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Johnsrud is a fishing access site 13 miles outside of Bonner on highway 200 E. It can be a point of entry or take out, but during the summer, Montana's youth use the site predominantly for a take out, a beach-break-out, or a mid-afternoon blowout.
The beach has gained such notoriety around Missoula that it might be time to change its name to Cancun, Montana. Scantily clad boys in board shorts and busty college co-eds mingle scandalously in a stimulated beach frenzy. On some days, loud music and bar-b-cue’s welcome a steady stream of “happy” tubers all afternoon long.
And why not? “It’s summer and we’re just
trying to have fun,” the author says.
However, Bureau of Land Management officials and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are planning to crack down on Johnsrud this summer.
Parking violations, fighting, litterbugs*, and underage drinkers are all in the regulatory sights of these government officials.
Most partygoers that LocalMissoula.com spoke to didn’t seem too worried about the crack down; some even felt that it was probably a good thing.
“It’s good they are trying to keep it clean out here,” said Loren Utterback, a 23-year old UM student, “I just hope they don’t crack down too hard, and keep us from partying at all.”
“It’s nice today,” (Wednesday, June 27) “because it’s mellow,” Beery said. “Sometimes the weekends are just out of control.”
The float from Whitaker Bridge, located some several miles past Johnsrud, takes between two to three hours and passes through a truly beautiful stretch of river. A few major rapids towards the top can be avoided by putting in at well-marked river accesses before the bridge.
Despite the debauchery detailed above there is something completely Zen about setting sail on a piece of rubber. Birds sing, the sun shines, and if you tilt your head all the way back all the world is upside down. It is not uncommon to hear somebody cry at the top of their lungs that heaven is here and all is as it should be.
Have a blast! Be full of peace and love. And as always, what goes on the river, must come off the river. Keep the Blackfoot beautiful.
*F.Y.I. glass bottles are not allowed on the
river.
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This
is not to say you can’t float the Blackfoot between Whitaker Bridge
and the beach at Johnsrud if you aren’t 17, wearing a bikini or
drinking, only, during these sizzling summer months, you may be
overwhelmed by the frat boys and coolers bobbing alongside you in
inner tubes and rafts.
Grace
Beery, 23, and Latoya Guzman, 22, both from Missoula recalled seeing
shouting matches between drunk lovers and fights started over stolen
beer.