Last week we returned to the spectacularly beautiful Chetco River. This mighty river has it’s headwaters in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness and flows 56 miles to the Pacific Ocean. We are lucky to outfit and guide a few intrepid groups down this river each year. Anyone who has been down the Chetco will talk about it’s amazingly clear water, jaw dropping scenery, and the hard work it takes to get there. Developing the techniques and equipment to run this style of trip has been a fun project… Read More
Since my first trip on the Chetco River I’ve been looking for a lightweight inflatable kayak for hiking into remote and challenging rivers. Last year AIRE introduced the BAKraft Hybrid, a 7 foot long boat constructed with a urethane bladder and protected by a Spectra outer layer. This was a step in the right direction, but not big enough to run difficult whitewater with overnight gear. Recently AIRE has been designing and prototyping a 10 foot, 10 pound version of the BAKraft called the “Expedition.” The… Read More
Rough and Ready Creek is a tributary of the upper Illinois River. I fell in love with it after my initial visit in 2011 and subsequently returned three more times to paddle this uniquely special creek. My most recent expedition with NWRC guides Nate Wilson and Ryan Saevitz involved carrying our gear for a day and a half to paddle it’s remote upper reaches. The most challenging part of running this upper section is being there when the conditions are right. You need to go in… Read More
Drukpa Kunley (pronounced “Drook-Pa Coon-Lee”) was a Bhutanese yogi and poet popularly known as “the Divine Madman” who renounced the ascetic life of a monk for a more lighthearted and fun lifestyle. He is legendary for drinking wine, being promiscuous, and using his “Flaming Thunderbolt of Wisdom” (the nickname for his penis) to strike down and subdue evil demons. The Buddha advocated for the “middle road” between a self-indulgent, materialistic lifestyle and an ascetic life of sacrifice. Drukpa Kunley began as an ascetic monk, but denounced… Read More
This summer has been simply amazing. We’ve enjoyed getting to know each of you and your families while sitting around the campfire, leaping off of rocks, hiking to mountain viewpoints, celebrating great lines through big rapids, and more! Thank you for spending your vacation with us. A special thank you to our partners on the Rogue River. We appreciate our friends at Galice Resort, Lori & JR at Sundance Kayak School, and the the BLM. Thank you to our friends at American Whitewater, KS Wild, and… Read More
Here is some general advice about running low water trips (below 2.2 feet) on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Consider flying all of your people and equipment into Indian Creek to avoid the most difficult sections at low water. If you do launch from Boundary Creek pack light and fly as much gear as possible into Indian Creek. I recommend Gem Air. Deflate your tubes. Then deflate them some more. If you’re getting stuck often then deflate them even more. Avoid boat pile ups… Read More
Last year I wrote about the World’s 13 Legendary River Trips, a list of the best expedition style, multi-day river trips. That post was the catalyst for some great discussions about the most legendary single day rafting trips. What makes a trip legendary? The gold standard for a legendary rafting trip is one that is frequently inquired about, remembered, and rehashed around the campfire. The most important factor is great whitewater, but I also considered scenery, length of season, and reputation. I’ve attempted to order these… Read More
Length: 2.6 miles (one way) Starting Elevation: 8,525 feet Max Elevation: 10,232 feet Taktsang (commonly known as Tiger’s Nest) is one of the most sacred sites in Bhutan and a place you must visit when you visit Bhutan. It is also one of the most challenging monasteries to get to. Located at an elevation of over 10,000 feet, Taktsang is the birthplace of Bhutanese Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress which was the manifestation of his divine consort Yeshe… Read More
The confluence of the East Fork and West Fork of the Hood is a special spot for whitewater boaters, fishermen, and anyone who enjoys rivers. This property has been used by many years by rafters and kayakers as a take-out as the West Fork of the Hood or as a put-in for the main stem of the Hood River. This river access was private property until 2006 when Western Rivers Conservancy began purchasing the land from Longview Fiber and PacifiCorp in an effort to conserve Salmon… Read More
We just finished our sixth season and it has been our biggest and best year ever. Thank you to our world-class guides, amazing guests, and partners who made this season a success. Here are some of our highlights. Wild Rivers Night In 2014 we moved our wildly popular Wild Rivers Night to the Patagonia Store in Portland. It was another great event with beverages from Sierra Nevada and Nectar Creek Honeywine, powerhouse speakers, and river conservation legend Tim Palmer as master of ceremonies. First Descent in… Read More