California and Oregon Rafting

I’m sure these are up for debate, but I was asked to write this for an online magazine the other day and thought I’d post ‘em.

1. The Grand Canyon: this is the ultimate trip. Most trips are 14-18 days through this spectacular canyon that is know to change lives. The rapids are huge due to the large volume of water.
2. The Middle Fork of the Salmon: This trip runs 100 miles through the heart of the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states. The trips features hot springs, nearly continuous rapids, and jaw dropping canyon scenery. This is an alpine river.
3. The Futaleufu. The “Fu” runs through a spectacular canyon full of mountain peaks in the northern edge of Patagonia. This is a big water river with classic Class IV and V rapids. This river is best known for it’s turquoise blue water.
4. The Tuolumne River. The “T” flows from California’s Yosemite National Park and has two distinct sections. One is the most difficult commercial run in the country and the other is an overnight Class IV trip in a magical canyon.
5. The Katun. This is Siberia’s gem. It flows through the Altai Mountains and has rapids much like the Grand Canyon. The Katun also has many tributaries that make great whitewater runs.
6. The Karnali. This is in Nepal. I’ve never done it, but I’ve done other rivers in Nepal and this is known as the best of the Himalaya.
7. The Rogue. Oregon’s Rogue River flows through old growth pine forests and is the perfect family trip due to numerous Class II and III rapids, warm water, and great campsites.
8. The Zambezi. I’ve never done this one either, but it is known as a very difficult and beautiful river. It begins below the famous Victoria Falls in Africa and is full of big Class IV and V rapids.
9. The Alsek and Tatsenshini. These rivers are next to each other and meet and you raft down to the ocean. the both have insane wildlife and you raft by huge mountains and incredible glaciers. The Alsek is the better of the two, but requires running a helicopter portage.
10. The Colca. I’ve never done this one either, but it is known as the deepest gorge in the world (although this is always up for debate). It’s full of Class IV and V rapids and has near vertical rock walls on both sides.

There are so many other runs that people could say are better, but the logistics or rapids are so difficult that you would only go if you are highly trained expert that enjoys putting yourself in harm’s way.

American Rivers has unveiled a program that celebrates the 40th anniversary of one of the nation’s landmark pieces of legislation – the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The story of rivers that have been protected and enjoyed thanks to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is not widely understood, so will be told in the aisles of outdoor specialty stores and by fishing or raft guides while on the river in 2008. The outreach program will explain the history and significance of the legislation that protects 168 rivers across the country in a free-flowing, natural state today.

“Research shows that consumers appreciate —and are willing to pay more to recreate on – Wild and Scenic rivers,” said Quinn McKew, Director of the River Heritage Campaign. “Outdoor industry members have both a personal and bottom-line interest in protecting these outstanding places. They can stir a stewardship interest that we can grow into a new generation of Wild and Scenic river caretakers while marking this important milestone in our protection of these incredible places.”

Outfitters, retailers, and manufacturers can participate at a variety of levels, highlighted by “Class V activities that may include media-attractive Signature River Trips, retail merchandising themes or limited edition products.”

About The Wild and Scenic Rivers

Today, the National Wild and Scenic system protects 11,358 river miles, just one-quarter of one percent of the total in the United States. By comparison, an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 dams across the country have impounded more than 600,000 miles, or seventeen percent of our river miles.

To be eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation a river must be free-flowing and be outstanding for at least one resource value such as its recreation, scenery, wildlife and fish habitat, history, or geology. Rivers may be added to the system by an act of Congress. If a river is protected through a state program it may be designated by the Secretary of the Interior upon official request by the governor.

To protect and enhance the resource values for which a river was designated, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act affords a river legal protection from adverse development impacts. It

• Forbids the construction of new federally licensed dams;
• Limits inappropriate streamside development;
• Protects the river’s unique values;
• Mandates the creation of a management plan for the river.

Oregon leads the nation with 49 rivers designated, while Alaska boasts a stunning 3,210 miles of Wild and Scenic rivers. The Missouri River explored by Lewis and Clark, the Delaware River that cradled the American Revolution, and the Tuolumne River loved by John Muir are all protected by this visionary law.