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.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Rogue River Rafting Trip Glow Stick Show
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.
Orange Torpedo Trips was the first company in the world to offer guided white water inflatable kayaking and when we started in 1969 on the Rogue River we were considered a little different. 40 years later we still like to think we're a little set apart from the rest and we credit a lot of that to the inspiration that comes from being Oregonians. Oregon is a land unto itself. Known for delicious Microbrew's, leading Pinot's, incredible rivers (like the Rogue River) beautiful wilderness, and a population of people who seem to see things a little different than everywhere else we have a lot to be proud of and boy are we. It seems that every bicycle, Prius, pickup truck, and Ducati has a state heart sticker hidden on it somewhere. This sense of state pride is what brings me to the video below; it has nothing to do with rafting, but everything to do with our beloved State. Only in the land of Micro-brews, free hybrid parking, and homes filled more bicycles than people is this going to be created. In Oregon we take pride in being a little different and so I want to support those of our beautiful green state who think a little different.
Imagine this situation, "No officer I haven't been drinking"
After more than 2 decades of work, litigation, contemplation, bickering, arguing, crying, screaming, laughing, and talking, on October 9th, 2009 Savage Rapids Dam was cleared and the Rogue River flowed unabrupted through this area for the first time since 1921, allowing a floatilla of rafts, kayaks, drift boats, and jet boats to freely navigate through its channel. Sadly, this profound event did not go down without incident. Friday afternoon a man was killed when his jetboat crashed just downstream of the dam and Saturday an experienced river boatman wrapped his driftboat on a snag just down from the Dam. Outside of these two incidents, plenty of rafts, drift boats, and kayaks succesfully floated down this new section of the Rogue River.Photo: Jamie Lusch Mail Tribune
We are very excited to see how this channel settles in. For at least this first season the channel is expected to be in transition as years of silt and the gravel from the coffer dam settles, moves, and gets washed away. There is some great potential for this to become a fun little rapid. For more information on the Savage Rapids Dam and the other Dam removal projects on the Rogue River check out the Mail Tribune. Here are some videos I found on youtube as well as some pictures from the Mail Tribune
This should be a great event up in Portland. If you are in the area you should make an appearance to learn more about and support the causes of Wild and Scenic areas like our beloved Rogue and Salmon River. Sponsored by Patagonia, and hosted by Willamette Riverkeeper, this is the LARGEST environmental film festival in North America. Wild & Scenic will both inform you about the state of the world, and inspire you to create positive change.
With multiple movies and events, two highlights will be....
Red Gold: A multiple award winning film about a controversial mine proposed at the headwaters of the world's largest salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The film tells a story of a remote, but diverse community that all share the commonality of salmon fishing at the core of their existence.
Crossroads at the Columbia: Exploring the environmental and community-rights issues surrounding proposals by private companies to build Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals on Oregon's Columbia River.
when: Thursday, November 12th
where: McMenamins Bagdad Theater & Pub in Portland Oregon (37th & SE Hawthorne) doors open at 5:30pm, films begin at 7pm
cost: tickets $8 (and also serve as your raffle entry for a chance to win an Eddyline kayak and other prizes from Patagonia and Osprey!)
21 & over
You do not want to miss this!
www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org
Willamette Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection & restoration of the Willamette River www.willametteriverkeeper.org
Washington's Winery of the Year comes to the Rogue River.
Maryhill Winery, winner of the 2009 "Washington Winery of the Year" from Winepress Northwest, and Orange Torpedo Trips have come together to create a rafting trip you will not soon forget. The owners and founders of Maryhill Winery are picking some of their favorite wines and bringing them to share when they come down the Rogue River for 3 days of rafting in August. You can sign up for this special rafting vacation and combine evenings of spectacular wine with days of wave riding. For more info click here.
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
Family Rafting on the Rogue River: A guides perspective
Last summer one of our guides took his family on a 3 day rafting trip down the Rogue River. The pictures were so great I asked Jason to write up something about the experience for the blog followers to read. Jason has been guiding with us for over a decade and with his wife, they have two of the best kids you could take on a river trip.
This past summer I had the opportunity to take my entire family down the Wild and Scenic Rogue River on a three day lodge trip. My wife, two kids and my in-laws decided to take the plunge and come downriver with me on an adventure of a lifetime. My wife, my 10 year old son, and my father in-law have been on trips before, but this would be a first for my 6 year old daughter and my mother in-law.
Although Orange Torpedo Trips specializes in inflatable kayaks, we always cater to the needs of everyone. Each trip is accompanied by a supply raft that is equipped to carry passengers. This is the PERFECT option for those families that have children that are not of the size or age to paddle themselves in an orange torpedo. It’s also an option for those that are a little fearful of white water and simply want to enjoy a nice float while watching the beautiful scenery. This is where my family fit in. They were all passengers on my supply raft. (I’ve been a guide with Orange Torpedo Trips for over 12 years.)
The great thing about the supply raft is that children can ride and have a GREAT time while their parents enjoy the inflatable kayaks. The raft guides are always very well trained and versed in local history as well as plant and animal life. I look at it like a “classroom on the water.” There are also times where your child can ride in a kayak with a trained guide in flat water and get some paddling lessons!
At the lodges, my children had an amazing time exploring, playing games and feeding the deer. Being a lodge trip has its advantages when it comes to children in that they can always change into nice warm clothes, sleep in a comfortable bed and be entertained by our well educated guiding staff. (Most of us are teachers in the off season.) This also gives parents a chance to relax!
Our family trip was something that we will never forget! Getting to spend time together having fun in one of the worlds most beautiful, unspoiled locations is truly priceless! Another cool thing that Orange Torpedo Trips provides, (that no other company does), is a photo memory book and DVD documenting the trip. So if you don’t want to spend time taking photographs, no worries! We take care of that for you! A couple of weeks after your trip, a nice little package arrives at your home.
Overall, my family had an AMAZING time! Those memories will last with them forever. Orange Torpedo Trips is by far the finest, safest way to enjoy a river adventure as a family. The guides are well trained and have a proven safety record. I’m not just saying this because “I” am a guide for OTT. I’m saying this as a husband and father that wants only the “best” for my family. The best is Orange Torpedo Trips!
Thanks Jason! If want to know more about our 3 day lodge trip down the Rogue River, Click Here.
I asked Mike, AKA "captain skirt, the great one, OG (old guy).........," to share some of his Rogue River knowledge with the blog readers. Mike decided to share about his favorite time of year to raft the Rogue River. Mike is going into his 38th year guiding for Orange Torpedo on the Rogue River, so if anyone knows what they are talking about, it's Mike. June is my favorite month on the Rogue. Wildflowers are still in bloom, the grass on the open hillsides has yet to turn brown, and the new growth on the pines and firs lining the canyon is still a bright green. All the colors seem to be more intense, and the river itself still has that tinge of late snowmelt.
Weather can be iffy in June, but it is rare to get more than one day of rain on a trip. Sunny days are comfortable, not hot ( like August ), and even a rainy day is an adventure. Our paddling jackets and wet suits keep everyone warm, and the lodges have a special quality on those rainy nights.
Early summer water levels tend to make most rapids a little easier. Higher flows make for lots of floating instead of paddling, and shorter days on the river give us more time for side hikes and explorations that we have to bypass later in the summer. Smaller groups in June also make for more individual attention from the guides.
Come join us in June. It’s a great time of year to see the Rogue.
Thanks Mike for sharing your expertise with us. Keep checking back for more river knowledge from one of the Rogue River's most experienced guides. Now you just need to learn more about how you sign up to run the Rogue River with Orange Torpedo Trips
Here is a video someone sent me of some guys who ran their jet boats up the Rogue River from Foster Bar to above Rainie Falls. I'm glad they can only do it in the high water of winter and while I have concerns about jet boats simply being on this part of the canyon, there is no denying it's pretty cool to watch.
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.
The Rogue River, jet boats, rafting, camping, and a parade.
We are in the heart of winter, but spring will arrive before you know it. Now is the time to start planning things to do this summer. Start thinking about original vacations, fun road trips, events you can attend that will give you stories to awe your friends. Boatnik weekend in Grants Pass Oregon is one of those fun and unique things everyone should swing by at least one time.
This event based around the Rogue River is at a great time to be in the Grants Pass area. Boatnik, founded in 1959 is always held on Memorial day weekend and includes a great small town parade, plenty of street vendors selling fun crafts and all the local produce and art you could want. The parade event is a really fun family event with something for everyone.
The highlight of the Boatnik festival weekend in Grants Pass Oregon is the jet boat races. With multiple types of boats and races there are plenty of places to watch the excitement from on the stretch of the Rogue River where the boats run. Here is a video we found showing just some of the action.
In all boatnik weekend is a great time to get out and enjoy the spring. The weather is nice and the river is just starting to get to that perfect for swimming temperature. I love running one day rafting trips or even the 3 day Lower Rogue River white water trip this time of year. Its not so hot that you want to be in the water all of the time, but still hot enough swimming feels great. Make it a complete weekend with camping at Indian Mary park, a day at the parade and watching the jet boats before you end it with a day white water rafting on the Rogue River.
Ideal family road trip #1: The Rogue River, bears, caves, redwoods, and surfing
Southern Oregon boasts perfect weather and ideal scenery for summertime family vacations. The area surrounding Grants Pass Oregon is filled with camping, hiking, floating, state parks, museums, culture, food, winery's and almost any other type of activity that makes a great vacation with family and friends. Below is the first of what will become more great southern Oregon itineraries. We will try to give you a list of the locals favorite spots and insider views of things to do and places to stay.
This Southern Oregon Itinerary is perfect for families with younger children looking to get outside and relax. Here are some great ideas for parents with kids 4 years old and up.
1. No trip to southern Oregon is complete without a day or two on the Rogue River. The Rogue is the heart of Southern Oregon and is the highlight of all summer travel through Grants Pas. Here at Orange Torpedo Trips we have created an ideal way to take in a few days rafting on the Rogue River while also taking in two of the Grants Pass area's best attractions. On our Rogue River near Galice 2 day rafting trip spend 2 days floating on a beginner section of the river where wild waves in the many class II rapids will break over the bow and keep the group cool. The days on the river are spent swimming and laughing in the pools and screaming and yelling with excitement in the rapids. This is perfect for your kids first days on the river. This trip also includes a night at the famous riverside Morrison's Lodge. A must stay spot on a trip to the Grants Pass area, enjoy a spectacular 4 course meal on the deck overlooking the river. Our 2 day Rogue River rafting trip also includes a tour of Wildlife Images. You and your kids can get up close views and learn about some of Southern Oregon's most exciting wildlife. The stop here is always a favorite of the kids.
2. The Oregon Caves. Next on your Southern Oregon Itinerary drive a little over an hour south to the Oregon Caves. Kids love the the 90 minute walk through one of the west coasts largest marble caves. Follow your ranger through the many corridors and into multiple stalagtite filled rooms. Learn about the history of the area and the details of the caves discovery as well as information on how this unique caves system was created. The park hosts different children's programs for kids 3 and up including a Jr. Ranger program, but due to the "moderately strenuous and technical" nature of some sections of the trail through the cave children need to be 42 inches tall to do the cave tour, but there are plenty of above ground trails offering something for everyone.
3. Jedediah Smith State Park and the Redwoods. You and your kids will be awestruck by the size of these beautiful trees. Every time I drive through it never ceases to amaze me how enormous these trees are. Trips to Jedediah Smith can include hiking through the redwoods, camping, and swimming in crystal clear Smith River. This is a great family stop on your summer road trip. A stop everyone in the family will love. Check out this video for more info.
4. Cresent City: beaches, good food, great beginner surfing. End your family road trip at the coast. Relax on the beach, fly a kite, or rent a surfboard and wetsuit to try your hand at surfing. With multiple surf shops you will definetly find the right wetsuit and board for riding the Northern California waves.
The Grants Pass area hosts plenty of exciting river based jetboat and rafting trips to accompany camping or staying at beautiful lodges. Keep checking back or sign-up for our automatic blog updates to learn about more of the great things Southern Oregon has to offer.
The first week of October we were able to run a raft assisted backpacking trip on the wild and scenic Rogue River. We ended up running the trip on the only 4 rainy days in a 20 day period, but that seemed to just add to the fun of the trip. We had a great time on our 4 day, 44 mile, raft assisted camping trip with an awesome group from Texas. We are going to be running these trips as camping or lodge to lodge trips starting in May under our new partner company, Rogue Journeys (look for the new website in a couple of weeks). Trips are already starting to fill up, so if hiking one of the continents best trails and not having to carry all the gear sounds like a good idea give us a call and reserve your spots today, space is already starting to run short 800-635-2925. Here are some pictures. These are only a few of the pictures, check out more of ours at flickr Also check out pictures from a few of the guests, see it from there eyes here or here
Anywhere as beautiful and awe inspiring as the Rogue River is bound to have a fascinating history, and the Rogue is no exception. Home to gun battles, feuds between miners, famous authors, and plenty of eccentric river runners; the Rogue River canyon hosts stories of lore so grand that only some have been accurately captured in writing. A few good books exist that talk about Rogue River history and a few exist that combine the history with directions on how to make it down the river. Here are some of the best Rogue River books, perfect for anyone thinking of going down the canyon.
1. The Rogue River Guidebook: A comprehensive guide from Prospect to Gold Beach, by Matt Leidecker
This is the book that someone FINALLY made. A detailed guidebook to rafting the Rogue River. We recommend everyone on our guided trips take this book with them. This book combines knowledge of where you're going with an understanding of the areas basic history and geography. Being able to easily find information about where you and where you're going is valuable on the river.
2. Illahe, by Kay Atwood
"Illahe tells the captivating story of the miners, packers, farmers, and families who settled southern Oregon's rugged Rogue River Canyon in the 1860s."
If you're a history buff this book is for you. Kay Atwood does a remarkable job of re-telling first had accounts from the early days in the canyon. She utilizes journals, diaries and interviews with decedents from those who originally journeyed into the unknown isolation that was the Rogue River Canyon. Feel the stories and emotions of floods, harsh winters and constant isolation as these people chose to make their home in this beautiful river wilderness. This is a great read right before coming on a rafting trip down the Rogue River canyon.
3. The Rogue, a River to Run, by Florence Arman with Glen Woolridge Here is a spectacular book about THE Rogue River legend. Glen Woolridge started running the Rogue River in 1915 and was still running it into the 1980's. He was the first person to travel up the Rogue River from Gold Beach Oregon to Grants Pass Oregon in 1947. The next year he became the first person to travel up the Salmon River "river of no return" in Idaho from Riggins to Salmon. This book is a piece of history about a man who made history on the Rogue River. If you want to understand the sense of adventure that surrounds the Rogue River this is your book.
4.Rogue River Feud, by Zane Grey One of Zane Grey's lesser known books, The Rogue River Feud masterfully and beautifully describes the scenery and tranquility of the Rogue River. This is a great novel to bring with you into the canyon. On floats down the Rogue River you get stop by Zane Grey's cabin on the river and get a better understanding of exactly where he was while working through the novel. A great book for any rafting or hiking journey in the Rogue River canyon.
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.
