Bitch Creek

Andy Tyson on upper Bitch Creek

Over several million years the Yellowstone Supervolcano blanketed eastern Idaho in hundreds of feet of volcanic ash or tuff. Nearby, the Teton River and Bitch Creek drain the snowy western flank of the mighty Teton Range. The rivers have carved their way through the Yellowstone ash creating wild, turbulent and beautiful canyons.

On June 16, Andy Tyson, Wyatt Roscoe, and I descended Bitch Creek from the confluence of the North and South Forks to the confluence with the Teton River. Starting in the Jedediah Smith Wilderness we covered 17 miles of Class 3 to 4+ whitewater in packrafts. With exception of several mandatory portages around river wide logs we ran everything, including Driscoll’s Drop. The Teton River Gage reported 750cfs.

Inspecting the prototype whitewater boat

An aluminum frame with knee braces

Wyatt putting it to the test

Andy and the Hoodoos

Sunset over Eastern Idaho Potato Fields

Two years earlier, on July 25, 2010 Derek Collins and I put in at Harrops Bridge on Highway 33 and navigated 18 miles of the Teton River to the Linderman Dam. With the exception of portaging around the Felt Power Plan we ran everything in our packrafts. The Teton River Gage at Leigh Creek reported 350 cfs.

There have been various schemes to dam and flood these fantastic canyons, including the ill-fated Teton Dam. Friends of the Teton River have been leading efforts to protect and restore these fantastic drainages.

Bitch Creek, Confluence to Confluence

Teton River, HWY 33 to Linderman Dam