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 26th, 2010 pete
January 19th, 2010 pete
Southern Oregon has so many amazing local foods and wines. From Rogue Valley Creamery (winner of the best blue cheese in the world), to Dagoba Chocolate, to the many award winning wineries. This trip will feature local appetizers, meals, deserts, and two nights of wine tasting!
3-Day Local Wine and Food Lodge Trip June 16th, 2010 - $899
Call or Book Online Here
Read more about lodge trips here.
Spring is also an amazing time to see the Rogue. The Canyon is lush, wild flowers are blooming, and the temperature is perfect.
More info coming - we are so excited about this trip!!
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 siting’s, and fall foliage. This year we 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
May 29th, 2009 Robyn
We here at Momentum are excited for summer and the begginning multi-day river trips on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River!! Known as one of the best multi-day river trips in the country, the Wild and Scenic Rogue is 32 miles of wilderness canyon full of exillerating whitewater, abundant wildlife, rich history and amazing scenery. It is a must do for any river connoisseur as well as those who are first timers to the river world! The Rogue is the perfect get away for families and friends looking for a little beauty and relaxation, a break from the hustle and bustle of the “real world”. Take a trip into the history and lore of the Takelma Indians native canyon, the favorite fishing holes of Zane Grey and the filming location for movies like The River Wild. Jump in one of our inflatable kayaks for some up close and personal river excitement through rapids such as Wildcat, Graves Creek Falls and Horseshoe Bend. Take some solo time on an evening stroll along the Rogue River Hiking Trail. Explore the waterfalls at Tate Creek and make sure the kids give the natural water slide a go! So much to see, so much to experience! We offer lodge based trips as well as our famous camp trips, both comfortable and restful. As always, Momentum’s delicious meals will tempt and satisfy! And, as if that weren’t enough, wine tasting, hiking and world class fishing are even more reason to come experience the magic of the Wild and Scenic Rogue River. Our Rogue season is in full swing and looking good! Water levels are perfect, the weather is warming, and the river is waiting! Our summer trips are filling up fast and our guides can’t wait to get back to “the Canyon”. Snow pack for the Rogue drainage basin is above average and flows for the river look solid for the summer according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the US Army Corp of Engineers. So what are you waiting for? Come play with us on The Wild and Scenic Rogue River! Let the Momentum crew treat you to a few days of beautiful wilderness, exciting rafting, good food, friends and an amazing river trip!!!
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
Summer Trips -
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.
Late Spring Trips -
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.
Flight Deals
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!!!).
News
- 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
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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 23rd, 2009 pete
3 days September 16 , 2009 - $965
Guest Photographer: Jared Cruce
Call or Book Online Here
Join professional photographer Jared Cruce for a visual journey down the Rogue River - one of America’s truly wild and scenic rivers. This trip will provide a supportive and educational environment to practice and improve photography skills while capturing the dramatic light, fall colors, wildlife and scenery of the Rogue.
While primarily emphasizing landscape photography, Jared will provide group and one-on-one instruction on digital capture, workflow, travel and adventure topics that are relevant for beginner to advanced photographers. Each evening we will review the current days work and discuss techniques. Students will have ample opportunity to ask questions, learn and apply new concepts that are relevant to their style and photographic goals. A personal portfolio review is optional.
All are welcome on this trip regardless of your photographic passion or experience. For those with photographic intentions a digital slr camera and media is required**. Film,Medium / Large format cameras are welcome but discussions and techniques will emphasize digital capture. A complete list will be sent with confirmation.
About Jared:
Jared Cruce is an Ashland, Oregon based commercial and editorial photographer. He is one of a select group of sponsored Lowepro photographers, an alumnus of the Eddie Adams Workshop and an Explorers Club member. He has an amazingly diverse photographic palate that covers, landscape, travel, action, and portraiture. His images have been commissioned and published by companies and magazines such as New Balance, Camera Arts Magazine, Trail Runner Magazine, Oregon Travel, and Energy Trust of Oregon. He is an avid kayaker and rafter and has boated and photographed a multitude of the west’s rivers as well as photographed in over 17 countries worldwide. Jared’s Photography Work can be seen here: www.JaredCruce.com - Oregon Professional Photographer.
Call if you have any questions, it is an amazing time for rafting on the Rogue!
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.
