Category Archives: Rafting
it’s why we do it
“I’m a little nervous about this one,” says Lance as we push the the raft off the bank. Yeah, me too, I tell him. Downstream was the horizon line to Boulder Drop–a class IV/V rapid on the Skykomish River. A … Continue reading
peshastin creek pounding
Neils is a better boater than I am. This is obvious, but as he yanks on the front of my inflatable kayak, turns away from shore, and strokes into the current, I try to remind myself that his being exceptional … Continue reading
biting off more than you can chew
it looks like this:
hey, river guide.
They refer to the rapid as the “S-bends”, the largest of the three relatively benign rapids on the slow-moving Skagit River. Snaking left and right, then repeating, it resembles a skier’s line in fresh powder, a fairly simple line that … Continue reading
floating the skagit
For Rod’s (the previous owner) of Wildwater River Tours (now Wildwater River Guides) last run, a group of guides, past and present (his time with the company spans 30 years) came out to paddle with him for the last time. … Continue reading
tieton run
I’d never had a chance to run the Tieton, so when the the dam holding back Rimrock Reservoir let loose, Neils suggested that I tag along with Wildwater and learn it. Not a bad idea, given that the last river … Continue reading
i’m never gonna raft again, the way I raft with you
Oh, didn’t think rafting could be oh-so-sensual? Looks like you were wrong. Just another Wenatchee Weekend.
water levels go down, but fun goes up
One of the qualities of the Wenatchee river I’ve learned in my two years guiding it is that bigger isn’t always better. When water levels rise, it means bigger, faster runs, but sometimes the hits aren’t as adrenaloaded since the … Continue reading
not the little boat! running the mini with new paddlers
The Hyside MiniMe is the notorious raft that comes out of the quiver when the team is looking for big carnage. One of the nimblest rafts (possibly THE nimblest), what it gives in speed it takes in stability; she’ll turn … Continue reading
carnage run weekend
It was a weekend of carnage, and that’s the way we like it. Joined by Ashley and Ryan, my partners in crime for the next two days, I met up with Neils and Chris and a bunch of clients at … Continue reading