USFS - Historical Footage Clearwater Log Drives - 1938

In the interest of highlighting traditional skills, I am sharing this great video produced by the USFS Northern Region. Until 40 years ago, men were driving great logs down rivers. These men were known as "river drivers". Now, all we have left to remind this generation of the endeavor are L.L. Bean's "River Driver" shirts. Sadly, the great river drives are over. But you can see what it was like right here! According to the USFS Audio-Visual website description: Log Drive - The Clearwater River Log Drive began in north central Idaho in 1928 and continued, with few interruptions, until 1971. During that period of time there were 40 log drives. This program gives an entertaining description of early log drives and the last drive on the Clearwater River in Idaho. Enjoy!

[@knotbumper]

You need to remember that the water temperature was about 38F. It was all snowmelt moving the logs. None of those men had dry clothes after the first 5 minutes. Driving logs was a 10 hour day job, 7 days a week. If you had to pee, you just peed your pants, you had fresh water running through them anyway. Watching them pick a center is breathtaking as it unraveled. the most dangerous task on a river, when it goes, you had better have a ride out or you went under. At 10:57 there is a shot of my great uncle Rudolph eating lunch, he died in 1969.

[@judythompson5253]

(And for all of that, because it was 1938, they all wore hats.) The balance and skill in this is incredible...

[@MarcelFitzner]

Thank you for sharing this rare piece of history! That must be an incredible tough job back then!

[@onslaughter3066]

I love the old days.

[@RTBurke]

Those Oregon dorys are lovely little boats.

[@dsimas1967]

Thank you so much for this video. My grandpa was a forest ranger in Northern CA and then Alaska in the 1930's, he managed the CCC boys. I miss him. Amazing generation, men and women both.

[@greggmathews8969]

No sign of any type life jackets an look how many were in the boat. That river is really really cold to. Have been in that water around Myrtle in Aug was pushing 100 degrees and the water would make your legs go numb. Wonder how many lost their lives doing this. Were a tough bunch for sure.

[@LightStreamer]

these men remind me of the amish. vibrant and strong

[@neilhudson6194]

My God--what a job! You had to be incredably fit,have great balance and have nerves of steel.I was very impressed with their river skills in that whitewater. Thanks so much for this. Could you tell me where this was?

[@grumble2009]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearwater_River_(Idaho)

[@davidlotti5407]

River log drives, was hard a dangerous work the river pigs had a tough job getting the logs to the sawmills! Log jams were like a giant game of tiddle winks!

[@pattystomper1]

8:29 I think I see two black guys in the group. No discrimination here. Just hard working men getting the job done.

[@CBeard849]

Talk about the days when men were men!

[@davidlotti5407]

These men were tough ! An help build the nation! They weren’t wussies like we have in our culture now!

[@onslaughter3066]

This really fucked up my canoe trip.

[@pattystomper1]

These women work so hard. Why aren't they paid as much as men?

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Carnival rides? HA!