The following is an adapted section from Rivers of an Unknown Land: A Whitewater Guide to the Former Soviet Union. The author Vladimir Gavrilov will be leading a trip to these rivers in July of 2016. Rating: Class III-IV (some IV+) Boating season: July to September Put in: Town of Sofiysk Take out: Town of Urgal Put in elevation: Approximately 1600m (5248ft) Trip length: 323km (200mi) Route time: 15-17 days Logistics: From Moscow to Khabarovsk by plane, to Sofiysk by plane or train and truck. From… Read More
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This adventure down the Illinois River was just a small part of the expedition my friend, Nate Wilson, went on to document a watershed from start to finish. By beginning high up in the watershed of Rough and Ready Creek and following it to the ocean, the project hopes to draw a clear connection between the proposed nickel strip mining there, and the impacts that it would have downstream. The water that flows through the southern Kalmiopsis helps bring life to rare and endangered plants, wildlife,… Read More
The Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, or “the Frank Church” for short, is one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48, second only to Death Valley. Its 2.4 million acres are a gem of preserved green trees and pristine clear waters; a sanctuary for a wide variety of birds, fish, and mammals. Senator Frank Church and Wilderness Frank Church himself was a senator and environmentalist from Idaho. He grew up in Boise and earned a law degree from Stanford University. He was… Read More
Today, due to the threat of nickel strip mining in their respective tributaries, American Rivers has placed the Rogue and Smith Rivers on the 2015 Most Endangered Rivers List. The following is an account of our expedition to document the effect that strip mining would have on the waterways and communities downstream. Lost and surrounded by vegetation so thick that I could not even fall over, it was hard to imagine the ridge line we were walking is imminently threatened by anything human made. Yet, as… 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
Few rafters and kayakers have ventured into Bhutan due to its policy of “high value and low impact tourism,” which requires a minimum $250/day minimum fee to visit, leaving many of the rivers and creeks unexplored. After four years of guiding trips trips in Bhutan I was fortunate paddle one of those unexplored rivers. The Paro Chhu (Paro River) begins on one Bhutan’s highest and most sacred mountains, Mount Jomolhari (24,035 feet) and then tumbles through the Himalayas to the town of Paro, which is home… Read More
The wrathful deities are form that Buddhas or Bodhisattvas (gods) may take to scare off demons, subdue demons, or remind people to be good. They most often stand in the warrior pose (Pratyalidhasana), are surrounded by flames, have razor sharp fangs and a protruding belly. A third eye in the center of their forehead signifies insight and wisdom. The five skull crown represents changing the five poisons (desire, anger, ignorance, pride, and jealousy) to the five wisdoms. Chana Dojre Chana Dorje (also known as Vajrapani) is… Read More