Trip Report

Snake River — June 2024 (Alpine Canyon x3, Dory)

A two-day June 2024 dory trip on the Snake's Alpine Canyon with Greg Madsen — three laps at 20,000 / 19,000 / 18,000 cfs. At 18,000 cfs Lunch Counter had a bite; a high-side save kept the dory upright.

2 days 19,000 cfs 2 people dory

Conditions

20,000 CFS, 19,000 CFS, 18,000 CFS — decreasing over 3 laps

2 days

19,000 cfs

1 boats

Day 1 6-10-2024

Day 1 — Alpine Canyon x2 (20K & 19K CFS)

Day 2 6-11-2024

Day 2 — Alpine Canyon (18K CFS, High-Side at Lunch Counter)

Scenes from the River

Moments the crew logged on this run.

Inside the Chaos

The moment inside a rapid where structure disappears, control is partial at best, and survival depends on instinct, positioning, and the decisions made seconds earlier.
- adrenaline
- fear
- focus
- instability
- grit

Ran the Alpine Canyon 3 times over 2 days in a dory. 20,000 CFS was mellowed out. At 18,000 CFS Lunch Counter had a bite.
At 18,000 CFS, Lunch Counter had a bite. Greg and Cutty high-sided to avoid a flip (roll over) in the dory.

Gear

Dory.

Data

Flow: USGS , 18,000–20,000 cfs daily mean.

Explore

summer · 22,000cfs

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Route drops, river notes, gear systems, and field reports—sent like a briefing, not a newsletter.

Snake River — June 2024 (Alpine Canyon x3, Dory)

Day 1 — Alpine Canyon x2 (20K & 19K CFS)

Day 2 — Alpine Canyon (18K CFS, High-Side at Lunch Counter)

Inside the Chaos

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