Kiah Beville, Rotarian of the Day on Aug. 6, 2025, entertained Winnfield Rotarians with a presentation and photos from his float trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. He enjoyed the adventure with his son, Jared; son-in-law, Jeff; and grandsons, Benjamin, John Calvin and Andrew.
The group spent six days and five nights floating, camping and hiking through the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, a 2.3 million-acre protected area established by Congress in 1980 and named for U.S. Sen. Frank Church of Idaho. It is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 states and protects several mountain ranges, diverse wildlife and a section of the Salmon River. The area is accessible only by river, foot or horseback, though several pre-existing airstrips are still in use.
Outfitters are issued permits to guide rafting trips on the Middle Fork under strict “leave no trace” guidelines. Everything brought into the wilderness — including ashes from fires — must be removed. Only footprints are allowed to remain.
Beville and his family chose Wilderness River Outfitters, a family-run business now operated by its second generation, to lead their multi-day wilderness trip. The experienced guides were efficient and skilled, not only at rafting but also at cooking. The group included 23 guests and seven guides, traveling by paddle boat, oar boats, and both inflatable and hard-shell kayaks.
The trip began with the group meeting in Boise and flying to Stanley, Idaho, where they met their guides. From there, they flew again to the put-in site at Indian Creek. Each participant brought only clothing and personal hygiene items, while Wilderness River Outfitters supplied the remaining gear, including two-person tents and sleeping kits. Most of the group opted to sleep under the stars.
Highlights of the trip included Mist Falls, ancient Native American pictographs, and natural hot springs. Most days featured Class II, III and IV rapids, along with daily hikes into the surrounding wilderness.
The trip was a memorable experience for everyone in Beville’s party, and another such adventure may be in the family’s future.
