Evan Weltsch
Wilderness Ranger Fellow
Hitch #2: June 22-29, 2022
Salmon-Challis National Forest | Frank Church Wilderness
Our packs sitting in front of our bush plane while our pilot refuels for the flight.
Having never flown on a small bush plane before, let alone to an isolated area of the Frank Church Wilderness where the only access can be found through a flight in or on river rafts, I was feeling all sorts of emotions going into this hitch.
Birdseye view of the Salmon River
Nervous but excited to see what my home will be for the next eight days, I boarded the plane with my pack and tools as our pilot Nick took to the skies. The loud buzzing heard throughout the cabin, the turbulence ranging from a small tip in the wing to a huge bump that would catch you completely off guard was all part of the ride. But those things are hard to notice when you look out towards your destination. Mountains spotted with different shades of green, where the massive Ponderosas you know all too well look like twigs from the sky. The burn areas, easily spotted by the thickness of the saplings that replaced their ancestors, and mountains contoured by the glaciers that used to lay here so many years ago. The scenery was breathtaking, especially when you’re flying by what seems to be within an arms reach from a mountainside. Seeing the Salmon River carving and weaving its way through the various landscapes it so chooses as if it had a mind of its own, similar to the 5 foot Bull Snake that shared our campsite with us along the Middle Fork.
Our hike in from the airstrip to our campsite was amazing as well. Walking upriver you’re occasionally greeted by rafters and kayakers alike, having the time of their lives during a perfect summer day on the river. The trailhead of Marble Creek was nothing short of extraordinary, seeing the confluence of Marble flow right into the Middle Fork with its crystal clear waters mixing in with the dark and swift course of the Middle Fork was a sight in itself.
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River during our hike in.
The Marble Creek hike showed me that there are so many types of landscapes you may find yourself in while spending time in this Wilderness, ranging from a well defined dirt path cutting through the trees and mountainside high above the river, to a lush green overgrown area that makes you forget you’re in the Frank but rather like you’re in some tropical jungle, leading into a trail that becomes part of a sandhill in an arid environment where you may feel like you’re in the desert and start to covet your once shaded part of the trail.
Our most friendly neighbor, Mr. or Mrs. Bull Snake, seen slithering around our camp during the warm nights.
Sunset on the Middle Fork
Up a few miles on the Marble Creek Trail, my crew and I had to make the decision to turn around due to a crossing where the water was at your hips and too swift to try to cross with full packs. In turn, we got to work meticulously along the miles we had already hiked, making the first part of Marble a great and easy trail to hike, for the time being. That being said, I wouldn’t change anything from this hitch, from the views, the hard work we put in, and especially not the rafters hospitality when they had extra food and desserts to share! All in all, what a great experience it was for my crew, and I wouldn’t want to be doing it with anyone or for anyone else. Cheers!
Salmon-Challis National Forest | Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
University of Utah
Major: Environmental Sustainability
Evan grew up in Ventura County of Southern California. Hiking in the foothills along the coast and through the national forests was always a favorite activity of his. After his time at the University of Utah studying Environmental Sustainability, he’s looking forward to learning more about working trails and working with fellow crew members. He’s passionate about wilderness because it allows him to immerse himself in an environment where he feels most like himself.