veteran outfitter Idaho River Journeys. The company has announced three money-saving offers for the 2010 season, which runs from June through September on Idaho’s Middle Fork and Main Salmon River. First, groups and families of 10 or more earn a 10% discount off regular adult rates, and groups of 16 or more earn one FREE space. Second, student rates are offered on many trips to any student, at any grade level including graduate school, and third, in cooperation with Kern River Outfitters in Southern California, the company will credit guests 100% of their 2010 Kern River trip toward any Idaho rafting vacation taken this season.

“More than ever, travelers are looking for ways to spread their vacation dollar,” comments Bob Volpert, owner of Idaho River Journeys. Bob and his wife Mary have outfitted on the Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Main Salmon River since 1978. Their trips are a mix of exhilarating whitewater, spectacular hikes, and delicious wilderness cuisine. “We recognize this, and we hope that these offers will help families, groups and students of all ages to enjoy fun filled rafting vacations this summer.”

Idaho's Middle Fork of the Salmon is America's premier wilderness river. Deep cathedral forests, steep canyon walls, natural hot springs, fabulous fly fishing, exhilarating whitewater and beautiful, spacious campsites make the Middle Fork of the Salmon world famous. Trips are from four to six days, and launch weekly from June 3 through September 2. Main Salmon River rafting vacations are river trips that everyone, from grandparents to grandkids, can enjoy and return with memories that will last a lifetime. The river is ideal for families with children age seven and up. The water is warmer than most western rivers, many campsites are on big, sandy beaches, there are good hiking trails nearby, and famous rapids will keep everyone smiling. Trips are five or six days, and launch weekly from June 20 to August 30.

Kern River Outfitters offers half-day to three-day trips ranging in difficulty from Class III to Class V on three sections of the Kern River: the Upper, the Lower and the Forks. Just a few hours from most Southern California cities, the Kern River is a popular summer vacation destination getaway for first-timers and families, as well as for experienced river rafters. Prices range from $115 to $998 per person, depending on the length of the trip and the date of departure; 100% of those trip costs will be applied to an Idaho rafting vacation for guests participating in this offer.

“Customers who take advantage of this promotion will essentially enjoy a free river trip on the Kern,” observes Keith “Luther” Stephens, general manager of Kern River Outfitters. “For people who enjoy rafting and adventure travel, this is the deal of a lifetime. We think we’ll have a lot of takers.”

For more information on Idaho whitewater rafting vacations, call Idaho River Journeys at 1-888-997-8399 or visit www.IdahoRiverJourneys.com. For additional information on trips offered on Southern California’s Kern River by Kern River Outfitters, call 1-800-323-4234 or visit www.KernRafting.com

Best Rafting trips for Families with Youngsters

By youngsters, I mean kids in the 5 - 12 range. From raising three kids and going on a lot of trips, I can tell you that there is nothing more fun than rafting, camping, eating outside, sitting around a campfire, looking at stars, sleeping in a warm and cozy tent and just hanging out along a river. And miraculously, it seems like kids even enjoy being with their parents when its a rafting vacation with lots to do. And for Mom, its a chance to share experiences with the family and never worry about meals, or any of the other daily chores.

My favorite trip with kids is floating Idaho’s Main Salmon. The rapids are fun, campsites often on big, sandy beaches, the water is warm enough for swimming and there are enough side attractions to keep everyone busy and engaged in the trip. We have paddle rafts and kayaks on every trip so the boating is seldom dull. Very often a family with youngsters will join us on the Main and then a few years later, when the kids are teens, come back and run the Middle Fork of the Salmon with us.

Compared to other family vacations, going on the Main is a terrific value. There are no hidden costs, just about everything is provided, and you won’t be nickel and dimed by side attractions. For most families, the most economical way to do the trip is drive to Salmon and have your car shuttled to McCall where it will be waiting at the end of the trip. This saves on air shuttle costs and gives you a way of visiting other sites before or after your trip. We offer student discounts which will save additional money. A family of five will save $500 by choosing a 5 day instead of 6 day trip. We cover the same distance, just boat a little longer each day.

We’ve done a lot of family rafting trips so give us a call if you have questions or concerns. You might also find our Just for Moms web page helpful. It answers a lot of questions we hear from families planning to join us. Call us at any time. 1-888-997-8399.

Guides getting ready for the season

With June just a short nine-iron away, three of Idaho River Journeys guides decided it was time to test out the waters and get back in the whitewater action. On May 5th, Will Volpert, Bob Volpert, and Tom Tremain met in Selma, Oregon, to prepare for a two-day Illinois river trip. Two days prior, Bob was driving over the Siskiyou Pass in a massive snow blizzard. After spending a cold friday night in Selma, things took a turn for the best and the sun came out just as the three were pushing off from Miami Bar, the put-in 15 miles west of Selma.

Below: Tom and Bob stopped to look at the famous Green Wall rapid

Below: Enjoying some warm rays on the Illinois river

Below: Tom and Will at camp, May 6, 2007 (notice how proudly they are sporting their new Idaho River Journeys fleece jackets)

Here's a video of a run at Green Wall on May 5. This wasn't the IRJ group but we got to Green Wall a few hours later after this run.

They reached Oak Flat around noon on sunday. From there, Tom took off to join Kern River Outfitters on a guide trip down the Forks of the Kern, Bob headed up to Salmon, Idaho to prepare for the upcoming Idaho season, and Will went back to Ashland, Oregon to finish-up his spring term at Southern Oregon University. The great news for our 2007 guests? The three of them got all the winter wrinkles out of their boating skills and everyone should enjoy upright boats and big smiles on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon this coming summer!

Another Great Video

One of our guests, Patrick Cumby, recently posted a video of his six-day rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with us. His video shows a lot of footage of the amazing Middle Fork scenery, as well as some "ducky carnage" and fun rapids. If you have a video from your trip that you would like posted just let us know!



-posted by Will Volpert

Idaho Whitewater Rafting Video

Check out our new video that was recently published on YouTube. It has a lot of pictures from previous summers from both the Middle Fork and Main Salmon. If you see yourself, leave a comment and say "hello!"



-posted by Will Volpert