This just in from Curt Chang, our Idaho rivers manager (who will be in town next week for our Sacramento Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk 3D IMAX event)… Central Idaho got some new snow since last week, about 14" total. The snow pack is holding at the 116% of normal levels throughout the Salmon and Snake drainages. All indications are looking good for our summer flows, great water without the excess that would cause highest water concerns.

This is the snow-covered ramp we slide our boats down (to the eddy) at Boundary Creek on the Middle Fork Salmon… definitely more snow than last year!

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The Wild and Scenic Middle Fork of the Salmon River is located in northwest Idaho, and by most accounts it sets the whitewater rafting standard in the U.S. I haven’t experienced this river yet, and I’m chomping at the bit to get there. (powers-that-be, if you’re reading this…) I can tell you from the feedback I hear in the O.A.R.S. office, it’s unforgettable, it’s wild, it’s sublimely scenic and the terrain is uber diverse.

The MFS is rated Class III-IV, which means it is exciting and thrilling, but probably not terrifying. O.A.R.S. offers 6-day trips from the end of May through September. (We also offer a special 6-day Hiker Special in September.) We travel 100 miles and charge through 100 rapids. You choose your method of travel: inflatable kayak, paddle raft, oar boat or classic wooden dory (in high water). Some days you might feel brave and want to paddle the inflatable kayak (aka “ducky”), other days you may want one of our stellar guides to do all the work and row you along in a sleek, classic dory.

In speaking with our Idaho Adventure Consultant, Azz, one of the most notable highlights of the Middle Fork Salmon is its constantly changing terrain. Our trip begins at 6000-ft in alpine territory. As the trip continues downriver, the scenery changes significantly and we pass through forested hills and open, rolling grasslands. There are lots of side hikes alongside creeks and to waterfalls and natural hot springs. There are big, sandy beaches that are great spots to play Frisbee, horseshoes and bocce ball or to picnic, read a good book and/or nap. These beaches also make for some incredibly comfortable camping. The last part of the trip flows into a narrow, rocky gorge called Impassable Canyon.

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I was recently asked why I would choose to go to mainland Ecuador. Friends assumed it was nothing more than a stopping point for a Galapagos vacation. It is true most people pass through Ecuador’s capital city, Quito, on their way to the Galapagos Islands (as do guests on the three O.A.R.S. Galapagos Adventures). However, in an area less than two hundred miles, a traveler can access all of Ecuador mainland’s defining regions – the coastal lowlands in the West, the volcanic central highlands, and the rainforests of the East (Oriente). Ecuador, one of Latin America’s smallest countries, is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. Half the size of France, Ecuador boasts nine national parks, 20 national, provincial or other governmental reserves and a half-dozen private reserves. On an O.A.R.S. Ecuador Multi-Sport trip, guests have the opportunity to: -Hike and horseback ride in Cotopaxi National Park – one of the most scenic volcanic settings in the Ecuadorian highlands -Mountain bike and hike in Tungurahua province with opportunities to explore the small town of Banos, nestled in the foothills of Tungurahua Volcano and within the Pastaza River valley. There are stunning waterfalls and views of the mighty Pastaza River gorge, the main gateway to the Amazon Basin. -Try the cable car-ride over the Bride’s Veil Waterfall and hike on the hanging bridge over the Devil’s Pail, an impressive waterfall feeding the Pastaza River. -Hike through the rainforest where a native guide will point out exotic flowers, lush vegetation and the most important medicinal plants used by the Quichua. -Spend the night in the torch-lit Cotococha Jungle Lodge with rustic riverside cabanas complete with private showers and balconies nestled by the Napo River. -Hike in the Llanganates National Park located in a region of Ecuador where the last Inca Ruler, Atahualpa, hid legendary gold treasures. -Swim in pristine natural pools and raft Class III+ rapids on the Jatunyacu River, famous for its big waves and calm pools. -Travel up the Andes to Papallacta Hot Springs, at an elevation close to 11,000 feet. This oasis features beautiful hot springs and a spa nestled in the middle of fantastic cloud forest. -Visit the world famous Otavalo Market for fabulous shopping and people watching. -Hike and mountain bike in the Mojanda Lakes region. On a clear day, all the snowcapped volcanoes of the Eastern Cordillera (Cayambe, Cotopaxi, Antisana, Chimborazo), as well as the Western Cordillera (including Pichincha, Atacaz, and others) are visible.

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Join O.A.R.S. on this one-of-a-kind adventure to the center of the Inca Empire – the Peru experience to which all others will be compared. It is an in-depth exploration of the culture, archaeology and scenic grandeur that make this South American nation undeniably unique. Combining an epic 4-day rafting trip on the Apurimac River at the source of the Amazon and a ground-breaking 6-day lodge-to-lodge trek from Salkantay to the incomparable Machu Picchu, this is a trip that defines the possibilities of Peru. Imagining the depths of the Apurimac and the heights of Machu Picchu will reveal only part of this tale of adventure. With a fusion of indigenous and Spanish influences, Peruvian culture boasts an impressive array of creative expressions. This 2-week expedition is uniquely suited to providing intimate interaction with the people and rural authenticity of Andean villages, as well as the urban energy of Lima and Cusco. We’ll add exquisite Peruvian cuisine and some of the finest lodging in the region to the equation, demonstrating once and for all that the best in international adventure travel is best found in Peru.

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