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
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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
“I have been on other rafting trips – these guides were much better than past trips. They enhanced the trip and were very friendly not just employees. What an asset” “I picked spending time with family as my favorite part of the trip, but the REASON it was so much fun was because of the guides. What can I say? Mere words are not adequate to describe how completely fantastic they were, and they made the trip. They were highly professional and safety conscious, and Jenny… Read More
One of our guides Trecia (a.k.a. “Trixie” or “Treesh”) wrote this song about Northwest Rafting Company on our last Rogue River trip. Enjoy! Don’t know why it requires degradation for the public to give the river a little appreciation. You don’t have to know about conservation because we’re here to change your life and take you on vacation Yeah a gear boat is much more than critical mass but we are industry leaders and totally bad ass Our really good looks may be deceivin’ but you… Read More
Last week, our guides had a break in their scheduled Rogue River trips, and we decided to grab some friends and explore the Smith River in Northern California. The Smith is the only undammed river system in California and is famous for its rocky geology and unbelievably clear water. We ran the famous Oregon Hole Gorge first. This narrow canyon can be seen easily from Highway 199, so many a boater has stopped to take a look at its awesome rapids. We put-in just above the… Read More
Washington’s Upper Wind River is a classic Class IV+ to V (flow dependent) river in the Columbia Gorge. It’s popular with rafters and kayakers for its nearly continuous whitewater, easy shuttle, and beautiful canyon. This is a good place to test your abilities and get some practice if you’re looking to get into Class V boating. Difficulty: Class IV+ to V Length: 6 Miles Gradient: 87 fpm Put-In: Stabler Take-Out: High Bridge Flow: 4.5 to 6.5 feet on the Wind River at Stabler gauge. Class V… Read More
NWRC's Rafting and Cultural Tour of Bhutan was recognized in 2011 by Outside Magazine as 1 of 10 Trips of the Year! This trip combines rafting the pristine rivers of this tiny kingdom with visits to traditional Buddhist cultural sites.