•
Sent out 3-4 times a year (we won't overfill
your mailbox)
• Includes seasonal trip specials and features
• Great photos
• Completely private; we will NEVER use your
info for anything but sending you the newsletter
|
 Subscribe to Our Blog
(its easy!)
 Check out what our guests are saying about rafting with us on YELP!
 Become a fan on Facebook - Be the first to hear about new trips and discounts.
 Follow Momentum Rafting on Twitter.
|
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? |
|
|
|
|
|
Momentum River Expeditions Rafting News
|
December 28th, 2009 Robyn
“Crazy for love”
“ The sultry smell of desire”
“An epic theatre event not to be missed” .
These are just three of the 11 play descriptions from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2010 playbill . We are so excited for the season to start and can’t wait to see Throne of Blood , Hamlet , Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Merchant of Venice and many more!
We know that many of our guests come to town for not only amazing whitewater adventure with Momentum but world class, Tony award winning theatre at OSF . Every year, the theatre’s line up is better and better with innovative renditions of classic Shakespearean plays to more contemporary shows by well known play writes. We try to squeeze in plays whenever possible as this theatre is an asset for Southern Oregon and a local treat for those of us who call this home.
So don’t miss out on the amazing art that Ashland has to offer with the Shakespeare Festival. Combine that with a day or three on the river with Momentum and you’ve got it made!
December 14th, 2009 Robyn
  
Tis the season! Happy Holidays from the Momentum crew!
We may not be out on the water but we are out and enjoying the winter! From Christmas Tree hunting in the mountains to Bad Christmas sweater parties, we’ve been busy and having fun! We are anxiously awaiting more snow in the mountains so that we can dust off the old skis and boards and enjoy our second favorite activity! Some of our guides have been out in the mountains already, researching the conditions and it’s looking pretty good! And you know what good skiing means……? GREAT rafting in the spring and summer to come! So keep the good vibes rolling towards the heavens for more precip so we can look forward to a long, wet summer!!! We can’t wait.
We hope this note finds you all happy and healthy and gathering together with loved ones at this time of year. We truly feel blessed to have the large, extended family that is Momentum and want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of it.
So to you and your’s, from all of us here at Momentum, we wish you the happiest of holidays and a fantastic New Year!!!! We’ll see you on the river in 2010!
October 5th, 2009 pete
Thanks for another wonderful season!
 The Cal Salmon - the calm before the upper canyon.
Click here to see a bunch more 2009 pictures
|
Want to see more Images and hear what others are saying? Become a fan of Momentum Rafting on Facebook.
|
|
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
 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….
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.
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
July 15th, 2009 Robyn
For the first time in over a century, the Rogue River may flow free of dams for 153 miles to the ocean. Over the last 3 years, three dams have been removed or opened up to the natural flow of the Rogue’s waters. With the proposed removal of the 38 foot high Gold Ray Dam, the Rogue River will be history in the making (and we may end up with a beautiful full day rafting trip on the Rogue from Ashland!). An unprecedented event for rivers throughout the country with the removal of three dams in three years! Check out the recent articles about the, the cooperation of the county, environmental groups, and fisherman, stimulus money for the Gold Ray Dam removal, and sediment testing behind the dam at the links below.
Sediment Testing behind the dam is the last step towards the dams removal
July 14th, 2009 Robyn
We thrive off of the feedback that we receive from our river friends. Each year we grow a little, learn a lot and hopefully improve with every trip we run. We could not do it without the amazing emails, letters, and phone calls from all of you. We would like to thank you all for your continued support, enthusiasm, wonderful stories, amazing personalities and overall love for the rivers and their magic.
Thanks!!
Highlights from 2009:
“I’ve traveled with Pete on 4 river trips, 3 of them covering multiple days. In every case, his professionalism shines and in each case, my experiences have been nothing less than brilliant.”
~Guest of many trips - the last being the Illinois River.
“Hi Pete,
I know we haven’t met, but I wanted to take a moment to complement you on your company and crew. I took a quick trip down the Upper Klamath last Friday, July 3rd. Needless to say I was not disappointed. Erik was my guide for the day and as I’m sure you know his service is second to none. While I can’t speak for the rest of the people that day, I can say that he made the experience that much more enjoyable. His knowledge of the area and his craft was nothing short of amazing. While I was with Eric most of the day, Adam, Jon E, and Derek where also equally as awesome; I had the opportunity to pick all of their brains at one point or another during the day. I grew up on the rivers of Montana and used the opportunity with your world class crew to sharpen my knowledge on the rivers of Oregon. Don’t worry…I wont be starting an outfitting business anytime soon, I know I wouldn’t be able to compete with the business you’ve started and fostered into a truly great business that has a solid future no matter the economic outlook. Thank you again for providing such a great service.
Here at Nike one of the principles we live by is “There is No Finish Line”. I employ you to adopt the same mentality. You have a truly great business and will only benefit to continue building upon it.”
~Upper Klamath Rafting guest
“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. Take care, and I hope to raft with you guys again soon. See you on the river.”
~Illinois Rafting guest
“I know it’s rare, but Momentum is a company that delivers everything they promise. Great guides, great food, great gear, great times. Support this company!”
~California Salmon Rafting guest
“Pete, I just wanted to drop a quick note of thanks and feedback from my Momentum IK trip. I can best describe it as great, greater, greatest. All you promised and more. Concern for client safety, welfare and satisfaction is beyond words but can go with the three mentioned. Food and lodging were far more than expected. A unique rafting trip to say the least. Would not hesitate to recommend Momentum Rafting to anyone, without reservation. Hope to do another, would probably have to be the same trip, I am spoiled. Wish my best the Anthony and the support and encouragement he provided throughout the trip. Thanks to you Pete for bearing with me through all the questions before the trip. Hope to be back in Oregon sooner than you think. Thanks again.”
~Rogue Rafting guest
“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. You truly have an amazing job, and a wonderful cohort to work with. I’m looking at your Chile trip for Feb, so hope to see you there. Thanks again!
~California Salmon Rafting guest
“Hi Robyn. Just wanted to let you know we had an absolutely FANTASTIC time yesterday, Sunday, July 12th on our raft trip on the upper Klamath river with Anthony, Johnny and Adam. The entire team was top notch. Johnny happened to be our river guide and he was fantastic! Our entire experience with your company from booking the trip with you to the delicious food to the equipment could not have been better. (Even the weather cooperated!) We will definitely recommend your company and the trip to others. Please forward this note to the owner, Pete, as we want him to know what great people he has working for him. Thanks so much.”
~Upper Klamath Rafting guest
“Hello, Pete! I just wanted to let you know what an amazing weekend we had on the Salmon. I’d also like to thank Anthony, Rachel and Derek for being such amazing hosts to us. We were blown away by the hospitality. Not only are they extremely professional on the river but great people to be around in camp! I could not think of better people to show us such an amazingly good time than those three. Please send our regards and well wishes for the future to all to them! I will definitely be recommending Momentum to anyone I know that will be rafting in California and Oregon. Thanks again!”
~California Salmon Rafting guest
July 14th, 2009 Robyn
One of the perks of living in Ashland Oregon is not only the amazing whitewater within close proximity but its abundance of restaurants and eating options! One of our favorites for a casual, quick and light meal (as well as some of the best margarita’s in town) is Agave. Apparently we cannot get enough of this place as we also use their carnitas in one of our own river meals. It is ala carte style but you can order platos for a more filling meal. It is small in size but cozy, colorful and has sidewalk seating. We recommend the carnitas, tamales and home made chips and guacamole! And of course, margaritas! Agave is centrally located to the downtown plaza area and is only minutes away from the Shakespeare Theatre. Another reason it is one of our favorites…it’s priced for a river guide!
Agave Restaurant
541-488-1770
92 N Main Street
Ashland, OR 97520
www.agavetaco.com
July 10th, 2009 Robyn
 Momentum’s first 4th of July Parade!
After two days of planning, building, painting, and finally putting it all together, we completed our first 4th of July parade float! Complete with Salmon swimming the waves, we paddled down Ashland’s Main St. to the cheers of almost 20,000 people! Our happy paddlers waved to the crowd and welcomed the occasional squirt from a water gun (it was close to 100 degrees that day!) If anyone hasn’t ever witnessed Ashland Oregon’s Old Fashioned 4th of July parade, it’s one not to miss during your travels! We had a great day and can’t wait until next year!
July 1st, 2009 Robyn
 
Inflatable Kayaks (IK’s) are one of our summertime specialities! We’ve run some awesome trips so far and have many yet to come. Lower Klamath trips through Rattlesnake and Dragon’s Tooth, the Rogue River through Wildcat, Slim Pickens and Graves Creek Falls, and even a 6 day self support IK trip down the Lower Owyhee! (We can’t wait to hear the stories from Anthony and Adam). IK’s are one of our favorite ways to see the river: personal, intimate and the master of your own craft! Brave the whitewater, surf the waves and feel the adrenaline from your own Inflatable kayak on a number of the rivers that we run. They are fun for everyone!! They are also great for anyone who has ever considered getting into whitewater kayaking but has been apprehensive. You will learn all of the basics of kayaking with the comfort of an open inflatable kayak. The perfect beginning for those eager to learn!
Come experience the river up close and personal with Momentum on one of our amazing Inflatable Kayak trips! We’ve still got availability on some of our Rogue and Lower Klamath trips through August! See you on the water!
June 16th, 2009 pete
Hello everyone. I just got off our first lodge trip of the year on the Rogue - it was amazing! We finally have set up our Rogue facebook page - it has lots of new pics and we will add a ton more as the season goes on - we also encourage others to add pictures they enjoy. All the dates for this years trips are on our website on our Rogue Rafting page.
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!!!
May 7th, 2009 Robyn
  
Spring on the Illinois is here! It’s been a great spring and we’ve had some amazing trips on the always exciting and ever beautiful Illinois River! The weather and water levels have kept us on our toes but have come through and provided for some wonderful rafting! While water levels were wavering a week ago, Pete and the gang went for it and proved that rafting the “Illy” is always good! We’ve recieved some great shots from some of the crew of the beautiful weather and the jeweled water and all we want to do is go back. Recent rainfall has been substantial and it looks as though our time on the Illy this spring just might last a little bit longer. So, if you haven’t run it yet let us know…we’ll save you a spot!
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.
April 21st, 2009 Erik
Hello fellow river lovers. It is Erik Sol here and I just wanted to share my stoke from the last Momentum River Expeditions trip down the amazing Illinois River. First, I would like to thank Merle,Paul,Pete, and Jason for another beautiful adventure. If going down river for four days and three nights in the solitude of a Wild and Scenic preserved area with unparalled scenery and great whitewater sounds like what you need then this is the place to be. I can not thank Pete enough for all his hard work in making this happen. This is one of the few places I have been to in the USA where I feel like I’m in a wilderness setting and it is ours to enjoy without any interuptions for days in a row, we saw one other person in four days on the river. Oh, and the food was awesome. Of course we had my favorite BACON, which is a requirement, but some old favorites and some new twists make this years menu the best yet. Can you say “Carnitas”? I can’t wait for the next trip just to eat the food. But, enough about that let’s talk river. The run was amazingly clear with just the perfect jade color being reflected from the forest to help leave all the worries behind. The water level was on the lower end, but plenty of fun waves and manuevering required to knock the dust off and my crew was on it. Day two gave us the opportunity to hike and explore the Pine Flat Homestead,do some mental time travel, check out the wild flower bloom which was going off, and have time to soak up some rays for the Oregon and Alaska boys after a long winter. The third day of our trip was a whitewater fest. No matter how many runs you have done anywhere the famous Greenwall Rapid will get your blood pumpin’, but by day three I knew my crew was ready. There was about 15,000 cfs of water missing from the picture in my head from the last time I was there, so I took a good hard look during the scout. All of us made it through in some pretty tight quarters and just when we were about to put a stamp on it we came to Submarine Rapid and things got exciting for a few minutes, well let’s just say someone owes beer. The camps were perfect with each offering something different a confluence, an old homestead, and waterfalls. Even the ride back to Ashland was world class with views of the ocean and a leg stretcher in the Redwoods. Ahh, life is good. See you on the river.
March 31st, 2009 pete
We have been here since December but we are just now organizing….
We have light!
The Big Board…
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 25th, 2009 admin
Chad’s various interests have taken him throughout the country in pursuit of both pleasure and education. Originally from Vermont, his interest in politics led to a political science degree, which it turns out wasn’t a real job magnet. With an interest in alternative energy developing, Chad moved to Colorado to learn more. His passion for whitewater rafting began in Colorado and this passion created a gateway for new friends and allowed for adventures and guiding opportunities throughout the country on some of the nation’s best runs. All of these interests culminated in a decision that a law degree specializing in environmental and natural resources was the best career path. While Chad ponders his future law degree he continues to explore rivers with us and work a WIDE range of other jobs (most of which are way more professional then guiding).
|
|
|
