Thompson Creek - East Fork

(NOTE: There is significant overlap between the Robinson's Bar-Thompson Creek map and this one.  Some of the items below could be moved to the map section above.)

Yankee Fork Ranger Station
  CCC Camp
Drainages from Railroad Ridge
Thompson Creek
Thompson Creek Bridge
French Creek alluvial fan
  Possible glacial geology note
Squaw Creek
  RAP
  Bridges
  Kid's Pond
Thompson Creek Mining Co. bridge
  Moly Mine note
Talus above Ice Corner
Ice Corner
  Lichens
  Geology
  Rapid
Canyon above Clayton
Old Bridge abutments
Clayton
  Kinnikinic Creek
  Slag Pile
  CAHA
Clayton Cemetery Riffle
Old 1934 (?) bridge
Spud Creek
Powerline
East Fork
  East Fork RAP
  East Fork Recreation Area
  Extent of East Fork watershed
  Note glacial alluvial boulders
Crystal

General notes: We spent some time taking as close a look as possible at the French Creek confluence area from ID Hwy 75.  French Creek near the highway is all private property and strictly off limits so we couldn't get the close up views we desired.  We formed an opinion that French Creek was a major tributary during the glacial melt phase.  We think the small bluffs flanking the confluence area are remnants of very large glacial alluvium outflow.  Further, we are of the opinion that this large fluvial input from the Railroad Ridge area, as well as Squaw Creek from the north, gave the area from the USFS Yankee Fork Work Center to Ice Corner its distinctive characteristics.  This informal opinion will need to be confirmed or rejected by professional geologists, of course.  However, if it is correct, it will make a very interesting piece of interpretive material for this otherwise seemingly unremarkable area.

We think it's worth mentioning the Squaw Creek Kid's pond even though it is not right on the river.  it's very close to the Squaw Creek RAP and is reputedly one of the very best kid fishing spots on the entire Upper Salmon River.

There are a lot of opportunities for photos to accompany this page.  One is the old sawmill that once existed where Old Sawmill Station is now located.  Another is an aerial view of the moly mine nearby.  The CCC camp is practically a "must include" photo for this page.  The Ice Corner area has a lot of potential for a photo.  The Clayton Area Historical Assn. has already given verbal permission to utilize their extensive archives of historical photos of the area.  A picture of the historic smelter is a "must include" for this page.

At some point withing this portion of the guide, the development of the highway needed to be discussed.  Our research has shown that this was once one of the earliest few actual major highways in Idaho.  it received funding and attention from the Legislature even before the era of the automobile.  The full story is, of course, far beyond the scope of this river guide.  However, at least some mere mention of the skeletal facts would be appropriate.

Extensive comments could be made about Clayton and the Clayton area.  It is up to BLM to decide what level of emphasis to put on this historic community.

There is a nice riffle across Hwy 75 from the Clayton Cemetery.  It's worth a mention.  The river is pretty straight forward down to the East Fork.

One of the biggest issues for the BLM Staff regarding this river guide lies at the East Fork RAP immediately below the existing Hwy 75 bridge on river left. This is a pivotal RAP that faces a very uncertain future due to the impending construction of the new Hwy 75 bridges in the months ahead.

We highly recommend retaining mention and description of this RAP.  To ignore it could possibly cause cause confusion within the river community.  Obviously, a full description of the East Fork Recreation Area is merited.

Just how material to include regarding the East Fork watershed is debatable.  It is one of The Salmon River's largest tributaries and obviously played a significant role in the glacial melt era.

We would highly recommend at least some narrative about the East Fork extensive alluvial fan and its composition of such large, symmetrical boulders.

This would also be a logical place to include some narrative about the bull trout.  When we volunteered out at Bowery for four summers, we learned that the East Fork headwaters are one of their favored areas.  Indeed, we observed huge bull trout being trapped and monitored at the IDFG East Fork weir.