Kevsmom California Kayaking

California Whitewater

California and Oregon Rafting and Kayaking

Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival

Monday, April 27, 2009

2009 Whitewater Racing/Events Schedule

Tuesday, April 14, 2009


March 21, 22 : Saturday, Sunday
Upper Wind River (Festival*) : Carson, WA
Coordinators : Oregon Rafting Team (ORT)
IV+, 3 mile downriver.
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, unlimited.
Western Whitewater Championships series points = 3,4 or 5

April 11 : Saturday
Canyon Creek Extreme Race : Southwestern Washington
Coordinators : Next Adventure
V, .5 mile waterfall sprint.
Kayaks, inflatable kayaks, paddle rafts, unlimited.
Western Whitewater Championships series points = 3,4 or 5

April 18, 19 : Saturday, Sunday
Upper Klamath River (Festival*) : Keno, OR
Coordinators : ORT, Northwest Rafter's Association (NWRA)
IV+, 7 mile downriver.
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, unlimited.
Western Whitewater Championships series points = 3,4 or 5

April 25 : Saturday
North Fork American Coordinators : California Women's Team
IV, 4 mile downriver.
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, unlimited.

May 1-3 : Saturday, Sunday
Cal-Salmon River : Orleans, CA
Coordinator : Paul Gamache, Caliproducts
IV+, 5 mile downriver.
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, unlimited.
Western Whitewater Championships series points = 3, 4 or 5

May 15-17 : Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Upper Clackamas River (Festival*)
Coordinators : NWRA, Next Adventure
III+, V : 1 mile downriver, slalom, boatercross.
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts, oared rafts.
Western Whitewater Championships series points = 3, 4 or 5

May 30 : Saturday
(White Salmon Race*)
Coordinators : Sundance River Center
IV 4 mile downriver
Paddle rafts, inflatable kayaks, catarafts.
Western Whitewater Championships series points = 3, 4 or 5

June 5-7 : Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Payette, Boise (Festival*)
Coordinators : Sam Goff, Bill Driscoll, Payette Boise River Festival (PBR)
IV+ 4 mile downriver, slalom, sprint, boatercross, kayak rodeo.
Paddle rafts, kayaks, catarafts.
Western Whitewater Championships series points = 3, 4 or 5

June 13, 14 : Saturday, Sunday
Wenatchee River (Festival*) : Wenatchee, WA
Coordinator : Paul Gamache
III, 4 mile downriver, kayak rodeo.
Paddle rafts, kayaks.
Western Whitewater Championships series points = 3, 4 or 5

October 10, 11 : Saturday, Sunday
Burnt Ranch Gorge
Coordinator : Paul Gamache
IV+, 2 mile downriver.
Exhibition. Great event but currently outside of the racing season.

* Potential race dates: Coordinators needed! If your business or team would like manage these possible events please contact us.

** USRA Nationals – To be determined.

* Festival indicates that more activities will be included in addition to a downriver race. (Fun float, trainings, etc.)

New Film Demonstrates the Need to Protect the Rogue River

Monday, October 27, 2008

"Run, Rogue, Run," a short film which American Rivers helped produce, will be premiered at two film festivals next weekend in Medford and Portland. The film takes viewers on a journey down the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River in southwestern Oregon and explores the need for protecting the river and its salmon and steelhead streams.

The Rogue River is among the nation's most iconic wild rivers. It was one of the originally designated rivers under the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and remains a world-class whitewater rafting destination. The river and its tributaries are also home to vibrant runs of salmon and steelhead, which are the cornerstone of the multi-million dollar commercial and sport fishing industries. Overall, tourism generated by the river provides over $14 million and 225 jobs in southern Oregon.

Despite these clear incentives to preserve the Rogue River, it is listed in America's Most Endangered Rivers: 2008 Edition due to the threat of harmful logging in the river basin. This plan would remove current protections, such as streamside buffers that shade and maintain cool water tributaries, while relegating thousands of acres near the Rogue to clearcut logging. This would harm the health of the river, its fish and wildlife, and the vital income the river generates for the community.

The most effective way to prohibit logging and protect this river is to designate 40 tributaries as Wild and Scenic. This film will help Oregonians understand the need to take action now by contacting their congressional leaders and urging them to support legislation that will protect the river.

American Rivers partnered with the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, the Siskiyou Project, Echo River Trips, and the Epicocity Project, a film-making enterprise of a few young adventure journalists, to create this film. It will premiere at the following two film festivals:

Medford Environmental Film Festival
Date: Friday, November 7th
Time: Show starts at 6:00 pm
Location: Medford Congregational United Church of Christ
1801 East Jackson St
Medford, OR 97504
Admission: Free!
Host: Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center

Patagonia's Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival
Date: Saturday, November 8th
Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm; Show starts at 7:00pm
Location: Hollywood Theater
4122 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97212
Admission: $10
Host: The Native Fish Society

Rivers of California Slideshow

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Here's a slideshow of the rivers of California that I put together for an upcoming meeting with the Oregon Whitewater Association. Thanks to Kern River Outfitters, Bill Tuthill (CACreeks.com), ARTA River Trips, ECHO River Trips, and Momentum River Expeditions for help with photos.



Click here to view the full sized slideshow.

CaliBurnFest '09

Friday, October 03, 2008


Burnt Ranch Gorge October 11-12th. Surf Comp on Friday the 10th.

Visit www.caliproduct.blogspot.com for more information.

New Rapid on the Middle Fork of the Salmon

Saturday, August 09, 2008

The combination of laster year's fires and this year's thunderstorms has created a few new rapids on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. There are new small rapids just below Sheepeater Camp and at Greyhound Camp.

The largest new rapid was formed by a landslide near Tappan III that created a dam which covered Tappan II. The new rapid (pictured) has been called Tappan 2 1/2 or Cove Creek. There are varied reports on how this rapid new rapid is rated, but many people are portaging although it is still runnable in a sweep boat.

Click here to read a story about an accident at the new rapid.

Social Networking for River Guides

Thursday, May 22, 2008

As river guides, outfitters, and private boaters we all know that one of the most special things about river trips is the people it attracts. These are people who you wouldn't mind spending all day with, preferably on the river, but also at the local pub or barbeque. Now there is a place for you to meet and "hang" with all your river friends: RiverGuides.ning.com (RiverGuides).

RiverGuides is a social network built specifically for river folk. It serves as an open forum to everyone (guides, private boaters, outfitters, and even those who simply "love" river guides) and provides users with their own blogs, discussion boards, photo galleries, and lots of other features.

As outfitters and guides, we all know that having the right people is a key to running great river trips; however, networking in the river business doesn't just start and end with outfitters and guides. There are shuttle drivers, office staff, trip-prep employees, travel agents, food providers, airline providers, and many others who influence our river trips.

These reasons are precisely why a networking tool like RiverGuides is of value to everyone in the industry. The spread of knowledge, the sharing of ideas, and the connection of people - all under the umbrella of love for rivers - is what RiverGuides is about.

So let's share and connect, but most importantly, let's love our rivers. Join RiverGuides.