I first encountered Baldface Creek ten years ago while paddling down the upper North Fork of the Smith River in Oregon. Near the end of a long rainy day of paddling we stopped across from its confluence and marveled in the sheer beauty of this creek. A couple years later, my friend Kevin and I made the trek to paddle Baldface, but we had to turn back due to the massive snow drifts on our way to put-in. Last year, J.R. and I tried and were… Read More
Picking the right raft is, like many things, complicated. Your choice will depend on the type of boating you’re doing, your budget, and even your geographic location. The first thing you want to consider is your raft material. Here are the main choices: 1. Urethane: Pros: Slips nicely over rocks, most durable fabric, lightweight, best puncture and tear resistance, durable. The welding process they use to make these boats is bomber. Cons: Fairly expensive, tough to roll and transport, difficult to field repair*. 2. Hypalon: Pros:… Read More
The Elk River in Oregon is one of the five federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers located in the Siskiyou Mountains (Rogue, Illinois, Chetco, Smith, and Elk). It’s the smallest and least known of the group but has the same “oustandingly remarkable values” of the other four. Difficulty: Class IV Length: 11.5 Miles Put-in: Butler Bar Take-Out: Elk River Fish Hatchery Gradient: 38 fpm Flow: Call (541) 332-0405. Photos below taken at 4 feet. This section of the Elk River has the Grassy Knob Wilderness to… Read More
Kayakers usually opt to run the the Lower Wind in the summer at low-water when the big drops at Shipherd Falls are clean. During winter and spring flows, Shipherd Falls isn’t runnable by most paddlers, and it’s difficult to portage. Dificulty: Class IV+ Length: 5 Miles Gradient: 56 fpm Put-in: High Bridge Take-out: Old Hatchery Road Season: Winter and Spring for Rafting/Kayaking. Kayaks at lower summer flows. The Lower Wind run begins just above High Bridge at the take-out for the classic Upper Wind. Combining the… Read More
Last week, I explored the South and North Forks of Rough and Ready Creek with a couple of the trusty NWRC guides. We had hiked in and paddled the North Fork of Rough and Ready Creek a few years ago and fell in love with the unique and beautiful landscape. Shortly after that trip, we learned that this area is threatened by a large scale nickel mine, as it falls outside the border of the protected Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Rough and Ready Creek flows through a Forest… Read More
I’m getting ready for my first day of winter boating on Washington’s Upper Wind River. Every November when the rain begins I dust off my cataraft and piece it together after a few months of neglect. Here are some things I do before before my first winter paddling trip. A Few General Reminders Inspect your PFD for inflation and consider purchasing a new one. Inspect the gaskets and lubricate the zippers on your drysuit. Check your frame and oar bolts for tightness. This is also a… Read More
Quick Bhutanese translations: Chhu = river, La = pass, Dzong = monastery/fortress, and Stupa/Chorten = shrine I’m heading home after another memorable Rafting & Cultural Tour of Bhutan. Fifteen of us travelled across Western Bhutan visiting Buddhist monasteries and rafting many of it’s beautiful rivers. Paro and Thimphu Our first day was one of many special days of the trip. After arriving in Paro, we drove to the Paro Dzong for a tour. As luck would have it, the brand new 100-foot tall thangka (a type… Read More
This week the NWRC crew and friends explored the lower gorge of the Chetco River. On our last trip to the Chetco River we took out just above the lower gorge so we were excited to return and see the famous Candycane and Conehead rapids. We chose to run this section in September when the water is low (90 cfs) so we could easily portage these rapids, if necessary. We put-in at Tolman Ranch. After rigging our kayaks with overnight gear, we headed downriver. We spent… Read More
“One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the… Read More
The merging of two rivers is always an auspicious place for rafters and kayakers, and one of my favorite confluences is that of the East and West Forks of the Hood River. Not only is this a beautiful place to go for a swim on a hot day, but it also serves as the put-in and take-out for several great whitewater runs. Western Rivers Conservancy recently purchased 102 acres of land which encompasses this confluence and the amazing Punchbowl Falls, a stunning 15 foot waterfall that… Read More