{"id":16065,"date":"2018-05-01T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T16:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=16065"},"modified":"2021-02-17T13:14:32","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T21:14:32","slug":"wild-scenic-rivers-104","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2018\/05\/01\/wild-scenic-rivers-104\/","title":{"rendered":"Wild & Scenic Rivers 104"},"content":{"rendered":"

The rivers featured in April’s Wild & Scenic Wednesdays are all in NRS HQ’s backyard. In fact, any given weekend you could catch a crew heading south to paddle any one of these. And the non-profit that sponsored this month’s rivers hits just as close to home. The Redside Foundation<\/a> supports the health and strength of the Idaho Guiding Community by providing all licensed Idaho guides (water, ski, hunt, etc.) \u00a0educational scholarships to universities\/colleges throughout the US, grant opportunities to professional training courses (such as swiftwater rescue and wilderness first aid\/responder), and confidential access to mental and physical healthcare through a 24-hour helpline.<\/p>\n

Wild & Scenic Wednesdays are just one way we\u2019re celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act. Learn more about how you can celebrate the 50th Anniversary and help NRS, American Rivers, American Whitewater, OARS, Yeti, Chacos and REI fight for 5,000 more miles of designated Wild & Scenic rivers at\u00a05000miles.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Snake River Hell\u2019s Canyon, ID\/OR (Wild & Scenic circa 1975)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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1. Hell\u2019s Canyon was formed by the down cutting of the Snake River through volcanic rock roughly 6 million years ago, forming the deepest gorge in North America (7900\u2019 deep at its deepest\u00a0point) and averaging 5,500\u2019 deep.<\/p>\n

2. The Snake River is the largest tributary of the Columbia River, draining an area about the size of the state of Oregon. The depth of the river ranges from 2-3 feet to 105 feet.<\/p>\n

3. Although dam regulated, flows average 35,000 cfs and can reach 100,000 cfs below its confluence with the Salmon River. The volume of water below Hell\u2019s Canyon Dam often exceeds the amount carried by the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.<\/p>\n

4. Hell\u2019s Canyon is the ancestral homeland of the Shoshone and Nez Perce Tribes. Evidence gathered from the Bernard Creek rock shelter confirms early occupancy of the canyon at 7,100 years ago. A clovis point found in the canyon suggests occupancy dating as far back as 15,000 years. Many petroglyphs and pictographs can be seen along the river.<\/p>\n

5. The Snake River through Hell\u2019s Canyon is known for its large rapids. Two classic, Class IV “Big Drops<\/a>” include Wild Sheep and Granite rapids.<\/p>\n

Middle Fork of the Clearwater River, ID (Wild & Scenic circa 1968)<\/strong><\/p>\n