THE ADVENTURE

It was Henry David Thoreau who once proclaimed "He who hears the rippling of rivers will never despair of anything." Widely regarded as Montana’s most scenic river, the bubbling waters of the Smith River have that ability to soothe one’s soul. Winding through the Big Belt Mountains in central Montana, the Smith carves a deep limestone canyon on its sinuous journey to the Missouri River.

The Smith flows for over fifty miles without crossing or paralleling a highway. Other than an occasional summer home or dude ranch, the Smith River Canyon is undeveloped and inhabited primarily by wildlife. It’s an area of incredible beauty and unusual rock formations, framed by towering cliffs that glow with the morning and evening sunlight. Moreover, the Smith is Montana’s only river where recreational floating is strictly limited by a state permit system. As testimony to this river’s desirability, the state received nearly 5000 applications for permits in 2003!

Our trip starts in Great Falls, Montana. We’ll have you fly the day before  (you might want to stop by the outstanding new Lewis and Clark Museum in Great Falls) to get an early start the next day. We’ll take you from Great Falls to our put-in at Camp Baker on the Smith River, where we’ll spend the next four nights floating an approximately 60-mile section of river. We’ll have you back in Great Falls by late afternoon on the 5th day, in time for a good dinner if you like.

We’re doing this trip in association with High Plains Drifter, a premier Montana fishing outfitter. They will provide first rate tents, sleeping bags, dry bags and virtually all the equipment we’ll need. We’ll have an extremely comfortable camp each night in incredibly spectacular settings. We think you’ll find the outdoor dinners among the high points of the trip.

We’ll be floating down the river in large rubber rafts that are extremely stable. The Smith does not have significant whitewater, although there are occasional rocks to dodge. It’s a terrific river for wading and swimming.

We think you’d have a terrific time if you did nothing more than sit in the boat, listen to the water and watch the scenery go by.  But we will have multiple activities during our five days together, including:

--fishing. Hank and Carol have fished the Smith for 30 years and will do their best to make sure you have close encounters of the piscatorial kind. The Smith has an outstanding fishery, with large numbers of brown and rainbow trout. The fish typically run about 10-16 inches with a 20-inch brown trout usually making an appearance. We know the hatches and can suggest which flies work best.

--birdwatching. Kate Davis, a peregrine falcon expert,  will join us on the trip to make sure no bird goes unrecognized or unappreciated.   After Kate received a degree in zoology from the  University of Montana in 1983, she founded Raptors of the Rockies (www.raptorsoftherockies.org)  and began rehabilitating injured and orphaned birds of prey, in addition to educating schools and the public about raptors.  Kate is also an accomplished wildlife artist and taxidermist. 

--fly-fishing seminars. If you are a beginner of if you would like to improve your flycasting technique, we’ll do our best to help you learn to cast better. Carol Fischer has worked as a flycasting instructor and guide for Grizzly Hackle in Missoula for a number of years, and has specialized in helping women learn how to flyfish.

--hiking. We’ll do some birdwatching hikes in the mornings, and we’ll also take some hikes over-looking the steep canyon.

Click here for past trip diary and photos.

TRIP DETAILS AND PAYMENT INFORMATION

Estimated number of trip participants:  6-8

Transportation:  Rafts

Cost:  $2495

Deposit:  A deposit of $500 per person reserves a space. The balance is due sixty days prior to the trip.

Cancellation Penalties:  A full refund of the deposit will be given for all cancellations more than six months before the trip. For cancellations three to six months prior to departure, we will refund $250 of the initial deposit.  For cancellations less than three months before departure, the deposit is non-refundable.. For cancellations one to two months prior to departure, 50% of the total trip cost will be refunded. Refunds will not be made for cancellations made less than a month prior to departure. We cannot refund money for missed meals, missed portions of the trip or any other unused portions of the tour. Cancellations must be submitted in writing and are effective upon date of receipt.

Insurance: Trip cancellation and medical insurance is highly recommended. We suggest you use CSA Vacation Guarantee (www.csatravelprotection.com) for trip insurance. Trip participants must fill out a participant waiver and a medical release.

Health and Safety: The trip requires average physical fitness and is suitable for people of all ages. If you have health questions, consult your doctor for more information. The tour leaders must be advised in advance of any special health needs. Weather conditions can change without notice and it is the responsibility of the traveler to have proper clothing and equipment. Please contact our office for assistance in what to bring on the trip.

Responsibilities and Conditions: Fischer Outdoor Discoveries, LLC acts only in the capacity of agent in all matters of transportation and tour operation. We are not responsible for delays, inconveniences, accidents, expense or mishap of any kind whatsoever resulting entirely, or in part, from the negligence of others or from causes beyond our control. We can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the participant, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute accommodations or modes of transportation and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in transportation schedules. Fischer Outdoor Discoveries, LLC takes no responsibility for special arrangements or problems incurred by persons physically unable to participate in the planned activities. No refund can be made for absence from the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of the booking. The right is reserved to decline, to accept or to retain any person as a tour member for any reason which affects the operation of the tour or the rights and welfare or enjoyment of the other tour members. Fischer Outdoor Discoveries, LLC will not discriminate against any individual because of race, sex, creed or nationality.

Canceled Trips: Fischer Outdoor Discoveries, LLC reserves the right to cancel any trip should an inadequate sign-up make the trip economically unfeasible for us to operate or should conditions arise beyond our control that adversely affect the well-being of the trip members. In such a case, a full refund of the trip cost is given, but Fischer Outdoor Discoveries, LLC is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by members in preparing for the trip.  In exceptionally dry years, the Smith River can become too low to float.  If water levels are too low to float the Smith, we will substitute the North Fork of the Flathead River along the west side of Glacier National Park.

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