Smith River Float

A Fun Trip on one of Montana's Iconic Rivers

Early June, 2016

Canyon Depth to Sunset Cliffs

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In spite of our long first day on the river, John was up early the next morning when he heard something crossing the river; it turned out to be a young elk which decided our camp was not the best place to be.

Elk
Elk
Photo by John Rundquist

Starting this year, floaters are required to have bear-resistant food storage. We had one bear-resistant cooler but no bear-resistant dry-boxes, so we rented an electric fence and corralled our food at night.

Bear Fence
Bear Fence

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One of our crew, who shall remain anonymous, got pushed over next to a wall while rowing; the cliff bumped an oar out and into the water it went. The oar was supposed to float, but it disappeared into the depths and we never saw it again. The water was pretty muddy and visibility was only about a foot. The river was pretty shallow in most places, so I took one of the kayaks over to the cliff and tried to probe around with a paddle. I couldn't feel anything stuck on the bottom, but I was pretty limited in where I could effectively probe. We tested the other oars we had of the same type and only the blade end floated. Bummer. A good reason to have oars where the shaft floats also!

Fishing For Lost Oar Gary
Gary Fishing For Lost Oar
Photo by Dona

Elizabeth and John had a sunshade umbrella on their raft. Pretty spiffy...

Elizabeth John Elizabeth John Elizabeth John
Elizabeth and John

Elizabeth John Elizabeth John

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Elizabeth Kayak Bill Kayak
Elizabeth in Carol's Kayak Bill in Bill's Kayak
Bill John
Bill and John
Photo by Elizabeth Andrews

Bill Elizabeth Kayak

We found a bald eagle on a nest with a young bird still in the nest.

Bald Eagle Bald Eagle WEaglet
Bald Eagle

Some of the ranches graze cattle down to the riverbanks, and we found some overrunning one of the campsites. I think you call all aspects of that a management problem...

Cows In Camp
Cows In Camp
Photo by John Rundquist

Wild Iris 0001 Crested Beardtongue Xxx Penstemon Rose
Wild Iris Crested Beardtongue Xxx Penstemon Rose

Our second night was at Sunset Cliffs. Carol and Elizabeth and I hiked up towards the top of "Old Baldy". The weather was overcast / partly cloudy, and it was a bit hazy. But the views were still pretty good. The top of Old Baldy is not particularly bald.

Big Belts Canyon
Looking to the Big Belts Sunset Cliffs in the Canyon
Looking To Old Baldy Top
Looking To Top of Old Baldy

Apparently we did not go to the actual top, which was a few hundred yards further into the trees and a few feet higher. But it did not look like the view was any better from there.

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Carol and Elizabeth Surrounded by Arrowleaf Balsamroot Near the Top

Old Baldy Elizabeth Gary Carol Old Baldy Carol Elizabeth Old Baldy Carol Gary Elizabeth
Near Top of Old Baldy
Elizabeth, Gary and Carol

We spotted a fire burning to the west of us.

Fire
Fire

Canyon From Old Baldy Trail331 Looking W From Old Baldy Trail331
Canyon from Old Baldy Trail #331 Looking West from Old Baldy Trail #331

Elizabeth found a fossilized worm trail. Or at least that's what she said it was. It looked like a worm trail, and she's the geologist...

Fossilized Worm Trail
Fossilized Worm Trail

Looking W From Old Baldy Trail331 SmithR_0196_20160607
Looking West From Old Baldy Trail #331

Canyon Carol Elizabeth Arrowleaf Balsamroot Carol Elizabeth
Carol and Elizabeth Arrowleaf Balsamroot
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Old Cabin Sign for Trail #331

Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs

After another great dinner we hit the sack.