The Rafting Blog for the Rogue, Salmon, Klamath, and North Umpqua Rivers with OTT.
Keep up with Orange Torpedo Trips as well as info and updates about white water rafting on the Rogue, Klamath, Umpqua, and Salmon Rivers.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
River guide of the Month - Feb 2010
Orange Torpedo Trips Rafting Guide of the Month - Feb 2010, Kim Gonzales.
Kim has been with us for more than a few years and has proved her ability as one of our top Torpedo Guides and hardest workers. She is always working to perfect guiding techniques and jumps on the opportunity to learn anything new relating being a better river guide. When Kim started she had spent very little time in a Torpedo and through hard work and a love what she is doing she has become one of the best. She has proven herself as a great river guide and will be our first female head guide on the Main Salmon River this summer. If you are lucky enough to be on one of her Idaho trips it will be an experience you will fondly remember.
Stats
Years Guiding? This is my 5th year
Favorite River? The Main Salmon. I love how every trip is different and exciting! Not to mention the great company, food, and memories you share camping out on the river. But if I had to make a quick day trip I love doing the nugget/powerhouse stretch. Its a rush every time!
Favorite trip memory?Soooo many! But I was lucky to celebrate my 21st birthday during a trip on the Main Salmon. Lets just say some good memories were made.
Why do you keep coming back? I love working on the river and for this company. I've made great friends and created some awesome memories. The inflatable kayaks are fun and I love teaching and taking people of all skill levels down the river.
What are you looking forward to this next season? Idaho! Can't wait to hit up chittum and vinegar rapids on the Main Salmon again.
What do you do in the off season?In the off season I am in school.
What are your off river activities? When I'm not finishing up homework I like to play volleyball and hangout with friends.
Rafting trips on the Salmon River in Idaho are one of the premier vacation experiences in the United States. Relatively warm water, abundent wildlife and incredible white water are only part of what makes this such a unique family and adventure friendly experience. Here at Orange Torpedo Trips we view the Main Salmon rafting trip as the premier multiday white water family expedition experience. One reason we think this is such a great trip is the lodge we stay at the last night of our float.
Shepp Ranch has a rich history in the Salmon River canyon. Not only is the history long, but it is detailed. A daily journal from the ranch stems back over 75 years giving its history un-equaled accuracy and detail in the Salmon River Canyon.
The ranch at the mouth of Crooked Creek which float into on day 4 of our Main Salmon raft trip was founded by Charlie Shepp and Pete Klinkhammer in 1909. They purchased the ranch for $1000 with the plan of growing produce to sell to the miners in the local area. In 1910, their first year, they planted early and were something less than succesful but in following seasons they had a plentiful garden which included: potatoes, corn, beans, beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips, asparagas, rootabagas, watermelons, squash, tobacco, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes, and hops. Gardening was mostly up to Charlie Shepp who maintained this bountiful garden in the summer seasons between floods.
Living deep in the backcountry of Idaho on the Salmon River was not, and is not, without its adventures. Simply getting in to town could be a life or death undertaking. The River of No Return by Johnny Carrey and Cort Conley tells a great tale of Pete Klinkenhammer and Jack Wilson trying to go from Grangeville back into the canyon when they became stuck in snow so deep it was up to the chest of their horses. The group hunkered down for the night and started a small fire simply hoping to survive. Eventually men from the local mining community who heard the men were on their way assumed they had become stuck in the storm and went out in the middle of the night looking for them. "Suddenly, through the darkness, came flashes of light and voices - 20 men on snowshoes, with swinging lanterns, from Humptown.... Each man had a bottle of whiskey, some had two. They brought food, everything, even hay for the horses. Shoveling out a clearing, they built a massive bonfire, set coffee pots to boil, then sat around the fire and talked and sang all night." That is a true Idaho rescue party! The stories continue and you can read more about the great Salmon River Canyon history book The River of No Return
Shepp Ranch still holds onto its historical roots with the original cabin at the heart of the facility. Mike and Lynne who have been managing Shepp since 1982 are two of our favorite people with an unmatched ability to make everyone feel at home. When you arrive at Shepp Ranch Mike and the staff help load your gear onto the tractor while Lynne guides you up to the ranch house for fresh lemonade and cookies before you spend the afternoon relaxing in the shade, playing sand volleyball, fishing the creek, or hiking.
On our Salmon River rafting trips, Shepp Ranch is always a highlight for both customers and guides. Everyone loves the home cooked meals with vegetables fresh from the garden. A highlight for me is always the bonfire on the beach giving us guides a night to relax and spend time with our guests. If we have not seen you on a rafting trip down the Salmon River before I hope we do this year.
A new highlight of our Rogue River Rafting 3 day lodge trip is the glow stick show. This is something that has evolved from what you see in the video below (one of the first) to what is now a fully choreographed bit of hysterical guide acting. For those who can stay awake late enough for it to get dark at the first nights lodge on the Rogue River raft trip this has become a trip highlight.
Last winter a collection of Orange Torpedo Trips guides and want to be "legends" headed back to the East Fork of the Lewis river in southern Washington to try running a 20+ ft waterfall in an Orange Torpedo Tahiti. 2 years ago Chewy tried and failed as shown in the second video below, but this time turned out a little different. Helmet, also shown in the video ran his first real waterfalls in a hardshell kayak which was great to see. Enjoy
The most recent attempts at the East Fork of the Lewis
I’ve been thinking lately about the changes in Orange Torpedo Trips over the last almost 40 years that I have guided. Our basic philosophy and procedures are the same as ever, but I have seen huge changes in the equipment that we use.
In 1972, our boats were the same basic design, but there were some differences. The PVC material was not as durable, and we stopped several times a day to apply temporary patches that would hopefully last until we made it to the lodge or camp. After dinner each night, we would have “patch parties” down at the beach where we made the boats seaworthy for the next day. Of course, back then there were no self-bailing boats and we had lots of fun teaching the lost art of “buddy dumping”. Valves in the boats were pop-up type valves that we secured with rubber bands. Of course the valves would pop out at the most inopportune moments.
Our old PFD’s ( life jackets ) were all orange horse-collar type design. They didn’t have much buoyancy and smelled to high heaven ! Our new PFD’s have higher flotation, are much more comfortable and include pockets to hold sunscreen, etc. In addition, guides and guests now wear different color PFD’s for easier identification.
Personal gear has changed, too. Sunscreen was not invented until the mid ‘70s. In fact, OTT field tested Johnson and Johnson Sundown, one of the early sunscreens. Prior to that time, we used large beach towels to cover the exposed legs in the boats. An early trip “flip” usually led to a lost towel and a bad case of sunburn. No present day paddler would be caught without their sunscreen.
Guests were usually attired in cotton jeans shorts, cotton shorts, and shoes and socks. In the event of rain, they were encouraged to bring a nylon jacket. In the 1980’s we made a move to rubberized wrestling warm-up tops and later on to wetsuits and splash jackets designed to keep paddlers warm. Current day paddlers usually arrive outfitted in synthetic shirts and shorts ( both to keep warm and prevent sunburn), and some type of river sandal or water shoe.
With all the changes that have evolved over the years, some things have not changed. Our well-trained guides, attention to detail, and emphasis on safety will never change. Join us and enjoy all the changes that have made OTT what it is today !
By Mike Slagle (aka OG, Great One, or Captain Skirt)
Last Friday we (Orange Torpedo Trips) hosted one of the events for the KLDR radio "Carvivior" competition. They chose 4 people who are living in this little Toyota and the last person to get fed up with the whole thing wins the car. They have to go for at least 21 days, they can get out for 15 minutes every 2 hours and have 1 competition per day sponsored by a local company. Friday was our day and we had a great competition. Good luck everyone! If you want to watch the live webcams of the 4 living in the car or follow the blog click here. Here is the video
The Main Salmon Price Drop!!!!!!! SAVE $800 a person
Rafting the Main Salmon River in Idaho just became more affordable. To celebrate our 40th summer paddling rivers around the world we have decided to lower the price of our most adventurous trip by $350 a person. The all-inclusive 5 day Main Salmon rafting trip with 1 night in a lodge was $1849 and starting today it has dropped to $1499 for the summer of 09. To go beyond that we are also going to offer an all camping option for the first time in years, dropping the price to $1349! Even better, if you live close enough to Salmon Idaho to drive yourself there, the price could drop all the way to $1049. If you have ever wanted to raft the Main Salmon River (and even if you have never thought about it) this is the summer to do it. You could save up to $800 a person!!! That is a savings of $3200 for a family of 4. Sign up TODAY! for the premier rafting experience in the country. Trips are filling up fast and at this price the spots will disappear quick. Learn more about rafting the Main Salmon River
5 things to know before booking your rafting trip on the Main Salmon
A rafting trip down the Main Salmon River is the vacation of a lifetime so it's important to make sure you book the right trip, with the right company, at the right time, with the right options. Here is a guide to help make sure you find exactly what you are looking for.
1. Transportation. Getting the put-in and take-out of the River of No Return can be complicated due to the remote nature of the trip. When booking your trip you should have a few different options for transportation and those should be reflected in the price A: The full treatment. Fly into Boise and then take Salmon Air from Boise to Salmon. From Salmon the company should bus you into the put-in at Corn Creek. From the Take-out at Carry Creek the company should provide transportation back to Boise via van or air from McCall. B: Salmon to Salmon: Some trips a company provides transportation from Salmon Idaho (requiring you to drive there) to Corn Creek and then from Carey Creek to McCall where you catch a Salmon Air flight back to Salmon and your vehicle. This works well if you live close to Salmon. With this option you can usually also choose to have your vehicle shuttled from Salmon to Carrey Creek or McCall instead of catching the flight back to Salmon. This option may be cheaper depending on if your group is larger than 2. Our trips cover all these options, but with most people coming from out of state, the Boise to Boise option with the included Salmon Air flight is the most popular.
2. Time of the year and river flow. The Salmon River is the longest river in the country without a dam. This freedom means that unlike the Rogue River in Oregon where flow remain somewhat constant all summer long because of dam control, the flow on the Salmon progressively decreases as peak of snow melt passes. Early season usually means high, colder water. More water in many place means bigger waves and can be extremely exciting for those looking for a big ride. By the first or second week of July the Salmon has usually warmed up and settled into great mid-summer flows. For these couple weeks the river has big waves with plenty of excitement while also being a little easier and warmer than trips in the latter part of June. Later into the summer the flows drop and the rocks come out. The river is always fun, but now it changes to more technical maneuvering. The lower water usually brings out some of the best beaches which were hidden below the surface earlier in the summer. Talk to your company about when the weather and water flows are most likely to match the type of trip you're looking for. You can always call us at 800-635-2925 for an idea.
3.Camping, lodges, or a combo. The Main Salmon is one of the few rivers in the U.S. where you can float lodge to lodge on a rafting trip. The Salmon River also has some of the best camping of any river in the country, so how do you choose what to do? At Orange Torpedo Trips we think you opt to do both. On our trips we camp for 3 or 4 nights and stay at a lodge for one. After camping on beautiful beaches for 3 nights the lodge comes as a nice transitional step back into the modern world.
4.Type of boat. How are you going to travel down the river? This choice will play an enormous role in your experience. Sitting on the front of an oared raft provides plenty of time to take in scenery, relax in the sun, and talk with your guide. Paddle rafting means time with your friends, but plenty of organizing your group efforts to paddle through the flats. Third, is our personal favorite, paddling an inflatable kayak (IK). When you can learn from a guide and then follow a guide through the rapids it allows complete beginners to experience the joy of riding over waves and the satisfaction that comes from saying, "I paddled the Main Salmon" to all of your friends. Many companies offer an inflatable kayak option, but only with Orange Torpedo Trips do you have a guide in an IK teaching you as you go, guiding you through the rapids, and being right there to pick you out of the water within seconds if you happen to tip. 39 years of satisfied customers say this is the way to travel.
5.Trip take-out. The Main Salmon has a few different spots to exit the river. Some trip options include flying out of Shepp Ranch or Mackay Bar. Some take-out at Vinegar Creek, and some like us go all the way to Carrey Creek. We believe going the extra few miles to Carrey Creek provides a better end to the trip. Vinegar rapid (one of my favorites of the whole trip) is guaranteed to get you wet and makes the best end to the trip. Don't miss one of the best rapids of the river, make sure you trip goes all the way to Carrey.
If you want to download the details about this trip with Orange Torpedo Trips Click Here and download the Main Salmon brochure. If you're ready to go Click here to book now.
I love looking back at videos we have made in the past. Its always fun to remember adventures you have been on, laugh about something you haven't thought about in a while, or just remember a time of year you're looking forward to again. Well looking back I found some Orange Torpedo videos worth highlighting. The first two we made 3 or 4 years ago and are still great videos for talking about who we are and what we do.
Here is the into video, if you want to know about Orange Torpedo Trips this is a great place to start.
Next is the video for those interested in rafting on the Rogue River, which this is our 40th year on the Rogue River and we still love it (expect a whole entry on this coming up soon). So if we have been here 40 years and still love it, just think of what you are missing if you have still never seen it.
Alright so enough of showing promo videos. They are great and good for learning, but if you just want to see what rafting the Rogue River is really like watch these next two. Every white water rafting trip on the Rogue River with Orange Torpedo Trips, we make a custom DVD and coffee table book from that trip. Customers receive the dvd and coffee table book as part of the trip, no added fee. This way when they get back they have a way to show their friends how much cooler and more adventurous their vacation was. Here is a video a uploaded after one of the trips. Remember anytime you see someone fall out, they were picked out of the water by a guide within a few seconds.
Finally I was looking back at an off season day another guide and I had. It was sometime in the winter a few years ago and we were feeling some white water withdrawals. We decided to head up to the East Fork of the Lewis in Washington so "Chewy" (almost all guides have nicknames) could try to run his first waterfalls. Lets just say the results were somewhat humorous.
So there you have it. I hope that starts to satisfy some winter time white water needs. But if you really think your going to need to get into and IK and run the water this summer I would sign up soon. Dates for rafting on the Rogue River are already filling up.
Orange Torpedo rafting - One of the best adventure travel companies on earth
We are ecstatic to be honored by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth for the second year in a row! The scores are calculated on a combination of several categories including: overall, client satisfaction, spirit of adventure, quality of service, sustainability, and education. After being called on of the top 10 family adventures of 2008 by NGA, it's a real honor to be part of the list again in 2009. Now going into our 40th year of rafting on the Rogue River this is a real honor.
So we had a customer request to bring their dog on a trip down the Main Salmon River last summer. We have not had a dog request in a long time so we thought about it, learned about the dog and said ok. The dog was great, it was a trained aid dog that had apparently not passed its final tests because it was overly friendly. So it spent its days on the Main Salmon River sitting on the back of the raft relaxing in the sun. However, when we would get to camp this dog had one strange habit................
Okay.... so we may have staged this photo, but the dog would sleep like this sometimes. You would pet her stomach and she was out.
Summer fun on the Main Salmon River. Can't wait until next year.
Monday morning, perfect time for great Rogue River news
Most everyone knows the feeling of sitting down at your computer on a Monday morning. Hit the on button and wonder and wait what e-mails sitting sit there needing to expeditious response. Granted with modern phones it's not such a mystery what e-mails are waiting, but you get the idea. This was a great Monday with an e-mail highlight! It is always fun to read feedback from trips and hear comments about how great the trip was or how, "awesome" the guides were. However, by the time November rolls around most people have already sent in their feedback and people are looking towards next season. Well today we had a surprise e-mail that proved to be blog worthy. The title of the e-mail was G'day
"Hi,
It’s Troy and Michelle from Australia ! We came to you on a sunny day in September and we had a fantastic and memorable time, especially with our well trained and anything-but-lazy guide, Aaron. Please see attached photos we thought you might like to keep for yourself. Aaron, we tried to include photos of you working as well as the ones where you were relaxing so you wouldn’t get a hard time from the Boss.
We loved Aaron’s enthusiasm and love of life and all things natural. It was a real pleasure for us to spend the time we had in a beautiful part of Southern Oregon with a down-to-earth and relaxed guide as Aaron.
Having crapped on enough about how great Aaron was, we’d like to say a thank you to the rest of the staff for their warm welcome (even at the crack of dawn on a cold morning), positive attitudes and great advice. We’ll never forget the great experience we’ve had on the Mighty Rogue River and we have you guys to thank for that, so thank you.
Kind regards
Troy Lea & Michelle"
While all of the photos seemed to be Aaron relaxing, we will let it slide and assume he worked at some point during the day. Here is the trip they are talking about Thanks to everyone this year who sent in great feedback, we always love hearing how trips went.
Welcome to the River Torpedo, the home of the Orange Torpedo Trips blog. From here on this will be your location to stay up do date on everything happening on the Rogue River, Klamath River, Umpqua River, and the Salmon River. We will make sure to post information about what is happening here at Orange Torpedo Trips including some funny stories, great videos, and generally posting the things we find valuable or hysterical. We look forward to having you join us on this journey as we all get ready for the next summer on the river.
