Trip Report written by Rob Forster.
Click here for the photo gallery from this trip.
Here's a quick update on our Jarbidge Bruneau trip on 5/16-5/19:
• 2 guys running 2 11.5' Pumas. As you can see in the pics, we're loaded like we're running the MF (not light!). This was both our first trips down the J…
• After doing this, even though I've talked to people who have run 14' round boats down, I wouldn't recommend any bigger boat than a Puma...my normal boat is a 14' round, and there are several tight spots I wouldn't want to have to take it through.
• Lined Sevy Falls - it was probably runable, we just didn't want to risk things with some wood at the exit.
• Wally's Wallow - 1 of us got ejected (see pics) but was fortunately able to get right back in the boat and didn't need safety throw.
• The Maze – No problems here, but there is rope across the 2 rocks in the center of the run. I think someone mentioned this last year. This rope wasn't a problem at these flows, and doesn't appear to be coming off anytime soon.
• 1 pin in or just above John's Jollies – don't take the smaller left hand channel.
• Jarbidge Falls – our motto for the trip is "if only we had a trail". In other words, don't portage on the right! Took us 11.5 hours of work and every minute was spent slightly jealous of the trail across the river. We ended up in this situation since we weren't 100% sure of the exact portage eddy (it is just at or below the house rock on river left – we now have good pics of this if anyone is interested. Just beware that the falls are about 50 feet after so you must make the tiny eddy. In our case, a little freak-out factor by the lead boat captain about not wanting to go over the falls got him in a bit of a bad spot above the falls, so we chose to keep it safe instead of ferrying back across.
• Saw 3 Rattlers during the portage – not nice to have two across the not-so-improved trail and one more that camps in the middle of the not-so-flat put in. As a result, I don't recommend dogs on this one and am glad we left ours at home.
After the adventure on the J, we were thrilled to take in the serenity that the scenic Bruneau Canyon offers, but were forced to blow by the Bruneau in less than 24 hours in order to keep our planned take out day.
There wasn't much eventful on the B, other than 2 flat tires waiting on us at the take out (not from the J/B shuttle, which is easy, but from my friend's desert escapades in between).
Overall, a fantastic trip! (But, not one for the weak or those cannot be self sufficient and entirely comfortable in remote backcountry.)
Pictures are posted here.
Written by Rob Forster.
