Donaldson Crew Adventures

We told Noah he should take up diving in college. He says he doesn’t do diving boards. Only cliff’s and bridges :)   

Birthday, license the following day and friends over for backyard movie the 3rd day after. Busy week! 

She took over the Dakota from Hunter and made it her own. 

PJ has been going to see an eye specialist in Portland (Casey Eye Institute, at OHSU) since 2021.  He was diagnosed with pediatric uveitis.  Its been slowly getting better over the years, and we were only taking him up 1/quarter.  We almost decided not to go for the appt this august but Kelly decided that it would be better.  Thanks goodness we took him - they discovered that his retina had detached due to an infection in the eye that may have been there for years (They don't believe this has anything to do with his Uveitis). Good news is that they were able to get him in for surgery to reattach his retina. It is healing nicely and he will be going up to Portland often for check up while it heals. We thank God for brilliant doctors and modern medicine. 

Hunter’s girlfriend, Adalynn came for a visit. Hunter can’t take off any time with his apprenticeship so we got to spend a lot of time with Addie during the day. We had lots of fun together, going for coffee, getting pedicures, going shopping and just hanging out. We look forward to the next time she gets to visit. We feel blessed Hunter has her in his life. She is such a gem!

Interesting fact.  Since living in Oregon we have never been to Crater lake at least in the summer time.  Hunter and I winter camped there a few years back in 2022, but its just been one of those things where its been a bit of a drive for a day.  Anyhow with Addie - Hunter’s girlfriend here we decided to make a day trip and it was great to see it.  

Great weather and great views of the Lake!

We also parked (along with the masses) and hiked down to Cleetwood cove - the steep (and only) trail that takes you down to the waters edge and took a swim in the frigid waters.  Helped that the weather was hot.  To be honest, it was cold but not the coldest water i have felt before - it felt good given the temps.   

We spent the last week of July up at our cottage in North Idaho on the Moyie River.  This is the first time after going up almost half a dozen times that it actually felt like a vacation.  After buying it last fall and our first visit at Thanksgiving 2024, it’s been about prepping it for short term rental through AirBnB which started in April of this year.  Pat and Sue came to stay with us as well after visiting Cour D'Alene, and then visiting Glacier National Park.    Hunter and Noah could not come this time as they were both working. Pat and Sue joined us and we had fun showing them all around North Idaho. 

Good amount of time hanging at our place, cooking, river time etc.

Hiked part way up Queens mountain and picked huckleberries.

Cooled off in the local "Sinclair lake" down the road (really a large pond)

Visited some local water falls (copper falls, ... water a little low at this point in the summer so less dramatic)

The local ski mountain and swimming in Sandpoint.

It’s harvest time in the Kootenai river valley!

The Gormly crew came to visit us. They stayed a few nights in Caldera Springs which is right outside of Sunriver. We couldn’t have asked for better weather.They got to play at their beautiful resort in the pool and we also got to do a hike around Paulina Lake to the hot springs. Preston and Abbie were at camp but even without them we still all managed to have fun together.

Every year in January - a group of us try to get permits on different rivers through an established 'lottery system".  We pick a couple rivers, and a bunch of us try to draw.  Submissions are due Jan 31, and the draw happens by Feb 15.  We've had pretty good luck over the past few years.  Three years ago I drew on the Main Salmon river in Idaho.  Last summer the Lovejoys drew a permit on the Rogue, and this year in 2025, the starlings drew a permit on the Snake in Hells Canyon!  Unfortunately this year we would be without Hunter due to his new job and little vacation time but he will be back with us in future trips I am sure.  In his place Abbie's friend Addy came with us.

If you are wondering where Hells Canyon is - see this map.  It forms part of the border between Oregon and Idaho.   It is a dam controlled river that is known for big water.   The rapids are different - technical yes but because of big waves, lateral waves vs a tricky low water move. (we saw one flip while on this trip on a set of rapids we were scouting just before we went through).   

Our trip plan:

Our Put-in date was Monday June 30, so we decided to drive over on June 29th and camp at a camp group upriver about 10 miles above the dam.  (you cannot camp at the put-in which is right at the base of the dam).  We booked sites at Hells Canyon Park Campgroup.  It was perfect!  If you book - book the temp camp sites up on the grass.  (there are about 8 sites)

We would raft the approx. 30 mile stretch from Hells Canyon Dam to Pittsburg Landing.  We would take it slow and do the trip over 5 days with a layover day (which are always great fun).   Pullout would be July 4th for the long drive back home.  (hoping to catch some fireworks along the way in different towns!)

Day 1 - Bend Oregon to Hells Canyon Park (Drive)

Long drive but relatively uneventful.  We met up in Prineville to convoy.  We stopped for lunch in Baker city.  Weather was HOT.  Mid 90s after 6pm  guess that’s why it’s called Hells Canyon.  Refreshing swim in the water and fajitas for dinner.  Temps ended up being in the high 90s and over 100 a couple days until the last day.  

Abbie with the big cliff jump!

Night 1 dinner by Chris!  Kevin prepped a special desert from ‘fruit off the land’.

Day 3 - July 1 - Battle Creek to Saddle Creek (6 miles)

River day 2 - our night to cook for the group.  We did teriyaki bowls.  

Day 4 - July 2 - Layover at Saddle Creek

Fun layover day with swimming, hiking and group photos overlooking the river. Notice the ‘group charcuterie board’ we did at lunch.

Day 5 - July 3 - Saddle Creek to Dry Gulch (9 miles)

Day 6 - July 4 - Dry Gulch to Pittsburg Landing / Pullout (10 miles) + drive home

Hard rowing 10 miles through cold temps and pouring rain the the pullout.  After all the heat from the trip today was a real change for us  

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What else would I like to try for?

I think we have the skills now to handle the Middle fork of the Salmon.  Very hard to get a permit but the Selway would be amazing.  Both of these rivers are in Idaho.  This one might be more a guys trip but Mark has been pushing to packraft the Escalante in Utah as well.    

The plan was a family reunion of sorts with Kelly’s family. Unfortunately Pat and Sue couldn’t make it due to illness but we still had an amazing time. 

We were staying at a great place just out the east side of the park called Zion Mountain Ranch. It was a great place to stay, eat and hang out.