The Downtown YMCA was the place to be last night. We had almost 20 kids at the Idaho River Kids roll session and about 15 people at the following adult roll class.

To get in on all the fun go HERE to check the schedule of sessions that take place at the Boise DownTown YMCA, West YMCA and Rocky Mountain Fitness.

A series of storms have brought more snow to Idaho. Ski areas are glad to be running after a post Thanksgiving start. Brundage has just over 6 feet of snow at the summit

More storms on the way late in the week! Looks like we may be shaping up for a great water year this summer.

This is a shot of a neighbors barn a week ago - we have about 6 more inches now. Been towing sleds behind the 4-wheeler and havin’ fun in the white stuff! Have a Great New Year and ** think snow **

Our fearless leader in the Tri-Cities area has put forth the 2nd in a series of whitewater tips. WESLEY always has good info and Pin kits are todays subject - check it out HERE!

Wesley happens to be headed to Mexico on Sunday - Huck one for us Wes!

P.S. You can check out the 1st in the series HERE.

Check out Pete Zimo’s article from last night’s closed meeting between industry leaders and the Governer’s Office. Thanks Zimo for keeping up on this! Link is HERE.

A group meets to discuss a battle plan against the notion of a non-motorized boating registration fee. BY PETE ZIMOWSKY - pzimowsky @ idahostatesman.com Edition Date: 11/30/07 Link to article HERE Image from KAYAKIDAHO.COM

A group of rafters and kayakers, including representatives of boat manufacturers and retailers, met Thursday night to devise a battle plan against Gov. Butch Otterand#39;s idea to have non-motorized boaters pay a state registration fee.

andquot;We are vehemently opposed to it, period,andquot; said Rob Lesser, a Boise kayaker and internationally known river runner.

The governorand#39;s office on Friday is hosting a meeting, which is closed to the public, to discuss a registration fee for kayaks, drift boats, rafts and inflatable boats.

Currently, registration fees are required in Idaho only for motorized boats of any size.

andquot;We want to know what is the need (of the registration fee),andquot; said Grant Simonds, director of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association.

Simonds said many of the boat ramps on Idaho rivers are paid for through appropriated money from the federal government.

The governorand#39;s office sees the new fee as a way to have non-motorized boaters share in the cost of maintaining boat ramps and restrooms and for search and rescue programs.

But Simonds said non-motorized boaters already pay fees for those same services.

News of the proposal drew a flood of protest calls to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation headquarters Thursday. The agency handles the stateand#39;s boating programs. And an online forum at www.kayakidaho.com was packed with comments against the idea.

Of the 40 online comments on the Idaho Statesmanand#39;s story about the fee Thursday, only two favored the proposal.

Some non-motorized boaters Thursday were trying to organize a protest Friday near the Borah Building, complete with kayaks, canoes and rafts.

Although the governorand#39;s office said the work group has no legislation drafted to create a registration fee, some kayakers and rafters donand#39;t believe it.

andquot;I heard the legislation is already drawn up,andquot; said Lesser.

Some people want to know if small fishing catarafts, inner tubes and small inflatable kayakers would fall under the non-motorized registration.

Although no details are available, proposed legislation in 2004 called for all craft longer than 7 feet to be registered. It sank in the Legislature after a rally of protests by boaters.

There have been four attempts since the 1990s to get a non-motorized boating registration fee through the Legislature.

Talk of the registration fee came up again during the last legislative session, when Otter said boat owners who have to register their boats are being unfairly singled out to bear the stateand#39;s boat-related costs and that he wanted to extend the burden to drift boaters, kayakers, canoeists and rafters, including those who own inflatable rafts and kayaks.

Pete Zimowsky: 377-6445

Yahoo - The Boise area finally got a little more snow Monday night. After it cleared up about 11am my wife got this shot off the front porch.

While downtown Boise didn’t really have much stick, we had about 3″ by the time it was all over. The best part - more in the forecast tonight and Thursday morning

We need a good snow pack this winter - the boys and I are psyched for the Bladder Wave to come in this year, so we need the Payette to hit about 10 or 11 K.

So *** THINK SNOW! ***

Gov. Butch Otter is once again trying to push a bill requiring non-motorized boater registration.

This bill basically pushes the needs of power-boaters (money for access facilities) on those that rarely (if ever) use these points for access.

I have three boats, so at $20 per year I would have to pay $60 every year - and while my boating is advancing, I can only paddle one at a time… My kids (all under 18) have one or two kayaks each. So my 6-year old will be required to pay $20/year as well. This is analogous to requiring you to license your bikes to ride on the road - which would actually make more since considering the road had to be built and the river was already there!

This also begs questions for out of state boaters! So even if you donand#39;t live in Idaho, but plan to paddle here your voice needs to be heard!

Read this from KayakIdaho to get an idea of what exactly is going on. Also read this AW Article which links to this from KTVB .

Then go HERE AND SIGN THE PETITION!! Or write your legislator soon!

From Devon:

Dear Friends,

Come learn to roll or work on your brace for free at BSU! Oct. 5th! I am holding a video presentation followed by a pool night at BSU. All the details you need are below and in the attachments. I cannot wait to see all of you right before I leave for the Surf Wolds in Spain! You can also check out the info on www.jacksonkayak.com!

Paddle in Peace, Devon

BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS RECREATION

AND ALPENGLOW KAYAK SHOP PRESENT WOMEN AND KAYAKING

Spend the evening with not only a renowned kayaker, but also a renowned female kayaker. Devon is the World Surf Kayak Champion, a 2-time National Freestyle Kayak Champion, a National Certified Board Educator, and the creator of Dare to Kayak. Everyone is welcome to watch a slideshow of her incredible adventures on the World Kayak Tour and her other kayak trips around the world. Her story and experiences will inspire female kayakers of all skill level. Then spend a few hours in the pool working on rolling techniques and outfitting kayaks to be more specific to women.

Women and kayaking will be held on Friday, October 5 from 6:00pm until 7:00pm in the Student Recreation Center classroom for the slideshow, and then we will move to the Boise State Pool for rolling techniques from 7pm until 10pm. The cost is free. Don’t forget your water bottle and swimwear.

Contact: Geoff Harrison, Assistant Director for Outdoor Program, (208) 426-2628, gharriso@boisestate.edu.

Media Contact: Heather Gribble, Promotions Coordinator for Campus Recreation, (208) 426-5674, heathergribble@boisestate.edu.

For additional details visit our web-site: http://rec.boisestate.edu/outdoor/climbing/events.cfm.

This is from the Idaho Dept of Transportation.

SH 55: from after The North Horseshoe Bend City Limits to before Garden Valley Road
wildfire, roadway reduced to one lane, long delays — pilot car in operation
Comment: Pilot cars will guide motorists through milepost 77 to 78 near Banks. Delays of up to 30 minutes.

last updated today at 4:05 AM

If you are paddling the Main Payette, SouthFork, NorthFork, or Cabarton runs today this may affect you! 

Link to article HERE
Statesman staff - Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 09/08/07

Idaho 55 north of Horseshoe Bend will be closed from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today.Firefighters working on the Chief Parrish Fire plan to set a backburn near the highway today, weather permitting.

The Idaho 55 section that is north of Horseshoe Bend and south of the Banks-to-Lowman road closed Tuesday about 12:30 p.m. when the Chief Parrish Fire started burning close to the highway.

One lane was reopened on Wednesday.

For current driving conditions on Idaho highways, call 5-1-1 (In the recording, choose “Banks” as the starting reference point.) or visit 511.idaho.gov.