Our salmon, ourselves – Can an Idaho river town be saved?

The people of Salmon, Idaho http://www.cityofsalmon.com/ may have reclaimed their namesake river this spring. It happened during Riverfest 2011, a fund-raising event created to help build a kayak park downtown, where the Salmon River splits into two channels. The event attracted a lot of the 20-something boater crowd of river guides and semi-obsessive kayakers, many of whom grew up here.

Riverfest’s film festival, showing work by both amateurs and professionals, fed the crowd’s thrill-seeking. Watching the raw talent of the paddlers portrayed by filmmakers fueled a sense of community pride.

The next day, as a local priest sprinkled holy water on the sweep boats, drift boats, and kayaks before they set out, more than one commercial outfitter murmured his hope that in addition to a safe season, it would be great if paying customers came this way.

by Gina Knudson

Full Story: http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/our-salmon-ourselves/Content?oid=1458384

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After visiting a few times in Salmon and getting to know some of the people that live in this part of the US, I find this story a bit of fresh air.

I have lived in the UK, WA State, France, and now live in Charlotte, NC. I miss the west, and I do plan on getting back very soon. Cant Wait to be honest.

There was a book I read many years ago by Pete Fromm: Indian Creek Chronicles in which he himself spent a winter alone in the Salmon Area of Idaho watching over Salmon Eggs. This story was an inspiration to anyone who has read this book as well as visited the area of Idaho mentioned in the article.

Well Done Beautiful Salmon! Keep It Up!

Tim