One of our favorite on-river lunches is Curry Chicken Salad. It’s not only delicious, but can be put together in a matter of minutes. We decided to do some recipe testing this week, so I whipped some up and brought it to our Global Headquarters Food Lab a.k.a. the Office. It sure was tasty here, meaning it’d taste even better on the river. Ingredients for 15 people 3 lbs. boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts OR canned Chicken 2 Green Apples 1/2 lb. Cashews or Almonds 1/2 lb.… Read More
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We are proud to be home from the first commercial trip down the Chetco River in over a decade. Before the Biscuit Fire in 2002 Allen Wilson ran trips down the Chetco, and this spring NWRC was issued a permit to follow in his footsteps. Our trip started at the Babyfoot Lake Traihead on the eastern edge of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. We were all thankful that the Siskiyou Mountain Club had spent the past few years clearing this section of downed trees that had fallen after… Read More
“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.” – Edward Abbey The Wild & Scenic Chetco River flows through the heart of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. It’s one of the most rugged and yet fragile wild areas I’ve ever experienced. Its fragility lies in the fact that it’s in a state of natural recovery from the 2002 Biscuit Fire and that its refugia for rare plants, wild salmon and steelhead and some… Read More
This time last week I was heading out to the Rogue River, ecstatic to be participating in the Class III Rowing School. And now, after five days of rowing a variety of different crafts down the illustrious Rogue, eating delicious food, camping under a brilliant starry sky, and meeting some incredible people, I am a happy camper. What a great experience to be able to try so many different boats – to get a feel for what kind of oars or oar rights you like, what size… Read More
I’m honored to announce that this summer’s trip to Russia’s Chuya and Bashkaus Rivers was chosen by National Geographic Traveler as one of it’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime. This award is given to the year’s “most authentic, most innovative, most immersive, best-guided, and most sustainable tours.” Our expeditions to Russia are led by my good friend Vladimir Gavrilov. We met on the Cal Salmon River in 1998 and have been guiding together ever since. In the 70’s and 80’s he led expeditions all over the… Read More
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