Oct. 11—Flashing and mooning jetboat tourists is a growing problem on the Salmon and Snake rivers, says a Nez Perce County Marine deputy.
A representative for Idaho commercial river users said no members have complained about this decades-old river insult, however.
Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Marine Deputy Derrick Wilkinson said “flashing and mooning” has gotten so bad that he’s adopting a “zero tolerance” policy: no warnings, just tickets or arrest.
“People are exposing themselves to mostly the tour boats,” Wilkinson said. “But it happens to other boats.”
Complaints have grown since last year, Wilkinson said. He hasn’t compiled any data but says complaints are “numerous.” The worst stretch is on the Snake upriver from the mouth of the Grande Ronde River, 36 miles south of Lewiston.
The issue came to light recently, on Saturday, Oct. 4.
“It was reported that a group of rafters had flashed their genitals and turned around and ‘mooned’ passing boats,” an NPC Sheriff’s Office media release read.
A commercial jetboat operator, who has complained of the issue in the past, shared with Wilkinson a video that allegedly showed nine rafters, both men and women, flashing and mooning the tour boat. Wilkinson located the rafters and wrote them all tickets for misdemeanor disturbing the peace. He will not share details of the rafters, who were on a private trip, because the citations are still open cases.
The Lewiston Tribune has not learned the rafters’ names to get their story. A records request is pending with the sheriff’s office.
Messages to five area jetboat tour companies were not returned Friday. One person, who asked not to be identified, said no pilots at their company had complained of being flashed by rafters.
Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association Executive Director Erik Weiseth said his members have not raised the issue. However, he wouldn’t be surprised if tensions on the Salmon and Snake are rising: more users means more conflict.
Professional jet boaters and rafters follow the rules of the river, Weiseth said. But the number of private jet boats and rafters is rising as the Lower Salmon River, which doesn’t require a permit, grows in popularity.
“More noncommercial rafters and noncommercial jet boats means more people who don’t understand the etiquette and sometimes they do things that make each other angry,” Weiseth said.
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Weiseth, the former owner of a rafting company in Riggins, said bared bodies are nothing new.
“Mooning jetboats? Rafters have been doing that for decades — 30 years ago rafters were mooning jetboats,” he said.
He thinks flashing and mooning has actually become less common.
“Entirely anecdotally speaking, I have been out there quite a lot and I personally think I see that stuff a lot less than I used to,” Weiseth said.
As for children witnessing the rude displays, Weiseth said his organization has fielded far more complaints about profanity on jet boat flags. “F— Biden” flags that popped up on jetboats a few years ago sparked plenty of uncomfortable conversations with kids, he said.
While opinions differ on the flashing and mooning frequency, marine deputies want it to stop.
“People are paying to see the sights of Hells Canyon,” Wilkinson said. “They’re not paying to see people expose themselves.”
Weiseth said the outfitters and guide associations want the same thing: “We believe that everybody should be able to share these resources and do it in a way that makes everybody feel welcome.”
As for the tourists offended by the rude gestures, whether its rafters exposing themselves or profanity on flags, Weiseth says simply: “It’s a bummer.”
Ferguson can be reached at dferguson@lmtribune.com.
More Information
Once a month, Nez Perce County Marine Deputy Derrick Wilkinson teaches a free class on boating laws and river etiquette. The four- to six-hour class covers paddlers as well as motorized users.
Wilkinson will likely have one next month. Look for it to be posted on the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.