Paddling the Payette - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Stephen Stuebner, 40, is the author of five outdoor guidebooks on Idaho and the author of "Idaho Impressions," a full- color coffee table book on Idaho. He is a professional journalist during the week, and an outdoor fun hog on weekends, always seeking new places to play in the mountains. He lives with his wife and two children in the Boise foothills.

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"A guidebook on the Payette has been long overdue and Paddling the Payette is well worth the wait! This book captures the wide variety of all the Payette paddling trips, a must for all boaters, campers and visitors to the Payette River system. -- Steve Jones, Cascade Recreation Co.

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Introduction

It's a cold cloudy day in April. It looks as though it might rain, but hey, who cares? The Payette River is cranking down the mountains. The water is up, and it's time to seize the moment. The whitewater season has begun. Our paddle crew drives to Bonneville Hot Springs, 15 miles east of Lowman, to launch a raft for a fun- filled day of paddling rafting.

"Gawd, it's freezing out," one of the gals says as we climb out of the rig, and feel the cool drizzle on our faces looking into the gray sky. "OK, let's go hit the hot springs and tune up our muscles for the day."

We lie back and enjoy the 102-degree water. "Hit me," my buddy taunts the drizzle, emersing his body in the hot soothing water, leaving only his nose above the surface to breathe.

We finally climb out of the hot springs, blow up the boat, and begin a wild ride for Lowman. We crash through Chapman Creek Rapids and Little Surprise, punching the hole nicely at the bottom. We salute our stylish runs by touching our paddles in the air and beaver-slapping them on the water. And then we settle in for a lovely glide through the upper canyon, surrounded by dense forest, looking down into the clean, clear, emerald river, watching the trout dart around in the deep holes. We crash through some more rapids, Emma Creek, Pinball, Wangdoodle, Kirkham.

We're freezing from the chilly snowmelt water splashing our faces, but we're done. We leap into Kirkham Hot Springs and feel the sting of cold toes getting warm again. Even on a nasty spring day, the Payette River is just so much fun, so incredibly excellent.