Thanks for another wonderful season!
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Click here to see a bunch more 2009 pictures |
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The weather is finally changing and we are winding down the 2009 season. We have a lot to talk about in this newsletter - This winters trips to Patagonia, Our 2010 schedule and online booking discount, and a brand new fall newsletter section on protecting the rivers we run. But, as always, we want to start off by thanking all of you for making this past season, once again, the best season yet.
With the economy we realize that many people were making hard choices about what they could and could not do. And as the season went on we realized more acutely how important your support, word of mouth recommendations to friends, and online reviews on places like Yelp and Trip Advisor are to us. For those who had a chance to join us this year we are honored that you chose a trip with us and we are deeply thankful that you chose to share your personalities, interests, and amazing life stories. And for those who were unable to join us this year for whatever reason we hope that you will have a chance again in the future. You all continue to help shape Momentum –Thank You!
Below there is more info on:
- Chile this winter - For many of us this is our favorite river in the world and now is the time to start getting plane tickets.
- Our 2010 schedule is out and many of our popular spring trips and next summer’s trips on the Rogue are starting to book. We are also doing an early booking online discount.
- Our new “What is happening on the river(s) you have run” section. Basically it has information on what is going on in each watershed to protect it and, if you would like, what you can do to help. We are very excited about this and hope to make it a yearly part of the fall newsletter!
We have also compiled some of the best photos we have of this year’s trips on Facebook here. If you have any good ones you would like to share you can add them to the Momentum page – we would love to see them!
For those who are not joining us down south have a great winter and hopefully we will see you next year! Thanks again for another incredible season!
Kind Regards,
Pete and the staff of
Momentum River Expeditions
Winter Trips and our 2010 Schedule –
Chile - Patagonia’s Rio Futaleufu: - Join us for our annual 9-day luxury wilderness journey into the heart of Patagonia. This is truly one of the earth’s magical places and a trip of a lifetime (and my personal “favorite river in the world”).
The trip includes:
- One of the world’s greatest and most beautiful whitewater rivers.
- Whitewater from high volume class III to some of the biggest class V run in the world (your choice).
- Luxury wilderness camps set among glacier-capped peaks.
- Tons of other activities - hiking, mountain biking, word-class fishing…
You can see a video about the trip at: http://www.momentumriverexpeditions.com/chilevideo.htm.
Now is the time to get the best flight deals - If you are interested or have any questions call or email!
Our 2010 Oregon and Northern California Rafting Schedule is Out - Check out our 2010 spring and summer rafting schedule. Many of our popular spring trips and next summer’s trips on the Rogue are starting to book. We are also doing a pre season online booking discount for 2010 trips! We have just finished our first year of our new online booking system and so far it been a huge success! So this fall we are offering a 10% discount for any 2010 domestic trip booked online (or online inquire made) by Dec 30th 2009. Find the trip and date that works best for you – click “book online” on our web site, and when you get to the “pricing” section enter the promotional code. The only catch is you need to check out our Momentum Facebook Page. You don’t have to have a Facebook account to do it, but if you do you should become a fan – we update the page with pictures and news all the time! For those of you who feel like Facebook is about the most annoying thing in the world – we understand – it will only take a second to get the code….
What Is Happening On The River(s) You Have Run?
We love the rivers we run and feel that it is critical to preserve their wildness, remoteness, and beauty. As a company we have always supported and been very involved in protecting them and we are lucky to live in an area that has an especially rich array of groups that look for effective, logical, and broadly supported solutions. Lately we have also been thinking about ways that we could give you the option to either become more educated about the rivers you have visited or to help out. So every fall we are going to include this section in our newsletter and update you on what is going on in each watershed. We are also going to have much more frequent updates from the groups involved posted on the Momentum Facebook Page and on our Blog for those wanting to keep up with things as they happen.
We are in a time when nobody seems to agree on anything and facts, common sense, and a willingness to find common solutions give way to emotion, anger, and a mind set that can be compared to a small child stuffing their fists in their ears and hollering “I’m not listening, I’m not listening!”. Because of this we tried to choose campaigns that would be effective and have broad support. However, we understand that we all have very different opinions and we understand that our most important job is to show you these places, give you a break from everyday life, and run the highest quality river trips in the west. After that it is up to you.
So this yearly section should be a great way to learn more about the rivers you have visited, and if you are so inclined and find it to be an idea you support, a great way to help keep them in the state you enjoyed them!
The Rogue River, Illinois River, Lower Klamath River, and Clear Creek -
Siskiyou Crest National Monument – We love this possibility!
The visually stunning and ecologically diverse Siskiyou Crest straddles the Oregon/California border and includes the headwater streams of the Applegate, Illinois (major tributaries to the Rogue) and Klamath Rivers (including Clear Creek). The mountain ranges and river valleys that define this region are some of the most spectacular in America, it is a world renowned hub of biological diversity, and a day of walking through the area can feel as if hundreds of miles have passed.
The Siskiyou Crest has garnered attention for years and a campaign was launched in July 2009 to make it America’s next National Monument. The “National Monument” designation is a great way to integrate a wide array of traditional and growing uses, protections, and local community and tribal needs. This effort will likely take years and help is needed for a variety of grassroots tasks, including sending letters to the editor of newspapers in support of the proposal, gaining business endorsements, and organizing or hosting educational events and presentations. This campaign is in its early stages, and we are so excited about the possibilities! For more information, visit www.siskiyoucrest.org (they have a great interactive map).
The Lower Rogue River -
Save the Wild Rogue:
The Rogue is one of America’s most famous wilderness rivers. A coalition of local and national outdoor industry businesses, rafting and angling companies and conservationists launched a campaign in 2007 to strengthen protections for the Lower Rogue River. The “Save the Wild Rogue” campaign proposes to protect the tributaries of the Zane Grey Roadless Area. For those who have been on the river these tributaries are the beautiful, cool, side streams that we stop at to hang out by and swim in. In June 2009, bills were introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to add 143 miles of Rogue tributaries to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This legislation would safeguard tributaries that provide important cold water to the Rogue River and valuable fish habitat for salmon that migrate upstream from the Pacific.
Recent economic studies by ECONorthwest found that, in 2007, recreation on the river provided $30 million in economic benefits to the state of Oregon through fishing, rafting and hiking. In total, the studies determined that Rogue River salmon runs provide more than $1.5 billion in economic benefits to West Coast Residents each year, including the ‘non-use value’ of these fish.
This is essentially the monetary value people place on the existence of a natural resource, the ability to pass it on to future generations, and the option to use it in the future. This effort has very wide ranging support and just needs a final nudge so it can finish its long journey through our government and become law. To help take a few minutes to make two phone calls in support of this effort. Please call Senator Ron Wyden (202-224-5244) and Representative Peter DeFazio (202-225-6416) and 1) thank them both for introducing the Wild Rogue legislation and 2) ask that they work to get this bill through committee and passed into law this year. For more information, visit www.savethewildrogue.org.
The Owyhee River -
Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness Area:
Straddling the intersection of southeastern Oregon, southwestern Idaho, and northern Nevada, the Owyhee Canyonlands encompasses 3 million acres of public land – twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. This region is the largest expanse of undeveloped and unprotected wildlands left in the United States outside of Alaska. The Owyhee’s vast network of deep basalt river canyons and sagebrush-peppered plateaus provide key habitat for a number of threatened or sensitive species including the world’s largest herd of California bighorn sheep, several species of bats, sage grouse, redband trout, peregrine falcons, golden eagles, pronghorn antelope, elk, longnose snakes, bobcats, and pygmy rabbits.
Over the next year The Oregon Natural Desert Association will be ramping up efforts to work with local agencies, individuals, and communities to create the Owyhee Canyonlands Wilderness Area. ONDA has been very good about understanding the importance of ensuring decisions made about wilderness are beneficial to all the parties involved. This is a very new campaign and up to date information will be found at www.onda.org.
The California Salmon -
The Salmon River Restoration Council:
The Salmon River Restoration council is one of the most unique grass roots groups we have seen. Drawing from a diverse and extremely off the beaten path community of less than 200 people the group manages to do an amazing amount of work protecting one of our all time favorite rivers (in fact they are so busy it can be difficult to even get a hold of them!). Check out their web site at: www.srrc.org.
The Klamath River -
The Klamath Basin is widely recognized as one of the most ecologically important watersheds in the United States. It is also the site of a long simmering conflict over water policy, wetlands, and endangered species. There is a huge need for viable solutions to the basin’s fundamental problems. However, the problems are among the most difficult, confusing, and politicized issues facing any river in the United States. Basically, the river’s water is over allocated, the water is naturally warm and full of nutrients but farming and reservoirs have made the temperatures and nutrient levels bad for indigenous fish, and declining fish runs have damaged the economies and lively hoods of downstream Tribes and Fishing Industries.
There are a host of environmental, Tribal, Fishing, and farming groups involved. Many have different solutions and issue. If you are interested in the challenges facing one of our favorite rivers please email us for more info.
