Main Salmon River Trip - Day 2: Big Squaw Creek to Hida Creek

As we packed up the next morning, a jet boat arrived with a bunch of people on it. Turns out they were volunteers who were going on a hike to locate noxious weeds. It was a little surreal after being so isolated.

It was much cooler on day two, so we dressed in wetsuits and splash tops. A front was moving in on us from downriver. But there is no other option, so you make due and "embrace the suck" as a fellow boater noted.

The best thing about day two and the best experience on the trip for a few of us was Bathtub Hot Springs. We intentionally planned a short river miles day in order to spend a few hours in this breathtaking hot springs. It was the perfect temperature and some industrious people at some point had walled off an end with cement to make a tub as well as put a pipe directly from the source into the pool in order to maximize the heat and water flow. A few groups came and went, but we stayed for hours here. It was also really cool to look across the river to the other side of the canyon with its steep granite walls. It felt like we were in a scene from Lord of the Rings.

We did, however, have to leave at some point to set up camp and get warm and dry. Half-a-mile downstream there was another hot springs (Barth) that was much hotter, but also smelled of sulphur and had no pools. It was neat to check out, though.

We camped at Hida Creek after deciding our targeted spot was too windy and unsheltered. Hida had no beach, so unloading the rafts was a challenge, but we made due.

We pitched our tents in little nooks and crannies above the beach.

The rain came that night, but we made due with the sunshade as cover and a nice fire.