Transformation Through The Viewfinder

The Middle Fork of the Salmon encompasses every aspect that river runners love about rivers. It’s natural flowing, no dams, no water being diverted. At any moment in the journey, there is a very good chance you will see wildlife in its most wild setting. The water is clean, the rapids are fun and the pools are relaxing.

Did I mention the hot springs?

Once you get 40 miles into this trip, you’re 40 miles from any road. The only way out is by foot, horse, airplane or to stay on your present course downstream. It truly is an extraordinary environment. Nestled deep inside the Frank Church Wilderness of Idaho, the Middle Fork leaves an impact on all of its travelers.

O.A.R.S. has long specialized in taking guests deep into the wilderness for a blend of adventure and relaxation. Guests come from all over, motivated by a multitude of reasons.

Whether they need to immerse themselves in a pristine environment, unplug from cell phones, laptops, traffic jams and daily meetings, or give their children an experience that can’t be found in their local neighborhood or school system, these guests show up at the put-in on the verge of a transformation within themselves.

It’s just simply what happens on extended river trips.

And as a videographer on these trips, you can literally watch the transformation take place through the viewfinder. Focusing on faces and smiles, the camera records reactions of delight, anxious anticipation, and pure relaxation. By the time each of these guests reach the confluence of the Main Salmon River, 60 to 100 miles downstream of their launch point, their appreciation for life will have been enriched, one way or another.

Good work? Sure is. Video production on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

Even folks that have been on many of these trips will experience it again. It’s the same feeling that keeps the guides coming back year after year.

Our film crew certainly wasn’t immune to it. After all, you’re floating through a region that demands your attention and focus. The beauty of the landscape inspires; its vastness makes you feel small.

The rapids are filled with adrenaline and the evening’s campfire provides the perfect place to reflect on daily revelations.