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Greetings from Idaho!
Here we are, once again, at the end of another great season of river rafting. After such a low snow pack last winter and a snowy rainy spring, we had good water on our trips this summer. The biggest surprise was the Owyhee and Bruneau Rivers…best water in years, the most water on the Bruneau, ever. Just goes to show, it doesn’t pay to try and predict Mother Nature.
1. What you liked best about the trips this summer!
2. “Get Kids Outdoors”
3. Check out our video on the web.
4. Environment: Patagonia Launches Skivvies Recycling Program.
5. Climber’s Adage
6. Schedule and prices ~ book prior to 1/01/06 & receive 2005 prices
1. What you liked best about the trips this summer!
Guest surveys “ What was the best parts of the trip for you.” So far we have gotten a well-rounded list of comments, some we wanted to share with you.
- The evenings in the campsite, sitting around the campfire, talks with the guides
- The food, the instructions, and things I learned from the guides.
- The beauty of the wilderness and seeing my daughters experience the same.
- Quiet fishing, hiking to Castle Lake, being with a bunch of guys.
- From Start to finish, the whole trip an amazing experience.
- Being with my family and other great people in a beautiful environment.
- Small group, flexible itinerary with lost of activities.
- Peacefulness, sleeping under the stars, excellent food, hot springs.
- Hanging out with my oldest son and an old friend.
- Excursions – cliff jumping, rappelling, hikes were most appreciated by the family
- The guides, the scenery, the kids had the best time.
- Duckies (inflatable kayaks), hot springs, guides, weather, story telling around the campfire.
- Solitude, guides, no watches.
- Small group, participatory nature of the trip (not being baby sat) Knowledgeable guides, getting to spend a little time rowing the boat.
- Paddle boat, hikes, hot springs, food good guides, and nice people.
- The hikes were amazing. Because all three of them (the guides) knew so much about the area & wildlife, it was a much more exciting experience.
2. “Get Kids Outdoors”
With all the talk about obesity in children and too much television and video games, it’s no wonder that families continue to discover that river trips are a great way to “get kids outdoors”. Kids can learn about flora and fauna, geology, and nature in school but they don’t learn to love them without playing among them. They become passionate about something when they have an intense personal relationship with it. River rafting and camping in the wilderness
seem to have that effect on the young and the old alike. It is never to late to become passionate about nature. It can give us a better sense about who we are and why we are here.
Fun times in the inflatable funyaks! Photo by Seth Tonsmeire
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Learning to Rappel |
Photos by Bryan Hilts |
“Amy and Jesse were terrific. I can’t believe how much fun Forrest had on the trip; I think that he will look back on it as one of the high points of his childhood. This trip exceeded my wildest hopes in terms of a positive experience.”
Evans Simpson, Hayden Creek Ranch/Salmon River combo ‘05
“You do a fabulous job. Julian had the time of his life. On the way home he said, ‘I think I matured a bit on this trip’.
Jude Rosenberg, Salmon River ‘05
WRO recommended trips for kids:
Main Salmon River (ID)~ children 8 & older
Middle Fork Salmon River ~ children 10 & older
Middle Fork of the Flathead River (MT) ~ 12 & older
Tatshenshini River (AK) ~ 12 & older
3. Video on the WRO Website ~ Check out our Salmon River Video on our web site, home page under Specialty Trips in the left column or follow the above link. Coming soon will be a video on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River (Montana).
4. Environment: Patagonia Launches Skivvies Recycling Program
We often associate Patagonia with overpriced outdoor clothing. This may be true but they are also big into recycling. For years Patagonia has been sensitive to the environment, donating 1% of annual sales to environment organization dedicated to save and restore habitat. Their most recent program is asking capilene wearers to return their worn out base layers to Patagonia to recycle into new capilene. According to Patagonia, the recycling program will save 76% of the energy
and 71% of CO2 emissions required in the manufacturing of new capilene. Beginning September 12 you can return your underwear to Patagonia by mail or at one of their 20 retail stores in the U.S.
By spring 2007, capilene pieces they produce annually will contain more than 50% recycled material. Patagonia says, “Their mission is to build the best product with the least harm. “ Michael Crooke, Patagonia president and CEO promised that eventually all of Patagonia’s fabrics and fibers would be recycled. He also challenges every other industry using polyester to start recycling.
5. Climber’s Adage
“If you’re not hungry, you brought too much food. If you’re not thirsty, you brought too much water. If your not scared, you brought too much gear. If you made it too the top, the route was too easy anyway.”
Ice Climbing Trips in September 2006
6. 2006 Schedule & Prices
Book prior to January 1, 2006, receive 2005 prices.
With gas prices affecting so many aspects of our business we had to raise many our trip prices this next season. Since booking early helps us in many ways, we would like to offer those that book prior to January 1, 2006, our 2005 prices. Hopefully this will help you and us plan for the summer of 2006. Thanks.
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