We did the john day back on the 2nd week of june. ran into the fire that started by cottonwood state park. The afternoon before this pic, we were setting up camp upstream, with high wind gusts, and just hunkered down to let thing calm down. Weather had been pretty good, and the cooler still had cool beers, so all was well. We started seeing lots of planes, and helicopters, and figured something was up, somewhere. no smoke. This pic is on our way out, and we had started seeing some smoke, then helicopters. We stopped here with a group of rafter fishers, as the helicopters were pulling water down at the bend in the river. At this point they were mopping things up. Its still amazing how much 'fire' a thicket of sage will set off. We waited here a bit longer, and then scooted on down. the west bank was mostly burned from here down to cottonwood - maybe 6 miles ? another excellent trip. caught a few bass, but nothing big enough to post up. 90% went back in. my buds asian wife is a bass fan, so a few were retained for dining.
