Check out this footage from an early season trip. I think it really captures the Upper k - lots of water in the face!
April 20th, 2010 pete
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
Summer Trips
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!
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.
Spring Trips
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!
Flight Deals
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!
Other News
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!
Rogue Rafting Dates
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
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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!
February 26th, 2010 pete
The draft environmental assessment gave the environmental and economic ok! We are really excited for the Rogue and for the oprurtunity to raft longer stretches of river on the Upper Rogue. Read more at the Mail Tribune.
February 24th, 2010 pete
Some Video from a winter trip on the Illinois. It was my first try with out new flip camera - a little shaky! The weather and water were beutiful though.
You can check out photos from our trip on Flickr.
And read more about rafting Oregon’s Illinois River Here.
February 17th, 2010 pete
Our Illinois River rafting trip is in the March issue of Outside Magazine!
It is an amazing trip and filling up quickly. You can read more about the trip here.
January 19th, 2010 pete
Hike, Raft, or a mix of both!
The Rogue River National Recreation Trail follows the entire length of the Rogue River. It ducks up into beautiful side canyons, crosses tumbling side streams, and offers spectacular views of the Rogue River. On our Rogue Hike and Raft Lodge trips you can run the river in one of our rafts, hike the trail, or do a combination of both.
For those hiking all you need to carry is a day pack and a little water. All your personal gear is transported in the rafts to the lodges each evening and you and your guide meet the rafts for lunch at predetermined spots. The distance covered each day ranges from 5 to 15 miles depending on the day and if you hike the whole section. The trail follows the river and looses elevation overall.
The availability of lodges is a unique aspect of the Rogue River. There are very few places in the world with a system of remote riverside lodges only accessible by boat, foot, or small plane. It allows for the amazing experience of true wilderness adventure capped off by comfortable and cozy evenings in a remote lodge steeped in pioneer history.
Spring is an amazing time to see the Rogue. The Canyon is lush, wild flowers are blooming, and the temperature is perfect for hiking.
Our Rogue Spring Hike and Raft 4-Day Lodge Trips are offered on select dates in late may and June (custom dates are available). Check our schedule here.
Guests have the option of rafting, inflatable kayaking, hiking or a combination.
The trip price is $959 person.
Call or email if you have any questions!
January 19th, 2010 pete
The Fall is an amazing time to Raft the Rogue! Mild temperatures, fewer people, more bear sighting’s, and fall foliage. This year we are offering 10% off on select Lodge trips in September. Check our schedule here and look for “Rogue Wilderness Fall Special Lodge Trip”.
January 14th, 2010 pete
Well, I have been sitting in front of the computer WAY too long - my eyes are bleeding and I have lost all social skills. But, our website is up and updated!
September 30th, 2009 pete
This news just came out yesterday. It is one more step towards taking out Gold Ray Dam on the Rogue River. For those who have not heard Gold Ray Dam Removal has very broad support and would open up 157 miles of free flowing river! It may also open up a great day trip rafting option form the Ashland Oregon area.
If Gold Ray Dam goes, county now has firm for the job
By Mark Freeman
Mail Tribune
September 29, 2009
An Oregon construction firm that already has two Rogue River dam removals under its belt has won the contract to study and remove Gold Ray Dam, which would open 157 miles of free-flowing Rogue to the ocean.
Jackson County officials this afternoon announced that they tentatively have awarded the $5.5 million contract to Slayden Construction Group of Stayton.
The county issued its intent to award the contract to Slayden after spending two days reviewing five bid proposals that came in to remove the 105-year-old dam should its environmental studies point to removal as the best option.
The decommissioned hydroelectric dam is owned by the county, which fears liability for the aged structure and current fish ladder that does not meet federal standards.
The project will be funded mainly through a $5 million federal stimulus grant under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which requires the project to be done by the end of 2010.
Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board officials have said previously they plan to work with the county to fill in any funding gaps for the project.
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners has yet to decide to remove the dam, saying it will wait for public input and the results of environmental studies before deciding the dam’s fate.
Slayden won the contract to remove the Gold Hill diversion dam last year and is removing Savage Rapids Dam from the Rogue near the Jackson/Josephine county line.
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.
August 31st, 2009 pete
We still have more trips coming up this year, but many of you are already looking forward to 2010 so our schedule is up and we have started taking reservations. You can check out the schedule on our Rogue Rafting Page. We already have a few wine tasting trips scheduled and we will be adding at least a few more specialty trips as the winter progresses. As many of you know we LOVE doing custom trips. The Rogue is much more heavily regulated them most rivers (a good thing - it protects it wilderness feel) so with custom trips we just need to plan farther ahead to make sure we can get dates and spaces that work for you. If you have any questions give us a call!
August 20th, 2009 Robyn
As summer comes to a close and we start to contemplate school, cool weather and the changing colors we think to ourselves….Wait a second! There’s still some great rafting to be had!!!!
Just because it’s almost September doesn’t mean it has to end! We still have amazing river trips from half day trips to multi day excursions. Some of our best is yet to come! Come and join us on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River for one of our cozy 3 day lodge trips and some of the best fall fishing on the west coast! The Salmon and Steelhead runs are just starting and there are some big fish coming up river! Enjoy an evening next to the fire with a beverage, a good book and delicious food in a rustic river lodge! The perfect fall getaway!
One of our all time favorites, the Upper Klamath, is the ultimate fall weekend trip with its warmer waters, its consistent flows and its abundance of whitewater! While everyone else mourns lower water levels around the country, we delight in knowing that we’ve got plenty of it! Day trips from Ashland return with plenty of time for dinner and the theater.
Reasons we love this time of year? The crowds are gone! The colors are changing! The fish are jumping! The warm, fall light is here and….we don’t have to stop doing what we love! (at least not for a little while longer)
Call today or send us an email! We have Rogue Lodge trips scheduled through October and the Upper Klamath will be holding steady well into the fall. Let us show you why we love late summer and fall on the river!
August 20th, 2009 Robyn
Steps toward removing the Rogue River’s second largest dam are well under way. With the removal of the Gold Ray Dam, the Rogue River would flow freely for nearly 157 miles to the ocean! Recent articles focus on sediment testing behind the dam to determine the toxicity of reservoir sediments. Local geologists took core samples and tested them for contaminents. Click on the links below for more. A recent public meeting discussed the pro’s and con’s of removing the 100 year old dam. Public comments are being taken until August 28th that will be included in a report for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. Let your voice be heard! And let’s see our Rogue River flow freely once again! Send comments to Pat Foley at Rogue Valley Council of Governments 155 North First St. Central Point, OR 97502 or by email to pfoley@rvcog.org.
http://rogueimc.org/en/2009/08/15277.shtml
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090807/NEWS/908070328/-1/rss01
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
