Our area manager in southern Oregon, Kate Wollney, also known as, ‘Queen of the Rogue,’ sits down with us to answer a few questions about herself and why she’s chosen to work for O.A.R.S. Over the past 18 years, Wollney has also guided in California, the Grand Canyon and Idaho. She is from Eugene, Oregon but currently resides in Driggs, Idaho during the winter months. Her favorite food is flourless chocolate cake, she loves to ski and enjoys listening to rapids more than any other sound or musical beat. Oh, and her fleece skirts are a must-have for any cold-weather river rat!

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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As I recall my childhood with my father, there are a number of memories that stand out—getting our scuba diving certification in Monterey, photo-copying my hands on the copier at his office, backpacking trips to Yosemite, whale watching off the Farallon Islands, building a tree house together from scratch, and doing my general best to live up to everything that comes along with being daddy’s little girl.

In my mind, I’ve been fortunate to have the best parents in the world, and yet I don’t spend nearly as much time with them as I should. When I was in high school and college, hanging out with dad was at times an obligation—a constant reminder to push for success and prioritize the activities around me. These days, my dad and I are two of a kind, so annoyingly alike that we find ourselves debating just about everything, but learning from one another’s perspectives while respecting our subtle differences. Now, more than anything, I look forward to those encounters and relish our adult relationship.

This week, I’m driving up to southern Oregon with my dad to raft the Wild & Scenic Rogue River on a 4-day wine-tasting trip. What better way to celebrate the approach of Father’s Day than to disconnect in the outdoors? Since my dad is the owner of a software company specializing in big mainframe databases, I wanted to vacation somewhere that was free of the distractions of everyday life and would allow those responsibilities to flow furthest from his mind while offering us some good-old-fashioned quality father-daughter time. Since there’s no cell reception on the river or outlet to charge up a laptop, it’s the perfect setting to reconnect with each other.

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists) has been guiding guests down the Wild & Scenic Rogue River since 1969, making the company one of the most established whitewater rafting outfitters in Oregon.

Recognized in 2008 & 2009 as “The Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth” by National Geographic Adventure, the company offers a variety of ways to experience the Oregon wilderness: by raft, dory or inflatable kayak, or hiking along the Rogue River with raft support.

Although O.A.R.S. is based in Northern California, the company has contributed to Oregon’s economy and tax base for four decades with seasonal operations on the Rogue and the Owyhee rivers.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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National Geographic Adventure magazine thinks you should enjoy a whitewater rafting trip on the Wild & Scenic Rogue River in Oregon and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho with O.A.R.S.  Check out the full article here.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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One of O.A.R.S. guests’ favorite family-friendly whitewater rafting vacations spots – the Rogue River in southern Oregon – is about to be set free. Below is part of an article by Matthew Preusch of The Oregonian Staff. You can find the full article here.

Rogue River dams to come down – Salmon runs are expected to grow in iconic Oregon river

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Clifton Paul Fadiman said it best, "To take wine into our mouths is to savor a droplet of the river of human history."  Three Northern California whitewater rafting outfitters take his words literally and offer combination wine tasting and river rafting trips.  However, no other outfitter offers more river options and variety of vintners than O.A.R.S.

Two other California outfitters, Adventure Collection and Mariah, offer wine tasting trips, however, they are based solely from the South Fork of the American River.  Mariah offers a wine-tasting presentation in their Beverage Garden in their riverside camp and AC offers one-day rafting trips combined with one-day wine country touring.

O.A.R.S. wine tasting and river rafting trips offered this summer include:

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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In just a few months, the sun will be warming the Oregon Coast and O.A.R.S. will begin their whitewater rafting season on Southern Oregon’s Rogue River.  Here’s something to WhET your appetite…

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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(and C&W, and Folk and Blues)      O.A.R.S. guide Eli Helvey singing Johnny Cash at the Mule Creek Camp on Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rogue River.  (I’m pretty sure Brant and Joslin are in the background whipping up something incredible for dinner.)  Thanks for the music Eli.

Part I

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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I swear it!  We just happen to have all sorts of recent video of Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rogue River.  This one is of trip leader, Brandt Shaw, playing around at the Tate Creek water slide.

blog.oars.com/wp-content/uploads/ROG_062908_Olympus 097.mov

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Is it considered bragging to say, with all sincerity, that I feel like the luckiest person on the planet?  (really, not bragging, just counting blessings…)  I mean, c’mon… I’m affiliated with O.A.R.S. – a fantastic organization that does things like neutralize all its carbon emissions, utilize solar power, feed its guests organic and locally grown foods, compost its wastes… AND they send me on river trips to capture images for various purposes.

I’m in the process of uploading pictures and video to the O.A.R.S. – Whitewater Rafting facebook page.  Here are some of my favorite images taken from my recent Rogue River whitewater rafting trip, or as I prefer to think of it… Brandt’s Boot Camp.

 A special thanks to trip leader Brandt Shaw and his crew… Joslin, Eli, Crystal and Anna…  for their great guiding skills (and even better cooking skills), their warm and playful personalities, and for creating unforgettable memories!

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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