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November 19th, 2010 pete
We are not sure, but a river trip is pretty cool!
And it is a very unique gift for the adventurous, for those that like to take vacations, and for those that really need to take vacations. It is also a great way to invite someone on a trip with you!
Types of Gift Certificates:
1. You can give one for a specific dollar amount (kind of like “Momentum Bucks”).
2. You can give one for a specific river (and the recipient can choose the date).
3. Or you give one for a specific trip and date.
The recipients will receive the gift certificate, a Momentum brochure, and if it is for a river or specific trip a sample confirmation pack with trip information, packing list, etc.
Right now we are giving 10% off for any Gift Certificate ordered by December 3rd.
- Your name
- Your phone number
- The recipients name
- The amount or trip
- Where you want it sent to (you or the recipient) and the address.
We will then send you an invoice and get your gift mailed out!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines…. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
– Mark Twain
June 18th, 2010 pete
The weather: Mid 80’s and sunny!
The water: at 5+ feet on the gage - perfect class V!
The River: The California salmon - one of the most beautiful place anywhere.
The time: June 25th?!?!?!? Yes! This is a once in every ten years or so event. We have not just a little water, but ideal water on my favorite run in the country in late June!
Join us for a quick weekend trip on one of the countries premier class V runs - in the summer sun! Give us a call or book online here.
It will be an amazing trip!
May 18th, 2010 pete
A big winter and the cool wet spring means we have one of the biggest snow packs we have seen on the California Salmon! This year we will be rafting into late June! This is one of the best class five trips in the country and one of the best years to see it - for many of us it is our favorite river in the United States.
Below are the dates we have left - including our just opened June 25th date:
Fri 5/21/2010 - California Salmon Wine Tasting Trip - 3.5 days
Fri 5/28/2010 - California Salmon Memorial Day Trip - 3.5 days - limited space
Fri 6/4/2010 - California Salmon Private Trip - 3.5 days - Trip full
Fri 6/11/2010 - California Salmon Trip - 3.5 days
Fri 6/18/2010 - California Salmon Trip - 2.5 days - Trip Full
Fri 6/25 - California Salmon Trip - 2.5 days
Come join us on one of the most spectacular trips in the country!!
California Salmon Rafting Page
April 20th, 2010 pete
World-Class River Trips Oregon,
Northern California, and beyond…
the Illinois River - lower canyons in early spring. The cover photo of our 2010 brochure.
Spring is here!
Well…
Kind of…
We continue to get late snow with what looks to be the last real round today and tomorrow. In between the winter weather we have been very lucky with perfect weather on our spring trips – our weekend trip on the Scott had blue sky and temps in the 70’s!
We usually talk mostly about our summer trips in the spring newsletter. However, the late snow means that we are looking at one of the best spring seasons we have ever had. The snow pack on our spring rivers is WAY above average so if you have not already taken advantage of one of our spring trips give us a call. There will be plenty of water on some of the best rivers in the country. We have mid May Lower Owyhee trips that still have space, late May and early June class 5 California Salmon trips with a little space (including a new rapid), and we have two Illinois trips with a few spots left (it was written up in Outside Magazine this year!).
Summer is coming up fast and like last year there are some really good flight deals. Below there is info on our summer trips and flight deals. Remember – our trips are fully outfitted so no need to check bags and pay extra! Our Rogue Wilderness trips are getting very full – we have listed trip dates with the space remaining at the end. There is also info on our late summer trip to British Columbia (one of the longest stretches of whitewater anywhere – we are excited!).
We will be adding a ton more trip videos this year – view them on our YouTube Channel or on our Facebook Page (become a fan and see video and pictures as they arrive). Check out our little video from a rare early season trip on the Upper Klamath: http://www.youtube.com/user/MomentumRafting#p/a/u/0/RhrWRxL3968
Definitely the best big water summer whitewater in the west!
Enjoy our new newsletter style – bigger photos – and hopefully we will get a chance to see you all this spring or summer!
Kind Regards,
Pete and the staff of
Momentum River Expeditions
“What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt - it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”
Hal Boyle
mule creek canyon on the Rogue
Rogue River 3 to 4-Day Wilderness Trips One of the world’s great summer wilderness trips with rapids and craft choices that make it almost unmatched in its ability to satisfy a wide range of tastes and skill levels. We offer 3-day lodge trips where nights are spent in comfortable and rustic wilderness lodges and 4-day camp trips where nights are spent under the stars. We also offer custom 3 to 5-day trips for groups and charter trips.
This is a great trip to combine with a good flight deal and a trip to Crater Lake or the Coast and the redwoods. We can help with a ton of planning advice and recommendations!
The Rogue an extremely regulated river and many of our dates are full. At the bottom of this email is a list of trip dates and space left.
Call or email if you are interested and find out more and book trips online at our Rogue River Page.
Ahhhh… the Upper K….
Summer on the Upper Klamath When Momentum first started the Upper Klamath and the Cal Salmon were the rivers that first drew us to this area. We quickly learned that we were only scratching the surface, but they continue to be “gateway” trips for many of our other rivers. For many the Upper Klamath is a yearly pilgrimage (along with a Shakespeare play) and it is definitely the most exciting summer class-IV day trip in the West – it is just really really fun! Join us and see why this run’s fame and popularity grows every year. We have day trips on almost every day except Wednesday’s or you can check out a weekend 2-day trip.
You can also take advantage of Allegiant Air’s Friday/Monday schedule – a weekend in Ashland plus the Upper K!
There is more Upper Klamath info at the Upper Klamath Rafting Page, And check out the video form last weeks trip: http://www.youtube.com/user/MomentumRafting#p/a/u/0/RhrWRxL3968.
British Columbia’s Chilko River
The Chilko, Chilcotin and Fraser Rivers - a 7 Day Journey into the Wilderness of British Columbia!
Join us on August 29th for a 7-day journey down the Chilko, Chilcotin and Fraser Rivers - a trip unmatched in its scenic diversity and huge stretches of class IV whitewater. Big John, Farwell, and Lava Canyons; the continent’s longest stretch of commercially navigable whitewater; bighorn sheep, grizzly bear, wolves, and birds of all types; all set in the legendary wilderness of British Columbia.
I am so excited for this trip - if you have any questions please give me a call or an email!
Read more about it here.
the Lower Gorges of the Owyhee
Late Spring Lower Owyhee 6-day Inflatable Kayaking Expedition Six days immersed in one of the most remote, wild, and beautiful areas of the United States. Six days of paddling, hiking, and exploring the “Grand Canyon of Oregon” at a time and in a way that few have ever enjoyed it! One of the most unique trips offered anywhere. Join us this June!
There is more Lower Owyhee Kayaking info at the Lower Owyhee Inflatable Kayaking Page.
As we said in the beginning this is going to be an amazing spring! If you are into last minute planning we still have some space on our Lower Owyhee trips – the Grand Canyon of Oregon, our California Salmon trips – combined with the Scott for one of the ultimate class V adventures in the country, and our Illinois trips - considered by some to be the best wilderness trip in the country. It is not every year we get water like this!
Like last year there are a ton of deals into Medford (MFR) if you book ahead of time. Try Orbitz.com, or if you are less selective about dates and you are flying from Los Angeles, Vegas, or Mesa Arizona check out the ridiculous Allegiant Air prices (as low as $15 one way!!!). In a quick search I found tickets from New York for $350!
We have started a little blog about Ashland (our home) and the surrounding area. Guides, staff, and friends will be adding to it regularly. Check it out here: http://ashlandoregonraftingandtravel.com/ - and shoot us an email if you want to add to it!
Become a Fan of our Facebook Page – we have a new video camera and it is becoming a fixture on our rivers – lots of new video soon!
Fri 5/21/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Hike/Raft Trip - 4 days
Thu 5/27/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days
Wed 6/9/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Hike/Raft Trip - 4 days
Wed 6/16/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Local Food and Wine Lodge Trip - 3 days
Wed 6/23/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Camp Trip - 4 days
Thu 6/24/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days - LIMITED SPACE
Wed 6/30/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days - LIMITED SPACE
Thu 7/1/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Camp Trip - 4 days - LIMITED SPACE
Wed 7/7/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days
Wed 7/14/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Camp Trip - 4 days - FULL
Thu 7/15/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days - LIMITED SPACE
Wed 7/21/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Camp Trip - 4 days
Thu 7/22/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days - LIMITED SPACE
Wed 7/28/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days
Fri 7/30/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Camp Trip - 4 days - FULL
Wed 8/4/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Camp Trip - 3 days - FULL
Thu 8/5/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days - LIMITED SPACE
Wed 8/11/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Wine Tasting Trip - 3 days - LIMITED SPACE
Thu 8/19/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Custom Camp/Lodge Trip - 3 days - FULL
Tue 8/24/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Camp Wine Tasting Trip - 4 days
Wed 9/1/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Trip - 3 days
Sun 9/5/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Lodge Photography Trip - 3 days
Fri 9/10/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Fall Special Lodge Trip - 3 days
Thu 9/16/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Fall Special Lodge Trip - 3 days
Sat 9/25/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Fall Special Lodge Trip - 3 days
Fri 10/1/2010 - Rogue Wilderness Fall Special Lodge Trip - 3 days
“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.”
Winnie the Pooh
info@MomentumRiverExpeditions.com
www.MomentumRiverExpeditions.com
541 488 2525
Enjoy world class rivers in small groups
with unparalleled personal service, organic
meals, and guides with 8+ years of
experience leading trips around the world.
April 5th, 2010 pete
Wow. We are excited! The last week has been the frosting on what was shaping up to be a great year (and the forecast for the next couple of weeks is the sprinkles:)). Late snow and cold weather does amazing things to a snow pack. At a time when the snow pack is historically starting to go down it is going up!
So, here is where we are at so far:
Spring Rafting:
The California Salmon and The Scott Rivers:
Did anyone see pictures of the city of Shasta this winter? It was impressive! The California Salmon and he Scott do not drain Mt Shasta, but the mountains that do drain into them are on the same storm track. The snow pack for Northern California is at 140% but the Salmon and Scott are probably closer to around 165% (the Scott may be a bit lower). With the cold weather coming this could go up even higher! We should have an amazing season and go well into June! Cal Salmon trips are getting very full though so call if you are interested.
The Owyhee River:
The Owyhee is always super hard to predict. You can have a great snow pack coming into March and because the mountains that drain into the Owyhee are low elevation a warm March can melt almost everything. However, this year we went into March with about an 80% snowpack. With a reletively cold March and the wet couple of weeks we are at about 110%! The predicted cold weather coming up is huge too. It should be perfect for our Middle Owyhee rafting trips and we should be able to run Lower Owyhee trips into late May. This is a truly off the beaten path river - it does not run like this every year so take advantage of it if you can!
The Illinois River:
The ‘Illi’ is by far the hardest to predict - even now. My best guess is that we are at about 100% snow pack. However, a little more rain and cool temps in the beginning of April are way more important to the rafting season. So, right now it looks great! We can only a few trips a year and the trip are very small. There are only a few spaces left.
Summer Rafting:
The Rogue and Klamath Rivers both have huge basins and both have upstream dams that regulate flows somewhat. What this means is that we need about a 70% snow pack to have a good year with the normal flows. Right now we are at about 83% for both. This means the Upper Klamath should have the normal daily big water flows that make it the best summer day trip in the west and the Rogue should have its usual perfect flows for multi-day rafting trips through the Rogue River canyon! Use on the Rogue is extremely regulated to preserve its wilderness feeeling so these trips are already getting very full.
We are so excited for this year!
March 24th, 2010 pete
Yup, Some may of heard, but we have a new rapid on the California Salmon below freight train… and it look pretty fun!
In mid March the continued cold and very wet weather triggered a rock slide in the canyon that has covered the road and created the new rapid. For those of you who have been on the Salmon before it is at the incredible narrow spot where someone had spray painted ”Begin Freeway” on the cliff wall (for those who are scared of heights it is on the part where your eyes were closed:)).
We were a bit worries in the beginning - how are we going to run the river??? However the the slide should be cleared in April. It is a natural event and we have a new rapid. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Below are some pictures of the slide. You can also see the new rapid on Otter Bar’s Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3922608&id=84701887461
It is going to be a great California Salmon Rafting Season and trips are getting full!
September 2nd, 2009 pete
Our full 2010 Rafting schedule is out for Oregon, Northern California, and for our Ashland based river trips. You can check out the full schedule here. You can also go to any one of our river pages for that rivers schedule. We will add more trips as the winter progresses. Some of more popular dates (especially for spring trips and trips on the Rogue River) are already starting to fill. Don;t forget, we LOVE doing custom trips. Call us or email if you have any questions.
July 23rd, 2009 pete
We are in the heart of our summer season and looking forward to the rest of our trips – it has been an amazing year so far! However many of our returning guests and guests that have already rafted this summer are looking towards next spring and all the rivers that come alive for a short time in Oregon and Northern California. So, we just released our spring 2010 Rafting schedule. The California Salmon, Illinois, and Middle and Lower Owyhee all have 2010 dates and on some dates bookings have started. Give us a call if you have any questions or interest! Below are a few quotes from this years spring trips:
Just wanted to say thank you for such a wonderful time last weekend! I was so impressed with the professionalism of your guides, as well as the incredible relaxing but enthralling trip. I’ve never seen such impressible cohesiveness and talent.
– Anne – California Salmon Rafting
I just wanted to thank you again for the great Illinois trip a few weeks ago, it was definitely one of the best multi-day trips I have ever been on and, as usual, the attention to detail that you and your guides adhere to is astounding and very much appreciated.
– Paul - Illinois River Rafting
Your excursion was awesome, the food unbelievable (didn’t expect anything that great on a raft trip) and the guides were super. I’ve never seen five people work so hard and make it look so effortless.
– Susan - Owyhee River Rafting
May 1st, 2009 pete
We are getting near the best time for Califonia Salmon Rafting - May through early June. It is a guide and guest favorite - one of the finest class 5 runs in the country. The snowpack looks great and we are excited to get down there! There is still room on our May 8th, and 22nd trips.
April 30th, 2009 pete
World-Class River Trips Oregon, Northern California, and beyond…
Hello,
We hope you are enjoying spring! We are almost half way through our spring season and we are excited for the rest of spring and summer. Thanks so much to all who have joined us so far!
For those who are planning to join us on an upcoming trip (or contemplating it) there are some amazing travel deals this year. A combination of airlines running below capacity, lower fuel costs, and new routes into our own Medford Oregon “International” Airport have made flying an unbelievable option right now. A quick search on the web found flights as low as $50 one way!! A few of our favorite local hotels are also running great package deals.
Below there are sections on flight deals, our summer trips along with vacation ideas, and our late spring trips. Our summer rivers have a great snow pack - about 110%! We are so excited for the Upper Klamath season and our Rogue Wilderness Trips. The Rogue trips are filling very fast and some dates are full so give us a call/email if you are interested. There is also still time to get on a California Salmon trip or our Lower Owyhee trip (Grand Canyon of Oregon). Our Owyhee trip was just featured in Oregon Travel and National Geographic Adventure. There are Lower Owyhee trips leaving on the 15th and 26th of May.
Once again thanks to all who have joined us so far this season - It looks to be our best year yet and it has been an amazing start! Hopefully we will see everyone on the water this year.
Kind Regards,
Pete and the staff of
Momentum River Expeditions
 Rogue River 3 To 4-Day Wilderness Trip - Our newest trip! An iconic American classic and a wilderness playground. One of the world’s great summer wilderness trips complete with remote riverside lodges. The rapids and the choice of craft make the Rogue almost unmatched in its ability to satisfy a wide range of tastes and skill levels.
Rogue Travel Ideas: Most of our Rogue trips start on Thursdays. You can fly in and spend a few days exploring Ashland, check out plays at the Shakespeare festival, or raft the Upper Klamath…etc. Then on Thursday morning head to the Rogue for a 3-day Lodge trip (The lodge system on the Rogue is extremely unique. There are very few places in the world with a system of remote riverside lodges only accessible by boat), or a four day camp trip. Then you get back to Ashland for the night and fly out on Monday. You can also get your car shuttled to the coast (where the trip ends) and follow your Rogue trip up with time on the Oregon Coast and in the Redwoods. The Historic Ashland Springs Hotel (one of our favorites) is offering a great room rates for our guests running the Rogue. There are so many options, give us a call and we can help out!
Many of these trips are already getting full, so call or email if you are interested! There is more info at the Rogue River Page.
 Summer on the Upper Klamath – Class IV+ - The Upper Klamath River is definitely the most exciting summer class-IV day trip in the West. We have a ton of water and great summer flows this year! Join us and see why this run’s fame and popularity grows every year. We have day trips on almost every day except Wednesday’s or you can check out a weekend 2-day trip and take advantage of Allegiants Friday/Monday schedule – fly into Medford on Friday and spend the night in Ashland. We pick you up at your hotel on Saturday morning and you spend two days on the Upper Klamath. Then we return to Ashland on Sunday afternoon and you either grab an evening flight out or a Monday morning flight.There is more Upper Klamath info at the Upper Klamath Rafting Page.
 The Lower Klamath River – 2 to 4 days in remote and beautiful Northern California. It is the perfect introduction to rafting, river travel, and camping, and one of the best rafting trips in the country for families with young children. The river offers fun splashy rapids, rugged mountain scenery, beautiful side hikes, and tons of wildlife. For those wanting more excitement we can bring along inflatable kayaks, making the Lower Klamath great for a wide range of ages.
There is more Lower Klamath info at the Lower Klamath River Rafting Page.
There are great photos on our Lower Klamath River Facebook page.
 High Adventure Inflatable Kayaking trips –With the addition of the Rogue we have yet another great summer Inflatable Kayaking trip (and you can stay in wilderness lodges!). We love inflatable kayaking and guests that have joined us in the past rave about it. It’s just you, your kayak, your recently learned skills, rapids at “face” level, and guides leading the way giving you tips, encouragement, and a helping hand when needed. A unique and exciting river experience.
There is more Inflatable Kayak info info at the Kayaking Page.
 The Lower Owyhee 5-day – The Grand Canyon of Oregon - it has been compared to Zion, Bryce, and Grand Canyon National Parks but in the end it probably defies direct comparisons. A 5-day wilderness journey through one of the most remote and bizarrely beautiful canyons in the continental U.S. Our trip has recently been featured in National Geograpic Adventure and Travel Oregon. There is room on May 15th and 26th. There is also room on the low water Inflatable Kayaking trip on June 26th. With the Owyhee you actually want to fly into Boise, Idaho. Luckily there are amazing flight deals there too!
There is more Lower Owyhee info at the Owyhee River Rafting Page.
There are great photos on our Owyhee River Facebook page.
 The California Salmon 2 to 3 Day – The Salmon is one of the most spectacular rafting trips in the country; it is world-class whitewater in our back yard. There is still room on our May 8th, 22nd, and June 5th trips. Salmon Travel Ideas: The California Salmon Long Weekend – Fly into Medford on a Thursday evening, spend the night in Ashland, have a late breakfast and then either rent a car or get a shuttle with us down to one of the best and most beautiful high adventure runs in the country. Spend 3 days and 3 nights at the river, get back to the Ashland area Monday evening and fly back Tuesday (or even late Monday).
There is more Cal Salmon info at the California Salmon Rafting Page.
There are more photos at our Cal Salmon facebook page.
 Clear Creek / Lower Klamath 3-Day Inflatable Kayaking – High water spring adventure trips on the Lower Klamath - and a chance to run a stretch of river that is rarely seen or even heard of (and that is spectacularly beautiful)! Very few people see Clear Creek, but the ones that do are blown away. We have a trip with space on June 12th.
There is more info Here.
There are AMAZING photos on our Lower Klamath River Facebook page.
Flights – Wow, if you book ahead of time there are a ton of deals to Medford (MFR). Try Orbitz.com, or if you are less selective about dates and you are flying from Los Angeles, Vegas, or Mesa Arizona check out the ridiculous Allegiant Air prices (as low as $15 one way!!!).
- Online Booking: Thank you to all who have used our new system and gave us feedback! It has been a great success!
- Are you a fan of Momentum on Facebook? Facebook has gone through a big “face” lift. For those who are already fans if you want to see Momentum updates on your Facebook page you need go to the bottom of your “news feed” (the part where all your friends comments show up) and click on “edit options”. Find Momentum and click “add to news feed”. Not a fan of Momentum yet? Facebook allows for a great interaction with guests, guides, and Momentum. Anybody can post pictures and add content. You can become a fan of Momentum River Expeditions and be the first to hear news, add trip photos, etc. Become a Fan of Momentum Rafting on Facebook.
info@MomentumRiverExpeditions.com
www.MomentumRiverExpeditions.com
1-866-663-5628
Enjoy world class rivers in small groups
with unparalleled personal service, organic
meals, and guides with 8+ years of
experience leading trips around the world.
March 26th, 2009 pete
 Mornin everyone!
All right, I am going to do something I have never done before. I am going to break down the snowpack, long term forecast, and spring and summer flow prediction for each river that we run… I actually do it neurotically every spring, I just have never written it all out. It has been an up and down year, it started off a little scary, but is finishing VERY strong! Here we go, it is looking pretty good!
Northern California Rivers / Rafting Seasons:
The California Salmon: The snowpack for the Northern California region is at about 93%. After lots of research (including backcountry skiing :)) my guess is that the Salmon drainage is somewhere between 95% and 105%. So basically an average year - perfect. The long term weather forecast through April 8th calls for below normal temperatures and normal precipitation so the pack may even increase a little more.
California Salmon Rafting Season prediction: Hmmm… A lot depends on the weather in May but my guess is we will have runable flows through June 15th with the peak between May 16th and Memorial Day weekend. We still have room on both of those weekends!
The Scott: Like the Salmon I think the Scott has a slightly higher snowpack then the overall Northern California area. A big portion of its drainage was in the “Shasta Storm Vortex” when Shasta got like 10 feet of snow in two days. I am guessing 95% to 115%.
Scott Rafting Season prediction: Hmmm… This one is tougher because you never know how much water will be diverted for farming… a lot depends on how much rain the fields get in April. I am going to guess runable flows through May 18th with a really good chance of making it through Memorial Day. A good solid Scott season.
The Lower Klamath: The Lower K is dam controlled so all we need is to be above about 65 - 70%. We are at 110%!
Lower Klamath Rafting Season prediction: Great water for rafting and inflatable kayaking all summer long.
Oregon Rivers / Rafting Seasons:
The Owyhee River: This one is always a bit of a crap shoot… a finicky low elevation snowpack, March temperatures that can zoom from 20 to 80… Good fun. The great news is we only got about 4 days of the dreaded “late March unseasonably hot weather season destroying melt” and the long term forecast looks cooler than normal. Right now we are at 89% and I expect that will go up in the next few weeks with the weather. The Owyhee season literally depends on the last two weeks in March and first two weeks in April. Things are looking great!
Lower Owyhee Rafting Season prediction: I feel very confident about the trips through the first few weeks in May (the May 1st trip should be awesome), and confident about our May 15th trip. After that who knows… Maybe a trip after Memorial Day weekend??? It could happen! Overall a solid Lower Owyhee season (some years we don’t have a season at all!).
Note: This does not affect our late June Lower Owyhee inflatable kayaking trips - they run on low base flows.
Middle Owyhee Rafting Season Prediction: The middle needs higher flows then the lower and we need to be able to get into the put-in (meaning the roads need to be dry). Last year we had an unbelievable window – trips from mid April through late may! This year I feel really good about late April through the first week in May. The April 27th trip looks perfect.
The Illinois River: The Illi snowpack is probably about 80% (that is a wild guess:)). But illinois trips are all about late season precipitation – we have had a ton of that. Snowpack helps with the very rare late May/Early June trips.
Illinois Rafting Season Prediction: Yikes, this one might be the hardest of all. Baring any flooding, I think we will have good flows thought the May 12 the trip. I don’t think we will make it to Memorial Day this year. The trips from April 23rd through the 12th look great! Another perfectly normal season.
The Rogue: The Rogue is dam controlled and the volcanic rocks in its huge drainage area act like a big sponge and release water slowly throughout the season. So, the Rogue only needs to be above 70% or so. It is at 105%!
Rogue Rafting season Prediction: Great water for rafting and inflatable kayaking all summer long!
The Upper Klamath: The upper Klamath is also dam controlled and it has ”daily peaking flows” for power generation so even in low snow years there is usually big water rafting all summer. This year it is at 105%. The best thing about that is, for this year at least, the farmers and struggling Salmon populations should both get water.
Upper Klamath Rafting prediction: Big water class 4+ rafting all summer long – even when other class 4+ rivers are low and rocky the upper k will be a blast.
March 17th, 2009 pete
A combination of airlines running below capacity, lower fuel costs, and new routes into our own Medford Oregon airport have made flying an unbelievable option right now. Airlines such as Allegiant Air have fairs below $200 into Medford from many cities and almost any search on Orbitz came up with great deals – flights to Medford from the east coast under $350 – especially if you are planning ahead.
Below are some trip options and itinerary ideas. We are also working with local hotels and as we get more information and package ideas we will update this. Please call us if you have any questions or need some advice!
Spring Ideas:
The California Salmon Long Weekend – Fly into Medford on a Thursday evening, spend the night in Ashland, have a late breakfast and then either rent a car or get a shuttle with us down to one of the best and most beautiful high adventure runs in the country. Spend 3 days and 3 nights at the river, get back to the Ashland area Monday evening and fly back Tuesday (or even late Monday). There are trips every weekend from May 8th – June 5th (some trips are getting very full).
Illinois Rafting Week - Take advantage of Allegiant Air’s Monday flight schedule by flying into Medford on a Monday. Then spend Tuesday and Wednesday exploring Ashland, checking out plays at the Shakespeare festival, or rafting the Upper Klamath… I could go on, so many options. Then on Thursday morning we pick you up at your hotel and we head to the Illinois River for a 4-day trip down what is considered by some to be the best wilderness rafting trip in the country. After 4-days on the river you get back to your hotel Sunday night, have a great dinner and then fly our relaxed on Monday. Illinois trips are on Thursdays starting April 9th through May 7th. It is a very short season and we can only take 8 to 9 guests per trip.
The Owyhee Rafting Week – The Grand Canyon of Oregon. With the Owyhee you actually want to fly into Boise, Idaho. Luckily there are amazing flight deals there too! Our Lower Owyhee trip was just featured in Travel Oregon Magazine. The Owyhee River is almost unmatched in its remoteness and desert beauty. There are two trips - 4 or 5 days in length. Most trips begin on Fridays and the season is early April to late May.
Summer Ideas:
The Rogue Rafting Week – The Rogue River is one of the world’s great summer wilderness trips and is almost unmatched in its ability to satisfy a wide range of tastes and skill levels. Most of our Rogue trips start on Thursdays. You can take advantage of the Allegiant Air Monday specials and fly in on Monday - then spend Tuesday and Wednesday exploring Ashland, checking out plays at the Shakespeare festival, or rafting the Upper Klamath…etc. Then on Thursday morning we pick you up at your hotel and we head to the Rogue for a 3-day Lodge trip (The lodge system on the Rogue is extremely unique. There are very few places in the world with a system of remote riverside lodges only accessible by boat), or a four day camp trip. Then you are back in Ashland for the night and then flying out on Monday. Our Rogue trips run from mid June through mid September – some dates fill up quickly.
The Upper Klamath Rafting Weekend – An all whitewater weekend… Take advantage of Allegiants Friday/Monday schedule – fly into Medford on Friday and spend the night in Ashland. We pick you up at your hotel on Saturday morning and spend two days on arguably the best summer whitewater on the West Coast. You get back to Ashland on Sunday afternoon and either take an evening flight out or a Monday morning flight. Upper Klamath 2-day trips start in early July and end in Early September.
March 6th, 2009 pete
Wooo hooo!
Location: Etna Pass - headwaters of the Scott and Salmon. 4+ feet of new snow and this was just the beginning!!!
In the last two weeks Northern California has been pounded by snow and in some places the snow pack has more then doubled! We won’t know exact numbers for a while, but my guess is we are slightly above 100% on the Salmon! And while we have a short break next week after that the snow is supposed to continue. It is looking to be an amazing spring!
Our rivers in Oregon are looking just as good - The Rogue, Klamath, and Owyhee are all at about 90% with more predicted to come. The long term forcast is looking particularly good for Owyhee Rafting Trips - the one fear we always have with the Owyhee even in a good snow year is a hot march, but that does not look likely.
February 19th, 2009 pete
It used to be that when I headed east or abroad I would drive to Portland, or San Francisco and fly from there. But the last couple of years it has been way easier to leave from our little Medford “International” airport. In the last couple of months things have gotten even better with new inexpensive connections. It was just announced yesterday that there are flights now to LA as low as $69! You can read more here: http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090218/NEWS/902180336.
It is getting even easier to access Oregon and Northern California rafting - some of the best boating in the world packed into our little area! (and its is easier to go see grandma..)
February 18th, 2009 pete
Our Northern California rivers got hammered with snow last week. Now starting on Saturday it looks like a few ekks of solid snow for both Oregon and Northern California. We are excited!
Check out these long range forcasts:
- The 6 to 10 day precipitation forcast… White is average, light green is above average, dark green means a ton of snow!
- The 8 to 14 day forcast:
September 23rd, 2008 editor
 Hello Everyone. Our 2009 Oregon and Northern California rafting schedule is official out. You can check out the whole schedule here. Or you can just go to the river page of your choice. Some of our most popular trips and dates are already getting full so call if you have any questions.
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Check out the artilcle here: 
