We got up early for a 7am departure on our last day. We had 17 river miles to the takeout, through the sheer granite walls of Impassable Canyon. It took a few hours for the sun to rise above the canyon walls, and we were glad to pass through patches of warm sun. The rapids were the biggest of the trip. One person launched out of the fishing boat into Pistol Creek rapid; the guide quickly got him back in, although without his shoes or hat.

The canyon opened up and we saw a road; the Middle Fork ended as it joined the main Salmon. We left the river at Cache Bar (mile 99.7). We said goodbye to our amazing crew of multi-talented, hard-working guides who shared their love for the wild and scenic river with us. After picking up our car in Salmon, we kept driving for three hours to the Sourdough Lodge. Our room had a lovely big showerhead, and the cheesburger recommended by the river guides was great too.

We had an early 7am start and a quick breakfast on our last morning.

Mad Dawg and Andrew finish packing the sweep boat.

mountain mahogany growing right out of the rock

Early in the morning, most of the deep canyon was still in shade.

The sun lit up the canyon walls.

common merganser ducks

Big lodgepole pines clung to the cliffs alongside the river.

A bridge just after the confluence of the Middle Fork and the Main Salmon was still under construction.

Evan took a turn on the oars on the Main Salmon.

After leaving the river, we spent the night at the Sourdough Lodge on the way back to Boise.