Ditch the Device & Take an Adventure

I must admit....though I own/operate a wilderness adventure company, like everyone else I am always connected.  My Iphone is never far away and I think the Ipad might be the coolest toy since full suspension mountain bikes.  During the winter I find myself digesting digital media equal to the big business guy plugged into the stock market. Against my better judgments and with Christmas on the horizon, the desire for more digital screens, devices and apps only grows.

I  pride myself on being an active and involved family man.  I strive to rage against the machine, but admittedly family time can still deteriorate into our own screens.  When I think about how much of our lives will be absorbed into our digital devices it makes me sad. In this busy world of productivity, volatile markets, tweets, status updates and breaking news it is only getting harder to pull ourselves away from the screen.  

As parents in the midst of the daily grind it takes a conscious effort to log-off .....and connect with what matters. I cherish the chats on the chairlift with my daughter during a cold, snowy powder day.  Or the uninterrupted, warm & sunny beach walks with my wife.    I look forward to spending a spring weekend surrounded by redrocks and the desert stars.  Though mostly, without question.......I look forward to our annual family river trips.  For my family it happens every year, sometimes twice, but it never loses its magic.    Those five days where I watch fellow parents fully engage with their kids.... their laughter... their anxiety's.... their successes and their failures.  I watch the parent-child relationship evolve through the daily discovery of the unknown.  Those that have experienced the Salmon River know exactly what I am talking about.  

So in an effort to ditch the device I will keep exploring, seeking out moments to disconnect.  In this crazy world of  trends, soundbites, bipartisan politics and digi-devices......more than ever, we to truly and completely need an escape. So if in your journeys you find a better opportunity than the Salmon River and The Frank Church Wilderness to reconnect with the fam, let me know......

Happy Holidays, 

Jared 

Thanks for an amazing summer of Idaho Rafting

The leaves are changing, there is snow in the forecast and rumors of la nina returning with a vengeance. Before we completely forget about the warm Idaho sun, crystal clear waters of the Salmon River and the silence of the Frank Church Wilderness....we want to thank you.

2011 Annual Kids Trip

The SAC crew would like to thank all of the new friends we made during the 2011 rafting season. All in all.......it was the most successful summer, ever!

THANK YOU!

Why SAC?.....The difference is in the details

One of the most common questions we receive from inquiring guests is.....

"Why Sawtooth Adventure Company?"

Obviously we think SAC is the best in the business, but then again......we own the operation. There is a fine line between tooting our own horn and explaining why Sawtooth Adventure Company is the best decision for your Family Rafting Adventure. In the end when choosing a commercial outfitter the devil is in the details.

A few facts to help with your decision:

• #1 in Idaho- The fact that TripAdvisor ranked Sawtooth Adventure Company as the #1 tour in Idaho under Top-Rated things to do in Idaho.... speaks loudly.
• Experience: On our Sun Valley Rafting Trips in Stanley- SAC has been in business for 11 summers, longer than the competitiion. While they claim 25+ years, the reality is their name is 25 years old, but all the owners/managers are new in the last 7 years.
• We are what we do....Family Rafting Trips- raising a young rafter (10 years old) we completely understand what is necessary to make it a fun, safe and enjoyable experience for your kids as well as parents.
• Safety- Our number #1 concern. SAC has safely hosted 20,000 kids and adults down Idaho's Salmon River. All SAC guides have experience in wilderness travel, wilderness emergency medicine and swiftwater rescue. SAC guides live to run the Class IV High Adventure Trips and when the water is running high and the rapids are pumping.....nothing replaces experience.
• Guides -SAC guides are professionals. They consist of college grads, school teachers, master students and collegiate athletes. They are required to participate in an annual, week-long wilderness river training trip as well as a 3-day training for our Sun Valley Rafting Trips.
• Quality Equipment: When running wilderness river trips quality equipment is paramount. SAC replaces its equipment on a regular basis. This ensures all the gear required to keep you safe and having fun is in top-notch shape.
• Reputation: SAC has a reputation of a professionally ran, top quality service. This reputation began years ago when SAC owners graduated with a degree in Commercial Recreation Management. Today this reputation continues through our great guides, safe trips, huge number of return clientele and unmatched customer service.

Whether its your first experience on a wild river, or your 50th....give Sawtooth Adventure a try and we guarantee you'll be back for more.

An amazing adventure awaits......

Jared, Roni and Maya

family river rafting on the salmon river in sun valley and stanley idaho

Its hot outside......nothing better than rafting the Salmon to cool you off. Give us a call to book your Sun Valley Idaho Raft and Kayak Trip

Sun Valley Idaho- Family Fun Activities

Most people know Sun Valley Resort offers world renowned snow skiing. But, for those in the know.....it truly shines as a mountain getaway for a summer family adventure.

The Ketchum & Sun Valley area is like Disneyland for the active outdoor family. Miles of paved bike paths connect dozens of outdoor activities guaranteed to match your family's adventurous expectations. Not to mention the plethora of activities in the surrounding mountains. Sun Valley Resort is the perfect luxurious home base to explore the rugid Boulder, White clouds, Smokey and Sawtooth Mountains.

Few destinations offer such a wide variety of family friendly activities all while enjoying the relaxed pace and high end amenities of this rocky mountain town.

Here are just a few of the family friendly adventures found in the Stanley, Ketchum/Sun Valley Area

• Family River Trips in Sun Valley



• Guided Mountain Biking



• Family friendly Fishing Guide Service
  
  

New Stanley Chamber of Commerce Website

As the President of the Stanley/Sawtooth Chamber of Commerce I am very excited to announce the new Stanley, Idaho Chamber website. This new and powerful site will serve as a useful tool for visitors planning an adventure in this magical valley.

The new Stanley Idaho Blog will offer area businesses a great opportunity to highlight special events, sales and promotions.

Stanley, Idaho is an amazingly unique, off-the-beaten path Rocky Mountain destination that should be on every persons list who seeks out beautiful and wild places.

The Salmon River and the Sawtooth Mountains merge in this vast valley to create one of the most picturesque mountain towns in the west.

Remember, the absolute best view of the Sawtooths and Stanley is from a raft on our scenic float trips through the valley.

Family Rafting Trips in Sun Valley, Idaho

Kids line up for a dip at Jump Rock, a crowd favorite

This time of year I answer hundreds of phone calls asking about our family rafting trips on the Salmon River north of Sun Valley, Idaho. In an effort to best serve our clinets I have included a list of frequently asked questions.

1. Q: Do you have trips that are safe for kids?

Answer: I am a parent of an 8 year old daughter and fully understand and appreciate this question. Both our Scenic Float and Half Day Rafting Trips are great for kids. Our class III whitewater trip is a great introduction to river rafting for kids 4 years and older. For the moms out there.........we take special precautions when boating with young children, give us a call for further explanation.

2. Q: How long have you been in business?

A: This is our 9th season on the Salmon River, the longest tenure amongst our competitors. Since 2001 we have hosted more than 20,000 guests and run the most Class IV trips on the Salmon. Our Salmon River guides are professional, mature (ages 24-33), intelligent(all college grads)characters that return year after year. We take your safety very seriously. Yes, on occasion guests might fall in the river, but your trained guides will have you back in the boat in no time.

3. Q: Do you offer group discounts and will you match your competitions price?
A: Yes, we offer a group discount for groups of 6+ and will always match our competitor's price for a similar service. That being said, I will only match their price if I can afford to offer a very safe, fun and high quality trip.

Give us a call, or start your adventure at sawtoothadventure.com.
Hope to see you on the river,

Jared

SAC Owner/Operator
Idaho river rafting guides

Salmon River Guides kick off the Idaho White Water Rafting Season

While we are loving Stanley, Idaho's cool, wet spring conditions. SAC guides have been taking advantage of Utah's warm desert canyons. Cataract Canyon is a great way to kick it off the rafting season. Some of the largest rapids on the entire Colorado River are found deep within Cataract. Now add 30,000 cfs (cubic feet per second) of water and you have some stomping whitewater.

Beach-front accommodations at the Rio Colorado




SAC guides Jenna and Johnny keep'n it real
Thomas, Matt & Greg

This week the SAC Crew will head north to join me on Sawtooth Adventure Company's Annual Training Trip. We will run Idaho's Salmon River of No Return at what could be very high flows. During this 6-day training course SAC guides will receive a refresher on River Rescue, Wilderness First Aid, Emergency Protocol, Area History, and all of the SAC systems. The entire week is a team building experience and an invaluable tool towards employing hard working, happy, fun, smart and safe guides for the 2009 rafting season

The season kicks off this week. Stay tuned for regular updates, announcements, and a glimpse of what its like to live, work & play in Stanley, Idaho and on Idaho's Main Salmon River

Unlike the economy, the snow pack and weather conditions could not be better. It is going to be a great summer for rafting on the Salmon River

Come see us in Stanley,

Jared

Salmon River, Idaho Snowpack

Last week I headed up to Stanley to attend the Stanley/Sawtooth Chamber of Commerce meeting and check out the Salmon River snow pack. Spring has been slow to return to the valley, but came with a vengeance last week. Temperatures approached 70 degrees and spiked the river to 5.5 ft. on the Yankee Fork gauge. Downstream the Salmon River of No Return swelled to 35,000 cfs at the Whitebird gauge. Current estimates have the Salmon River Snowpack at 93% of normal. Don't worry, the current forecast calls for cold weather and snow for the next week. Great news for the river community and could swing us back towards 100% . The season for rafting the Salmon River is just around the corner. Are you ready?

Shotgun Rapid (Class IV) at 4.5 feet (medium low level)

on the Salmon River near Stanley

A few of Stanley's year-round residents relax and take in the sun.

Classic Sawtooth Scenery

Spring Sunset

Top of Galena Summit looking north towards Stanley