Customer Reviews

The Middle Fork: A Guide (Revised)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My wife and I enjoyed reading this book aloud to each other. There are really some very wonderful stories about the individuals who lived their lives in this demanding but beautiful area. I've read a couple dozen books on Pacific Northwest history and enjoyed them all, but this one really highlights average individuals more than most. Reading this book is relaxing and engaging at the same time, a nice combination.

This is an excellent historical guide to the Hells Canyon region of the Snake River along the Oregon-Idaho-Washington border. The first 100 pages are a chronological account of the canyon area, from the Lewis & Clark explorations in 1806 to modern-day river runners and captains. The remaining 300 pages detail sections of the river beginning at Cambridge, ID, and continuing north through Brownlee Reservoir, Hells Canyon Dam, Pittsburg Landing, and all the way to Lewiston. These lengthy sections are marvelously described, and if the authors could find some historical scrap of information regarding any of the streams, gulches, landmarks, even abandoned cabins found along the way, they included it. It's all laid out from the perspective of someone actually voyaging down the river, and mileage markers signal points of interest. The book makes for fascinating reading, even if you never set eyes on the actual canyon. It's extremely well illustrated, too, with many archival photographs of sites and people of the region. A wonderful historical guide (very similar to the state Roadside History series) - highly recommended.

If you are thinking that this book might be comparable to Becky's guides...forget it. Not a lot of depth here. There is more discussion of local plants than on route descriptions, approaches or maps. I was looking for a GUIDE BOOK to the middle fork area and this is definitely not it. If someone writes one that actually provides enough information to plan an outing then would gladly buy it. Save your money and buy some topos and get better trip beta, pictures and maps on the internet.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The history of the Middle Fork was well presented in a manor that kept me well engauged. However, if you are looking for a practical guide to paddling or rowing the river (and to locate the hot-springs) I'd Recommend "The Middle Fork of the Salmon River : A Comprehensive Guide"; a waterproof spiral bound book primarily aimed at rafters, but indispensable to kayakers & canoeists as well.

I expected this to be a real river guide, but it is a bunch of stories of all the strange "Idaho loners" who've lived along the Middle Fork of the Salmon over the years...some surprisingly recent. Knowing these stories definitely added something to my trip down the river, and the mile by mile organization makes it easy to connect the places you see to the stories. Worth having before you make the trip.

I love Idaho history and this is another excellent book that covers the Snake River and homesteaders who tried to tame it's wild ways. Another great C. Conley book.

A river guide essential! The definite history of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River from Bear Valley to the Main Salmon. Contains journal entries from the 1879 Sheepeater War, as well as 18 maps, 200 photos and is 386 pages. Don't float without it!

Interesting for locals or folks that might have family conections with some of the characters in the book. Overall poorly writen and quite a snoozer. Some interesting pictures. Could have been much more concise.