Planning on taking an O.A.R.S. trip in the near future? Booked on an O.A.R.S. trip already? We present you with our weekly whitewater watch – a resource available to YOU, the interested adventure traveler. Check back every week for updates on rivers across the west! Here you will find information regarding weather, river flows, exciting trips being launched and feedback from our most recent travelers! Our goal is to provide you with answers to your questions and excite your adventurous spirit! Read on to discover what we have in store for you.

California

Lower Klamath River – CFS: 4,000-5,000. Current minimum age: 4. Weather: expect some showers Tuesday and Wednesday, but otherwise sunshine with highs in the low 80's to lows in the low 50's at night! Two trips are heading out immediately after the 4th of July!

Written by Tianna Stieglitz

Stieglitz is a Hospitality/Tourism Management student from Purdue University. She's from Indiana (born and raised) and loves traveling and seeing new places. Among other hobbies, she love people, being outdoors in creation, and good laughs with friends.

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Planning on taking an O.A.R.S. trip in the near future? Booked on an O.A.R.S. trip already? We present you with our weekly whitewater watch – a resource available to YOU, the interested adventure traveler. Check back every week for updates on rivers across the west! Here you will find information regarding weather, river flows, exciting trips being launched and feedback from our most recent travelers! Our goal is to provide you with answers to your questions and excite your adventurous spirit! Read on to discover what we have in store for you.

California

Lower Klamath River – CFS*: 5,000-6,000. Weather: sunshine all week with highs in the upper 80's to lows in the low 50's at night. Still awaiting our busy season on the Lower Klamath – early July! We already have two trips booked immediately after the 4^th of July! Call now to experience this three day, Class II, forested river trip featuring beach camping, rafting and inflatable kayaking in WARM water!

Written by Brita Olson

Raised on a small island in Northern Michigan, Olson's love for running water developed at an early age. This love drove her away from the Midwest to California to begin work preserving sustainability and delving into the O.A.R.S. segment of adventure travel. Brita enjoys learning about other people, spending time on the water, excursions on her road bike and - when at all possible - combining the three.

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As I travel down the rivers of Idaho each week, I sometimes feel there are hidden eyes watching us.  I like to believe they are the spirits of the ancient people who lived in these canyons before modern society.  At least, we certainly see evidence of these people on our river trips.

There have been Native Americans in the Snake and Salmon River watersheds for over 10,000 years.  Known as the Nez Perce (who call themselves, “Nimíipuu,” meaning, “The People”) and Shoshone-Bannock (descendents of the Mountain Sheepeaters) tribes, these people lived off the land and took advantage of the fish, game and native, edible plants found in the river corridors.

Written by Debbie Hausler

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There is no mistaking or denying Idaho’s rugged beauty.  It is a place of vast and magnificent wilderness.  It would be a rare thing for someone not to feel the strong call of nature here.  However, Idaho’s wilderness has a history and on-going record of the call of man and his influence on nature’s order.  There are several examples of this issue we continue to follow as we travel down Idaho’s vast waterways, asking ourselves when is it beneficial for man to manipulate the natural world, and when would it be better to let Mother Earth tend to her own? I don’t propose to have the answers, or even venture forth my opinions, but suffice it to say there is no lack of strong, relevant material to motivate our campfire talks here on the rivers of Idaho.

Reintroduction of the Gray Wolf

Wolf reintroduction occurs by repopulating a previously extirpated area with a group of wolves, with the hope that they will reestablish themselves in the area and ecosystem.  Although wolves are the most environmentally adaptable mammals next to man, they had been hunted out of all of the lower 48 states, with the exception of a few small packs in remote northeastern Minnesota.  Wolves were highly prevalent in North America until westward expansion occurred in the 1800’s – settlers hunted the wild bison, deer, elk and moose, forcing the wolves to then hunt domestic livestock (sheep and cattle).  When this occurred, bounties were issued for wolf kills, and continued as late as the 1960’s. 

Written by Debbie Hausler

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Whitewater rafting on the Gorges of the Lower Salmon River in Idaho means playing in fun rapids and warm and meandering water, as well as being shown the wilderness by family-friendly guides.  The mellow water of the Lower Salmon River is appropriate for children 7 and up, and there are opportunities for everyone to paddle their own boat. See for yourself…

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Tourism officials in Idaho admit they were nervous the economy would have a negative effect this year, but a new tourism report shows numbers are up seven percent.  According to Idaho Tourism Administrator, Karen Ballard, more people are vacationing close to home.  She also said Mother Nature has helped Idaho, especially with a huge attraction in the summer — rafting on Idaho’s rivers.  Said Ballard, “We knew we were going to have an epic year of whitewater rafting after an epic year of skiing, so we are really excited that people have figured that out.”

O.A.R.S. offers trips on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River, the Main Salmon River, the Gorges of the Lower Salmon River and Hells Canyon of the Snake River.

Justin Bailie image.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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