Rough Water

The sheer beauty of Selway River whitewater never ceases to mesmerize me. Even at lower flows such as we saw backpacking in early July, the river’s power is unmistakable, but that power is always intertwined with grace. There’s an oft-repeated notion that Selway (Sélwe in Nimipuutimt, i.e. Nez Perce) means “smooth water”, or perhaps “easy canoeing” (as opposed to the Selway’s twin the Lochsa, allegedly “rough water”). I’ve been unable to find any support for this claim from a reliable source. In any case, the reaction to this alleged etymology from most people familiar with the river is that anyone who calls it “smooth water” is surely out of their mind. But one of the remarkable and enchanting things about whitewater rivers is the elegant order in their apparent chaos. Every river guide knows how waves and currents have forms and personalities that persist through seasons. Heraclitus’ famous line about about being unable to step in the same river twice doesn’t fully hold water, as it…