by Ian Fodor-Davis | Apr 16, 2024 | Lochsa River
What Will Conditions Be Like On The Lochsa This Season?
Around this time every year, I get asked the same question; what will flows be like? I usually base my answers off of what snow pack looks like, and when the weather starts to warm up historically. When we have a lighter winter and a lower snowpack, the questions shift to; will we still be able to run the Lochsa? The answer is, absolutely.
While snowpacks are low when compared to the historical average, that does not mean that we have no snow. While snowpacks are low when compared to the historical average, that does not mean that we have no snow. In fact, though we have a low snowpack, there is still plenty of it up at high elevations in the Bitterroots, which drains into the Lochsa.There could, and probably still will be, some high water days. As you can imagine, when the weather gets hot and it rains at the same time, snow melts incredibly quickly. This means we will probably not see every trip launch at the high water mark, but there will likely be trips that see the features the Lochsa is famous for during its short season.
The Best Part Of Low Water Lochsa Boating
The best thing about low water though, is that the Lochsa is still amazing, and delivers a fantastic experience for guests. Lochsa Falls is not quite as ‘big and crunchy’, and there will likely be less carnage during Lochsa Madness, which if you’re hoping to stay in your raft is a great thing! Did you know that every rapid has different features that form only when water levels are lower? Brain Wave in Grim Reaper Rapid is a fantastic example! It disappears as the flows rise to about 9-10,000 cfs. But from 7000 to 9000 cfs or so, it is a spectacular feature, and is one of my favorite hits on the river at all flows.
Did You Know!? Rapids tend to get a bit more technical at lower flows, which means more teamwork and maneuvering may be required. Even at low flows the Lochsa still has a big water feel, and is still an action packed ride in every way.
What You Can Expect On A Lochsa Trip This Season
In reality, what you can expect from the Lochsa on a low water year is pure fun. We may see warmer weather than usual. Safety talks will probably feel a bit less scary. Trips may take a bit longer, and you may see launch locations change a bit from what you remember. That is purely an effort on your outfitters part to keep the trip from running too long. Other than that, whether you book a trip through an outfitter or you have the skillset to privately run the Lochsa, the thing to expect is that you will still be running the Mighty Lochsa. It still requires skill and respect to navigate safely, and you can definitely still expect to crush big waves throughout your trip.
The takeaway here is that The Lochsa River is an absolute blast at lower flows, and we could not be more excited for this season. Some things might feel just a bit different, but in general, it is still the Lochsa, and it is still an absolute kick in the pants. So, this 2024 season, do not let nay sayers and media sources keep you from getting fired up when they talk about low snowpack and low river flows. We will be out there every weekend, and are so excited to see old friends and make new ones on one of the best roadside whitewater trips in America.
Zoo Town Surfers runs commercially-guided trips on the Lochsa River, Clark Fork River and Blackfoot River. We are locally owned and operated and hope you’ll join us for an adventure! Book your trip here or reach out for a personalized trip planning experience.
by Ian Fodor-Davis | Feb 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
Spring flows and Summer floats are right around the corner. If you are a boater, you know this, and are likely getting excited thinking and dreaming. What pieces of gear you may need to upgrade or repair, what lines or rivers you may want to explore, or how excited you are about your first Middle Fork Permit. But this write up is not meant to go into the many details of the Spring boating season or your first multi day trip. Rather, it is meant to explore an intermediary, a temporary solution that many boaters are starting to need right about now.
Winter boating, to me, is that solution. It is somewhat of a different animal in some of the best ways, and in others, some of the scariest. Here are five tips to make your entry into winter boating a bit more comfortable, safe, and fun.
Winter boating can be so peaceful and beautiful
- Perhaps this is the season to avoid the big stuff.
Getting on the water in the winter can be a great time to shake the rust off and just enjoy quiet time on your favorite sections of water (many of which normally have a constant cacophony of voices ricocheting down the sections like the Alberton Gorge). Treat the cold water and weather for what it is. Boat for the joy of it, knowing that this may not necessarily be the time to push the big, consequential lines that have a high chance of sending you swimming. Be extra cautious of hypothermia, and double down on the idea of dressing for the swim, not the weather.
- Along those lines- dress, layer, and gear yourself appropriately.
Winter boating is so peaceful and tends to reignite that love of whitewater that may have been dormant while chasing powder turns and hockey pucks. But it should be viewed as more hazardous, both for yourself, and for any potential rescuers. My general rule of thumb is to dress so that I can stay in the for a minimum of 30 minutes completely comfortably. Dry suits (here for women’s suits) are not just a comfort for boating in the winter, but a mandatory piece of gear for cold water boating. There are many myths about air and water temperature, but the bottom line is that if it is cold water, be prepared for immersion and layer appropriately. My personal cold water layering list: Under my dry suit I wear 2-3 thick fleece layers, 1 lighter moisture wicking layer, and double, sometimes triple wool socks. I use NRS HydroSkin Socks on the outside of my dry suit to protect the booties and add extra warmth. All this insulation for my feet necessitates having a winter set of wet shoes just for my dry suit. In my dry bag I bring along an additional thick layer, a puffy jacket, ski gloves, NRS Maverick waterproof Neoprene gloves, sunscreen, extra wool socks, a warm beanie, a few high calorie snack bars, and a rain shell. Additional Tip: the rain shell is great to eliminate evaporative cooling. Wear it through the whitewater sections and remove it when the sun hits you, or when you get done with the splashes for the day.
- Re-think your necessaries.
Perhaps you have a winter helmet that has ear protection and more insulation. Perhaps you have a PFD you prefer because it has fleece lined hand warming pockets. Whatever your gear and preferences may look like, this is the time of year to double check and re-think whether something is important to have with you on the water. This is the time of year to take extra time to evaluate why something may or may not be needed in your kit. Extra fleece hats and heavily insulated ski gloves may not be in every normal boating kit, but these are definitely nice, perhaps even necessary, for boating in the winter. Leave the sunscreen in your winter kit, remembering that you can still get sunburnt from snow/water glare with no protection. Fully waterproof gloves are great as well, but be warned- once your neoprene gloves are wet, they will likely remain wet for the rest of the day. Keep them in your dry bag for when you get chilly, unless you plan on wearing them all day.
Having something to eat can make all of the difference between a lovely day and a harrowing brush with hanger. Your caloric intake will need to be higher as your body is working to keep you warm, so bring some extra snacks. I love bringing a 64 oz Hydro Flask of hot tea as well, as it’s a glorious treat on those shady afternoons when you are starting to get chilled. Bring along warm food if possible, but warm or cold extra snacks will help keep you warm and comfortable, as well as stay safe. Proper caloric intake enables you to think clearly, and to deal more effectively with stressful situations and emergencies.
This will seem like a reiteration, and to be fair, it is. But safety of you and your party is the number one thing to pay attention to. If the weather seems like it may cause problems, perhaps wait until the next sunny day. If the flows are spiking above your comfort level, winter is not the time to push that comfort level. Have an evacuation plan and a hypo kit, especially if you are in a remote setting. Have extra gear for your friends and yourself. After all, you would rather have an extra set of gloves than deal with a horrific upstream wind that results in frostbite without them.
Winter Boating can and should be fun. There are many things to note about staying safe, comfortable, and therefore happy on winter boating trips. These are just a few, and this is in no way an exhaustive effort to cover all safety tips. Hopefully though, this will help get you started, or serve as a reminder should you already be a winter boating fanatic.
Ian staying warm, and thus very happy, on a recent lap.
We just got out to get some winter laps in ourselves, and we sure are getting excited for the upcoming season around here. Visit www.zootownsurfers.com to get your booking secured for the season.
Stay safe and warm out there, and I hope to see you on the water soon!
by Ian Fodor-Davis | Jan 20, 2022 | Blackfoot River, Guide Blog, Lochsa River, River Surfing
What an honor it is to be writing this and introducing ourselves to all of our future friends, employees, coworkers, partners and customers. Megan and I are so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do what we love to do, serve our community, as well as educate and find stewards, or build upon existing ones. This truly is a dream come true. First, we must thank Jason Shreder again for this opportunity. We will do everything we can to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of the business you started, my friend. Thank you. I will try to keep this brief, but I am not known for that talent. Here is a bit about us, and our journey to Zoo Town Surfers.
Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated and drawn to water. I have a picture floating around somewhere of me, around 2 years old, standing next to some rafts my parents had rented for a Green River multiday. Since then, water and rafting has been in my blood.
I grew up never being able to get out the ocean, spending much of every summer in Southern California with family. The same was true when I was home in Idaho on it’s rivers and lakes; I was the first one in the water, and the last one out, and that much of me at least, largely remains true to this day.
Megan similarly always loved the water. She grew up snowboarding on the frozen kind, and playing on the wet kind in various river and fishing trips with her family in Alaska. Her love of rivers grew dramatically when she hopped on her first multiday trip with me back in college on the Lower Gorge of the Salmon River. Since then, she’s taken every opportunity to be on the water. The Lochsa is one of her favorite places on the planet, and in her words, where she “truly fell in love with rivers.”
7 years ago, Megan asked me whether or not I would ever want to own an outfitting business. My work in guiding on the Salmon and Hells Canyon led me to work as a rep for the absolutely wonderful folks at Northwest River Supplies (NRS), so the question of owning a river business came up pretty frequently. My answer was invariably; it depends on the business. I would not want to do it for the wrong reasons, and I would want to structure a company that I would be happy to guide at. One that focuses on guide voice, stewardship, individual and professional growth, and sharing our incredible rivers with those that do not get to experience them as often as we do. One example of this type of business came up as a general answer to Megans question; if Jason Shreder ever decided to sell, that would be a business worth purchasing. As luck would have it; 7 years, a few moves, and many river trips later, as well as right place at the right time and some good friends, would lead us to start the process of purchasing Zoo Town Surfers.
We could tell from the get-go that Shreder’s involvement in the community and his passion for his business was incredible. He built this business from the ground up, and we want to continue the traditions, hard work, and community care and involvement that he set the foundations of ZTS on. That seemed a daunting task at first, but it has become much more achievable and exciting as we have seen how much love and support has been built around ZTS. Our promise to you is this: We will continue to grow ZTS into a community minded, inclusive, and safe place where any and all can experience the river.
I am always available via email at ian@zootownsurfers.com, and phone at 208-310-2253. I would love the opportunity to introduce myself over a cup of coffee or a beer, please feel free to reach out! Thank you all for taking the time to read this far, and we hope to see you on the river!
Cheers,
-Megan and Ian Fodor-Davis.
