First Descent of the North Fork of Rough and Ready Creek February 3, 2016 Rough and Ready Creek is a tributary of the upper Illinois River. I fell in love with it after my initial visit in 2011 and subsequently returned three more times to paddle this uniquely special creek. My most recent expedition with NWRC guides Nate Wilson and Ryan Saevitz involved carrying our gear for a day and a half to paddle it’s remote upper reaches. The most challenging part of running this upper section is being there when the conditions are right. You need to go in… Read More ShareTweetPin11 Shares
The Divine Madman Drukpa Kunley January 10, 2016 Drukpa Kunley (pronounced “Drook-Pa Coon-Lee”) was a Bhutanese yogi and poet popularly known as “the Divine Madman” who renounced the ascetic life of a monk for a more lighthearted and fun lifestyle. He is legendary for drinking wine, being promiscuous, and using his “Flaming Thunderbolt of Wisdom” (the nickname for his penis) to strike down and subdue evil demons. The Buddha advocated for the “middle road” between a self-indulgent, materialistic lifestyle and an ascetic life of sacrifice. Drukpa Kunley began as an ascetic monk, but denounced… Read More ShareTweetPin5656 Shares
A Big Thank You for a Wonderful Season August 9, 2015 This summer has been simply amazing. We’ve enjoyed getting to know each of you and your families while sitting around the campfire, leaping off of rocks, hiking to mountain viewpoints, celebrating great lines through big rapids, and more! Thank you for spending your vacation with us. A special thank you to our partners on the Rogue River. We appreciate our friends at Galice Resort, Lori & JR at Sundance Kayak School, and the the BLM. Thank you to our friends at American Whitewater, KS Wild, and… Read More ShareTweetPin0 Shares
Low Water Considerations for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River July 3, 2015 Here is some general advice about running low water trips (below 2.2 feet) on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Consider flying all of your people and equipment into Indian Creek to avoid the most difficult sections at low water. If you do launch from Boundary Creek pack light and fly as much gear as possible into Indian Creek. I recommend Gem Air. Deflate your tubes. Then deflate them some more. If you’re getting stuck often then deflate them even more. Avoid boat pile ups… Read More ShareTweetPin11 Shares
The 20 Best Whitewater Rafting Day Trips March 6, 2015 Last year I wrote about the World’s 13 Legendary River Trips, a list of the best expedition style, multi-day river trips. That post was the catalyst for some great discussions about the most legendary single day rafting trips. What makes a trip legendary? The gold standard for a legendary rafting trip is one that is frequently inquired about, remembered, and rehashed around the campfire. The most important factor is great whitewater, but I also considered scenery, length of season, and reputation. I’ve attempted to order these… Read More ShareTweetPin1010 Shares
Guide to Hiking Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest) February 19, 2015 Length: 2.6 miles (one way) Starting Elevation: 8,525 feet Max Elevation: 10,232 feet Taktsang (commonly known as Tiger’s Nest) is one of the most sacred sites in Bhutan and a place you must visit when you visit Bhutan. It is also one of the most challenging monasteries to get to. Located at an elevation of over 10,000 feet, Taktsang is the birthplace of Bhutanese Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche flew here from Tibet on the back of a tigress which was the manifestation of his divine consort Yeshe… Read More ShareTweetPin11 Shares
Hood River Access at Punchbowl Falls January 11, 2015 The confluence of the East Fork and West Fork of the Hood is a special spot for whitewater boaters, fishermen, and anyone who enjoys rivers. This property has been used by many years by rafters and kayakers as a take-out as the West Fork of the Hood or as a put-in for the main stem of the Hood River. This river access was private property until 2006 when Western Rivers Conservancy began purchasing the land from Longview Fiber and PacifiCorp in an effort to conserve Salmon… Read More ShareTweetPin0 Shares
A Look Back at 2014 December 31, 2014 We just finished our sixth season and it has been our biggest and best year ever. Thank you to our world-class guides, amazing guests, and partners who made this season a success. Here are some of our highlights. Wild Rivers Night In 2014 we moved our wildly popular Wild Rivers Night to the Patagonia Store in Portland. It was another great event with beverages from Sierra Nevada and Nectar Creek Honeywine, powerhouse speakers, and river conservation legend Tim Palmer as master of ceremonies. First Descent in… Read More ShareTweetPin0 Shares
Jomolhari Trek and the First Descent of the Upper Paro Chhu December 5, 2014 Few rafters and kayakers have ventured into Bhutan due to its policy of “high value and low impact tourism,” which requires a minimum $250/day minimum fee to visit, leaving many of the rivers and creeks unexplored. After four years of guiding trips trips in Bhutan I was fortunate paddle one of those unexplored rivers. The Paro Chhu (Paro River) begins on one Bhutan’s highest and most sacred mountains, Mount Jomolhari (24,035 feet) and then tumbles through the Himalayas to the town of Paro, which is home… Read More ShareTweetPin0 Shares
The Wrathful Deities of Bhutan November 23, 2014 The wrathful deities are form that Buddhas or Bodhisattvas (gods) may take to scare off demons, subdue demons, or remind people to be good. They most often stand in the warrior pose (Pratyalidhasana), are surrounded by flames, have razor sharp fangs and a protruding belly. A third eye in the center of their forehead signifies insight and wisdom. The five skull crown represents changing the five poisons (desire, anger, ignorance, pride, and jealousy) to the five wisdoms. Chana Dojre Chana Dorje (also known as Vajrapani) is… Read More ShareTweetPin0 Shares