Let’s talk safety. Although the river is dropping quickly water is running fast and cold. If you go in, swimming the fast water would be difficult and hypothermia sets in quickly in the cold water.
Life jackets are required for boaters in Montana, children 12 and under must be wearing them. Adults are required to have a life jacket in the boat. Life jackets work best when worn not packed under the seat. Even experienced rowers can get into trouble in higher flows.
If you are new to rowing or haven’t floated the Bitterroot it is your responsibility to research obstructions. The Bitterroot is a dangerous river to navigate with thousands of trees and several irrigation dams to navigate. Check in with fly shops, shuttle companies, and local guides to get info on the stretch you plan to float.
Several trees have come down across the river this year especially on the upper West Fork. Forest service biologist Mike Jakober conducted a woody debris survey on the West fork between 2002 and 2017. The stretch between Rombo and Nez Perce creeks saw a 150% increase in wood and downed trees within the ordinary high water mark.
Jakober attributes this to a large number of beetle killed Douglas fir and lodgepole in the riparian corridor. The trees are rotting out and beginning to fall, some in the river. This trend appears to continue and there have been four trees down across that stretch this year. You may want to avoid this stretch.
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