The Eddy Line - From Wet Planet

White Salmon River - A Warrior Adventure Quest for our heroes from Joint Ft. Lewis McChord Base

2013-05-16T22:50:22Z

By Amber Marra

For the last two months, the Wet Planet base has been swarming with groups upon groups of some amazing American heroes who are ready to get their feet wet in the Pacific Northwest-literally.

Wet Planet started working with the Ft Lewis McChord military base by getting soldiers out on the White Salmon River in 2006 through the base's outdoor recreation center, but in 2009 along came an amazing program called Warrior Adventure Quest.

Wet Planet helped pilot the US Army's Warrior Adventure Quest that year and since then the program has helped reintroduce soldiers who recently returned from deployment back to civilian life through recreational activities like skiing, snowboarding, paintball and, of course, whitewater rafting.

That made for an exciting start to the season in April and May here at Wet Planet.

At a recent pre-trip orientation briefing, nervous laughter filled the front of the Wet Planet base as trip leader John Abercrombie briefed a group of Ft. Lewis soldiers on what to expect out on the river, including the glacier-fed water.

"The water in the White Salmon is about as cold as water in rivers gets," Abercrombie explained to the group, most of which gave the soldier to the left or right a mischievous shove at the thought of plunging into the clear water.

Later on as everyone strutted around the base in their blue, yellow and black wetsuits, helmets, PFDs and booties, one soldier could be heard saying "We look like members of the Blue Man Group!"

Jokes aside, as the five boats of soldiers slid into the White Salmon everyone was all business when it came to working with each other to get down the river. Tobias Johansson, a Wet Planet guide who regularly takes Ft. Lewis groups down the White Salmon, says getting out on the water is beneficial to the soldiers in more ways than one.

"They always seem very excited to be here. 'Crazy things' like jumping off the bridge is huge for them, but besides the fun factor, the whole rafting experience is a good way to get back to normal life and channel their adrenaline in a positive way," Johansson said.

Johansson, who has leadership experience with the Swedish military, was on the same May 13th trip as Abercrombie. His boat of soldiers could be seen running Rattlesnake rapid as all five yelled "Stroke! Stroke!" in unison while they barreled through the whitewater.

Michael Enriquez, 23, was one of the soldiers in that boat. Like the rest of the group, Enriquez just got back from a nine-month tour in Afghanistan three months ago.

After getting outfitted with all of his gear, Enriquez was ready for that 42-degree water his trip leader told him about.

"I get excited about everything and I'm ready to jump off that bridge,"
Enriquez said, referring to the bridge spanning the White Salmon that so many rafters hurdle off of regularly. "I guess I'm an adrenaline addict."

Our base staff can always tell when the time comes for the soldiers to plummet off the bridge followed by "riding the bull" through Rattle Snake Rapid, by the hoots and hollers that carry across the road in Husum. We're into it. After all, where's the fun in using your inside voice while watching your buddies leap 30 feet into a wild river?

After running Rattlesnake and finishing out their eight-mile adventure down the White Salmon, the Ft. Lewis groups meet back at the base for a delicious BBQ before heading home.

Zach Lee, a 23-year-old who kayaked Alabama's Class III and IV Terrapin Creek growing up, said he wishes he had more time to get out on the river now that he's back stateside.

"It was awesome getting back to normal and doing something I haven't done in a really, really long time," Lee said.

Amber Marra is a reservation specialist living the dream at Wet Planet.

Columbia River Gorge hosting its first ACA Kayak instructor course on White Salmon River

2013-05-14T22:50:11Z

By Amber Marra

Our kayak instructors are some pretty talented people. From teaching the basics to a brand new aspiring boater who's getting out on the water for the first time to someone who is keen on honing their skills and wants to take it to the next level - these guys and gals are pros who love what they do.

But where do the pros get some of that awesomeness from? It's not like the boof fairy shows up overnight, casts a "kayak teacher of the year" spell and flies back to the magical land of river professionals. These folks work hard for the pleasure of teaching people to kayak. They consider it a calling and approach it as a professional job.

That's where our ACA Kayak Instructor Course comes in. Wet Planet is proud to announce hosting its first ACA Kayak Instructor Course, and additionally, that the Wet Planet Kayak School is now recognized as an ACA Pro Kayak School.

Starting on May 27, this five-day course is where kayak instructors earn their spurs, and when it comes to safety and instruction in paddle sports, an ACA-or American Canoe Association-certification is what pros strive for.

This year for the first time, Wet Planet is excited to welcome J.R. Weir as our instructor trainer. Weir is the lead instructor and guide at Sundance Kayak School on the Rogue River in Oregon. He's also super pumped to lead an instructor course alongside assistant Wet Planet instructor Heather Herbeck. Sundance Kayak School and Wet Planet go way back, and help each other out each summer. Wet Planet kayak instructors have been helping Sundance out with its Kayak program on the Rogue River for the last 5 years.

Not just anyone can walk into an ACA Instructor Course. Participants must be at least 18, maintain first aid and CPR certifications, plan on finishing the entire five-day course and intend on becoming a member of the ACA and Safety, Education and Instruction Committee.

Aside from being the "gold standard" for instruction in paddle sports, Weir says being ACA certified is great for kayakers who want to impress potential employers, or even just work for themselves. There are also a lot of awesome perks.

"It basically gives clients and employers an idea of the level of quality that an instructor maintains," Weir said. "The other thing is, you get to use ACA liability insurance for classes that you teach and you can teach classes basically on your own."

Obviously, the ACA certification does not include other required certifications or permits which are different from state to state, such as First Aid certifications, Forest Service Permits or Bureau of Land Management Permits depending on the bodies of water used for the ACA class.

The course is broken up into two portions, the first being the Instructor Development Workshop where potential instructors not only learn how to properly break down basic kayaking skills on and off the water, but also how to present to a group and progress through an affective lesson while keeping things fun and comfortable for students.

The second part of the course consists of the Instructor Certification Exam, in which potential instructors have to demonstrate the ability to teach a beginner kayak class to Weir.

The key, according to Weir, is developing a solid beginner's progression, having good time management skills and, above all, staying positive and having a great time with the class.

"You have to start really simple and keep people in their comfort zone and having fun. Giving good experiences, productive learning sessions and just maintaining the fun factor are all important because those are the key to success," Weir said. "You really have to kind of inspire them and gem them hooked."

Note: The ACA Kayaking Course on May 27th is almost fully booked. Please check with us for future courses. We will be hosting these each spring!

Amber Marra is a reservation specialist living the dream at Wet Planet.

Washington Whitewater Kayaking, ACA, American Canoe Association

First Descents set to return to Wet Planet for 5th year

2013-05-06T23:24:55Z

By Amber Marra

That special time of year is rolling around when Wet Planet switches gears and invites some amazing guests to discover the waterways of the Columbia River Gorge.

This will be the fifth year that Wet Planet has partnered with First Descents, a non-profit organization on a mission to exhilarate and embolden cancer fighters and survivors via the challenge of conquering the great outdoors.

For two weeks in mid-June and one week in early July, the Wet Planet base will host 15 First Descents campers between the ages of 18 to 39. All have different stories and all have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.

Thanks to fundraising efforts, young adults involved with First Descents can attend camps like the one at Wet Planet free of charge.

That means from the time campers start learning the basics of wet exits and T rescues to the time they begin mastering skills on the water, like getting in and out of eddies, it's all free to them. Steve White, a Wet Planet kayak instructor and guide, will be plunging into his fourth First Descents summer soon. There are few things better than getting out on the water for young adults who have already been through so much, he says.

"They have that fighting spirit that's necessary to get through treatment, then they get out there and it gives them an interesting and fun outlet for that same spirit where they have to have a lot of strength and endurance, and in this case it's applying to something that's exciting with people who have been through the same thing they have," White said.

Aside from hammering out the basics of kayaking on the Klickitat River and spending a day rafting down the White Salmon River, First Descents campers tend to form bonds and camaraderie they cannot find anywhere else besides a place where they are surrounded by peers who have either fought cancer or are currently fighting for their lives.

Jaco Klinkenberg, who owns Wet Planet, noted that the rafting and kayaking portion of First Descents gives campers the sense of doing something they might have at one point thought to be impossible, but now view as an attainable challenge, especially with friends by their side.

She also said that participating in the First Descents experience can be just as fulfilling for her guides and instructors as it is for the campers themselves.

"A lot of our instructors live life to the fullest; they live life day by day, so to have the opportunity to make what they do mean something and change someone's life is extremely rewarding for them and for many it becomes the highlight of the season," Klinkenberg said.

That's one of many reasons why White continues to participate in the First Descents camps every summer. He added that even though the cut-off age is typically 39 for First Descents groups, there will be some 40-year-olds in the mix as the organization decided to begin expanding its programs last summer.

Aside from the technical benefits the campers and instructors receive; it's also a really awesome time for everyone involved.

"One thing this does is when they're in remission and done with treatment it gives them chance to get out and be with other people and feel normal again," White said. "Being with other cancer survivors and fighters makes them realize they're not in this alone, that there are other people out there who are going through this too."

Amber Marra is a reservation specialist living the dream at Wet Planet.

An Exhilarating Afternoon on the Wind River with Wet Planet

2013-05-01T22:40:30Z

Stephanie Ludlow rafted down the Wind River last Sunday, April 28. Here is her reaction to her epic adventure:

The Wind River is not for the faint of heart. As I set off on this adventure into the unknown, co-workers and friends offered me advice: "Call when you get off the river so we know you're alive!" I'll tell you now: running the river brought me to life! With miles of exciting rapids, amazing canyon scenery and expert guiding by my Wet Planet guide, Drew Parker, I was in a whole new world. I've rafted before on the White Salmon and other rivers, and this took the thrill to a new level!

The Wind river trip started at Wet Planet headquarters with all the essentials: coffee bar, changing rooms, great sunny deck! Then once geared up we're onto a new place and adventure after a short bus ride. The river began narrow and slowly winding, a inconsequential start to a very action packed set of rapids. After a brief scout of Initiation Rapid, we set off with our hearty crew of 5. I felt comforted to know that we had two Wet Planet support kayakers waiting downstream for us should I end up out of the boat. The rapids just kept coming and past Initiation rapid we rafted almost a mile (which felt like many more miles!) of very continuous whitewater ending in Climax rapid. Throughout the whole experience, I felt the incredible control we had amidst the chaos. Once clear of the first miles of rapids, we celebrated, basked in the sun, and even enjoyed the scenic views the Wind River had to offer us.

Our river guides at Wet Planet put on a delicious lunch riverside while we relaxed in the warm sun. We were witnessing a river canyon that is only accessible through the difficult Class IV and V rapids we had just run through. The Wind River is a special place that few people get to experience. After lunch we rafted down a few more miles, past many spectacular waterfalls cascading into the river canyon. The Wind River runs best in the Spring time for rafting, so the many cascades that come into the canyon are flowing when the river is raftable, making for a pristine experience. We are lucky to have the Wind in the backyard of Hood River and the Columbia River Gorge for rafters to enjoy!

Thank you Wet Planet for the epic, memorable experience.

By Stephanie Ludlow

Wet Planet is currently running Wind River trips. If you're ready for the next level of adventure, call 800.306.1673 or reserve online now!

LOG ALERT - New wood on the Wind River

2013-04-21T02:24:32Z

This is just a heads up about a new piece of wood in the warm up rapids on the Wind River. Our trip today encountered a log in the last class II-III rapid immediately above the confuence with Trout Creek. This is the short ledgy rapid just above the long shallow, bending rapid that leads to Initiation. This log was not there three days ago.

The log is broached on the two rocks that create the center line of the rapid, and extends three quarters of the way across the river. The far left channel is open. You could slide over the log on the right side into the right channel. The middle channel is ugly. The log is hiding behind the first ledge, just high enough above the water for a kayak to slide under it. The pin would be bad. It's not easy to see, especially if you aren't paying attention.

The log is super hazardous, primarily because it is in a mellower section of river. It is really hard to see until you are right on it, and it's definitely a spot where you might not be super focused on the rapid coming up. I was floating at the rapid messing with my pogies, talking to the rafters next to me. I caught an eddy just above the piece of wood while the raft parked on top of it. If I had not caught the eddy, I would have been in trouble.

Kayakers will have no problem running to the left. Just be aware and don't float down the middle messing with your pogies. At today's water level, a raft could charge it and teeter totter over. Any lower and that wouldn't work. Experienced rafters shouldn't have any issue with the left line. With our commercial rafts (4 loads), we lined on the right.

That's it. Not a big deal if you're paying attention. However, be on the lookout. It could sneak up quickly.

OK, that's it for the heads up. Back to the Wet Planet Saturday night dinner ...

Klickitat River Trip (and Wood) Report

2013-04-20T00:55:09Z

We've been receiving a number of phone calls recently from people looking for beta on the Klickitat River: is the road clear, is there snow, what's the wood like, water levels, etc? We were on the Klickitat River yesterday, so we can give a good report on how things are looking after the recent high water.

Let's start with the drive in: the road to the put-in outside of Glenwood is clear. No trees, and no snow. In fact, it looked dry. Glenwood has obviously not been receiving the rain that we have been getting in the White Salmon valley.

At the put-in we were all scrambling for sunscreen. It's been a while since we've paddled in the sunshine. The river was running about 1900 cfs. It's been dropping steadily in the colder weather, but we're hoping it comes up next week when the predicted warm spell hits.

The Crew at the put-in. Sunshine and no mud!

On the river, the Klickitat looks just like it has for the last couple of years. Generally speaking, the Klickitat is as wood free as it ever is (which is not really very wood free). The log jams and blocked channels that are problems every year are still blocked. However, we didn't encounter any new problem wood spots. We didn't encounter any portages or any new logs that weren't an issue last year.

The major log jam in what we call "The Islands" is still a serious hazard. This log jam occurrs relatively early in the run where the river splits through a couple of different channels. The majority of the water flows down the river right channel, which would look like the obvious choice to a boater not familiar with the river. The river right channel is terminal. Take the small left channel up against the cliff wall and stay left! Fortunately, the narrow left channel was clear of wood as of yesterday. The little orange circle with an arrow point left hanging in the trees on river left above the islands is still there as a marker.

This is the log jam at "The Islands." This is a very hazardous spot!

This is the view upstream while standing on the log jam. At higher water levels the eddies are gone. You need to be in the left channel before you come around the bend!!!

Roughly a mile downstream, the river splits into different channels again. In this case, you need to be in the rive right channel. The center/left channel is blocked with wood. These channels have been blocked for years, so this is not new for boaters familiar with the river.

The low head dam at the fish hatchery looks like it always does: strong recirculation, metal pieces sticking up randomly, and super shallow on river left. For our commercial trips at this level, we are walking our guests around at the fish hatchery, and R-1'ing the rafts through the tree lined small channel on river right.

So, there it is. Some quick beta on the Klickitat. The one thing to keep in mind is that this is the report as of yesterday, at 1900 cfs. We are expecting warmer weather this coming week, which should lead to rising Klickitat levels (keep your fingers crossed). If the water comes up, there is plenty of wood lying around on the banks and in the shallow water that could start moving.

We'll be out there this weekend. Maybe we'll see you on the water!

Author Todd Collins lives on the White Salmon River in BZ Corner and works year round for Wet Planet.

ALERT - New Log in White Salmon River Boulder Garden Rapid

2013-04-13T21:57:55Z

Oh Man! It looks like we might be in for a repeat of last year's Boulder Garden Log Jam. There is a new log in Boulder Garden, on the Middle White Salmon River. We first posted an alert about this log on Tuesday through our Facebook and Twitter channels. The log, which wasn't there on Monday was encountered by one of our rafting trips. The trip called in to our base and we got the word out as quickly as we could.

This image shows the root ball of the log against the river right rock forming the entrance to the center line in Boulder Garden.

The best way to describe the current situation at Boulder Garden is that it "is really bad." The log extends all the way across the center line in the rapid, and most of the way across the left line. There does appear to be a small escape route on river left against the left bank. However, this open space against the left bank is small, and will likely fill with wood at some point. At this point in time, it appears to be a single, long log jammed in the rocks at the top of Boulder Garden Rapid. It is wedged in the same location as the thick log that was pinned just upstream of the large log jam that formed in Boulder Garden last winter. The reason we say that this is "really bad", is that all of the current in the river is flowing directly into the log. If you are in your boat and in control, you shouldn't have any trouble moving to river right and running the right line in Boulder Garden. However, anyone that is struggling for control, or any swimmers in the water, will come around the corner in Shark's Tooth moving toward the center or left side of the river. Anyone getting pushed center or left toward Boulder Garden is in big trouble. Swimmers in Shark's Tooth, or upstream, are in very real danger of being pushed into the log.

This is a close up of the left side of the log. It's hard to tell how far it extends.

Wet Planet commercial trips are running with specific, designated support eddies on river right with ropes ready. This log jam is a serious hazard, especially for an unaware boater that might be challenged with the higher water on the White Salmon River.

A Wet Planet raft running the right line past the log.

Please help us get the word out.

Author Todd Collins lives on the White Salmon River in BZ Corner and works year round for Wet Planet.

Spring Whitewater Rafting in the Columbia River Gorge – Which River Rafting Trip to Choose

2013-04-01T20:14:04Z

One of the best ways to experience the incredible Northwest Scenery found in the Columbia River Gorge is by taking a whitewater rafting trip through one of the area's spectacular river canyons. These trips offer the absolute best of whitewater rafting in Oregon and Washington. One of the best times of the year for a trip is in the Spring, when snow melt and rain water provide great water levels in all of the area rivers. Many of the Oregon and Washington river rafting trips only run in the Spring during the seasonal snow melt, and are unrunnable later in the summer.

With numerous creeks and rivers flowing off of Mt. Adams toward the Columbia River each Spring, it can often be hard to determine which river you want to run. Each river section has its own personality. To help with your decision, we'll break down the most popular Oregon and Washington whitewater rafting rivers and give you some great insider's hints for choosing the perfect trip for you.

The most popular are the White Salmon, Klickitat, Wind River, Hood River, and Farmlands section of the White Salmon, each offering the visitor a unique experience.

The White Salmon River is the most well known, largely due to its long season. Fed by natural springs flowing from the Mt. Adams glaciers, the White Salmon provides plenty of water for great rafting spring, summer, and fall. Designated for protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the White Salmon offers a breathtaking combination of whitewater and scenery. Rafters are treated to continuous class III-IV rapids as the river tumbles through a beautiful, cliff-lined basalt gorge. White Salmon trips are appropriate for beginner to advanced rafters 10 years in age and older.

Inside Scoop: the removal of Condit Dam on the White Salmon River in the Fall of 2011 has generated a lot of attention lately. Spring trips on the White Salmon used to end in Northwestern Lake. Now, what used to be lake is a free flowing river canyon. This increase in attention reached the writers at the New York Times, who listed the White Salmon River (with Wet Planet as the outfitter of choice) as one of the top world destinations in the article 46 Places to Visit in 2013.

The Klickitat River passes through one of the most remote wilderness canyons commercially rafted in the Pacific Northwest. With virtually no access other than by boat to the steep canyons, towering basalt cliffs, twisted lava formations, and scrub oak forests for the majority of the trip, this is the ideal trip for rafters who want to experience the magic of a pristine wilderness river trip. Packed with exciting class III rapids, this full day trip is ideal for beginner to advanced rafters 10 years older and up.

Inside Scoop: Make reservations for early May. This is when the Klickitat is typically running the highest. We have a slightly lower than average snow pack this season, so we might be losing water on the Klickitat River by the end of May.

The Wind River is the most challenging commercially rafted run in the Pacific Northwest. Set in a deep canyon, surrounded by towering cliffs and spectacular waterfalls, the Wind River cascades through tightly spaced boulder gardens and steep ledges in a non-stop series of class IV to V rapids. This action packed run is only for the athletic rafter seeking the next level of adventure. Outfitters on this river require previous whitewater experience, have strict age requirements, and often require physical fitness tests before their trips.

Inside Scoop: The Wind River is hard to catch at the right water level. While we do run trips from April until early June, we recommend making a reservation for mid-April to mid-May for the best chance at catching that perfect water level.

The Hood River is the most recent addition to the commercial whitewater scene in the Columbia River Gorge. Local kayakers have enjoyed the West Fork of the Hood's long and continuous class III/IV rapids for years, but rafts were rarely, if ever, seen descending through the river's narrow gorges. In recent years that has changed, driven by raft guides passion for sharing the local rivers they enjoy with their rafting guests. We Planet now offers a full-day trip down the West Fork and Main Fork of the Hood River. These two sections combine for 15 miles of class III-IV rapids through spectacular Pacific Northwest wilderness. The lush, temperate forests characteristic of the Cascade Range glow with every shade of green: from the Spanish moss dripping from giant Ponderosas to ferns growing from wet, canyon walls. The river's headwaters in Mt. Hood National Forest were recently added to America's Wild and Scenic Rivers list, ensuring its scenic and remote qualities for generations to come.

Inside Scoop: the Hood River rises and drops quickly with rain fall, making it hard to predict water levels and plan trips far in advance. If you are interested in one of the awesome trips down the Hood River, give Wet Planet a call. We'll put you on the "Hood River List" and get in touch with you when the Hood is running.

The Farmlands section of the White Salmon River is arguably the most committing, exciting, and spectacular commercial whitewater rafting run in the Pacific Northwest. And your only chance to see it is with Wet Planet whitewater rafting trip.
We travel further upstream than any other company on the White Salmon to access this incredible section of river. Ten miles north of the Forest Service public put-in for the main section of the White Salmon River, the Farmlands offers continuous class IV-V whitewater rafting in a series of canyons defined by vertical cliff walls and the horizon-lines of stairstepping rapids. Within the canyons, rafters will find scenery and whitewater adventure unrivaled by other commercial rafting trips. The glacial waters of the White Salmon careen through rapids such as Sidewinder, The Drop Zone, Mini Lava, and Off Ramp.

Inside Scoop: the Farmlands trip is the favorite trip in the Gorge for most of the guides at Wet Planet. However, it isn't for everyone. Rafters on this trip should be prepared for challenging, committing whitewater, and adventurous rock scrambling on the portages. This trip is an adventure, both in and out of the raft!

So, there they are. the best river rafting in Oregon and Washington located right in the Columbia River Gorge. All you need to do is decide which is the perfect river for you, and give Wet Planet a call.

Author Todd Collins lives on the White Salmon River in BZ Corner and works year round for Wet Planet.

Valentine’s Day River Love Competition - The Finalists Are Ready For Your Vote

2013-02-28T00:15:22Z

Thank you to everyone who shared your river love story!

We've chosen the finalists. Now you get to vote for the winner of a whitewater weekend for two!

We have chosen the top five river love stories out of the various stories you submitted. Now, it's time to vote. Of the following five inspirational stories, the story receiving the most "likes" by 5:00 pm Sunday, March 3rd will win the whitewater weekend: includes a Rafting Trip on the White Salmon River OR Wind River, 1 night lodging, and the worlds best pizza with a local brew at Solstice Wood Fired Cafe.

Follow the links below to read the stories. To vote, just click the Facebook "Like" button at the bottom of the story.

River Love Story Finalist 1: By Brandon Bloomquist

River Love Story Finalist 2: By Caitlin Head

River Love Story Finalist 3: By Twila Zard

River Love Story Finalist 4: By Pat Cuffel

River Love Story Finalist 5: By Jordan Apele

A FEW NOTES ABOUT VOTING:

We are counting "likes" on the actual story that we have posted.

If you share the link to your story on Facebook, and someone "likes" your Facebook post, we can't count that vote. They need to follow the link to the actual story we have posted and vote for it there.

Feel free to share your favority story anyway you want (Facebook, Twitter, your blog, the latest social media we haven't even heard of yet, etc.) and encourage your friends to vote, as long as they actually vote for the story on the original post.

You can always see how many votes a story has by looking at the "like" count at the bottom of the story.

If you missed hearing about the competition when it began, or want to review the rules, here it is: The Valentine's Day River Love Competition

Again, thank you to everyone who took the time to share a special part of their lives. Happy voting!

River Love - Finalist Number 1 - By Brandon Bloomquist

2013-02-26T23:45:59Z

Rivers have been an integral part of our life together for my wife and I. I was on the river by myself for the first two Valentine's day, until I landed a Grand Canyon permit. Our third Valentine's day was at the confluence of the Little Colorado and main Colorado in the Grand Canyon. The sun was shining and the water was aquamarine blue. It looked more like the tropics than a river. We aren't sure how to top that one, though we keep trying with many raft trips. My wife and I got married in September of this year at Husum Highlands. In the days leading up to the wedding, I got in a dawn patrol on the Truss on Wednesday and a Middle White trip with the family with Wet Planet. The day of our wedding, I was under orders from the bride to get in another Truss dawn patrol lap. Life was good.

- By Brandon Bloomquist

TO VOTE FOR THIS RIVER LOVE STORY, JUST CLICK THE "LIKE" BUTTON

River Love - Finalist Number 2 - By Cailtlin Head

2013-02-25T23:49:46Z

I grew up in Kendall, Washington, about an hour east of Bellingham, Washington. Growing up, my family took us on yearly camping trips, weekly trips to Mt. Baker to ski, and daily adventures on my parent's property. But it was my times spent on the Nooksack River that I am the most fond of. My parents decided early on that they wanted us to experience the Nooksack River, and it's beauty, every year. So they chose to be a part of a co-op, owning a piece of the river and giving me and my sisters a life time of memories. Going to the river every summer meant loading up our car with the river necessities (towels, buckets for rocks, landjaeger sausages), and heading out for a full day of swimming, lounging, and trying not to burn our feet on the hot sand. To this day, I feel like I'm the only person that can appreciate the changes rivers take on each year. I grew up with the Nooksack River, changing and growing, just like her. On our first visit of the year, we never knew which river we were going to get...but she never disappointed. We grew together through days of being a baby and sitting in her quiet pools, to tubing the river as a teenager. Now, I love her as I go over two Nooksack Rivers to visit my parents, one of which hosts some of the largest groups of bald eagles in the NW. My love story truly begins and ends with the Nooksack River, and I can't wait to bring my kids to visit some day. Who knows what she'll have for us then!

- By Caitlin Head

TO VOTE FOR THIS RIVER LOVE STORY, JUST CLICK THE "LIKE" BUTTON

River Love - Finalist Number 3 - By Twila Zard

2013-02-24T23:50:10Z

My husband and I were tired of doing the same old thing for anniversary celebrations so instead of another dinner out we decided to jump into a raft and try something with a little more excitement. His brothers and their wives loved the idea so asked if they could also join us for an anniversary river run as all of our anniversaries fall within a month of each other. With a little trepidation we climbed aboard and had the time of our lives. Not many people can say they went over a waterfall for their anniversary but we can! We love how the river can illustrate marriage. At times it is tranquil and peaceful but you never know what is around the bend so you'd better keep your eyes open. Hold on as there will be bumps along the way but when you are paddling in unison there isn't much that you can't make your way through. At times you have to take a leap of faith and just hunker down and hope for the best but the scary parts are usually just a passing movement. Trust your partner to be in sync with you and things will be a lot smoother. Sometimes the unexpected rapids are the most exhilarating and give you an amazing experience that you never thought was there, so see where the river takes you.

by - Twila Zard

TO VOTE FOR THIS RIVER LOVE STORY, JUST CLICK THE "LIKE" BUTTON

River Love - Finalist Number 4 - By Pat Cuffel

2013-02-23T23:53:44Z

Rose and I met on a rafting trip with Wet Planet. It was March 2008 in Costa Rica. We became good friends on the trip and began dating after returning to the US. We got serious later that summer and started a long-distance relationship. Every year we had a reunion rafting trip with all our friends from the original Costa Rica trip.
Two years later I proposed. We decided to have the wedding in Costa Rica where we met. On November 11, 2011 we were married in Puerto Viejo, Limon, Costa Rica surrounded by friends and family. One couple from the original trip even made it. We topped off the celebration with a rafting trip down the Pacuare River with the entire wedding party. Now that's love on a river.

Yours truly, Pat

- By Pat Cuffel

TO VOTE FOR THIS RIVER LOVE STORY, JUST CLICK THE "LIKE" BUTTON

River Love - Finalist Number 5 - By Jordan Apele

2013-02-21T23:56:12Z

Clay and I first kayaked together on the Skykomish River four and a half years ago. Since then the Sky has wound its way through our relationship giving us experiences that I would not trade for the world. So when it came time to take our relationship to the next level, Clay knew that there would be no better place to "pop the question."
On February 17th, we set out to the Sky with our close friends and kayaking buddies. It seemed to me like one of our normal weekend kayak trips, our friend Tim cracking jokes in the back seat, dub-step flowing from the speakers, and all of us leaving for kayaking way earlier than we get up during the work week!

Boulder drop, my archenemy rapid on the Skykomish, a playful class IV, was running at a high flow. I was feeling tired, and Clay encouraged me not to run it. So when we got to the top of the rapid, we pulled into the eddy, I told him I loved him and kissed him good luck as we parted ways. I had an anticipation I couldn't explain to get down to the put-in below Boulder Drop. As I walked down the muddy hill back towards the river, I noticed Clay and the rest of the guys were out of their boats. My first thought was that someone swam, and I eagerly swept my eyes over them checking to see if they were all accounted for and unharmed. My friend Chris noticed my worried look, and joked that they all swam the rapid. Reassured I started making my way down through the boulder-laden side of the hill, and glanced down towards the edge of the river where Clay stood. He turned towards me, knelt down on the boulder next to the river's edge and pulled out a small white box. My heart felt like it leapt out of my chest as I realized what was happening. I hurriedly dropped my kayak and paddle, and scrambled down the hill, and tackled him, almost sending us both into the river. Before he could get a word out, I kissed him and accepted the ring. Another of our friends produced a bottle of champagne, saying "it was pretty hard to boat down here with this rolling in the back of my boat!" as he handed us the bottle.

In all of our excitement on the side of the river, after taking a sip of champagne, Clay fell into the river. And in typical kayaker fashion, our friends started chanting "Booty Beer! Booty Beer!" and without skipping a beat, I started removing my booty, so that my new fiancé could drink a champagne booty beer.

I imagined Clay asking me to marry him for the past year of our relationship, and I hoped that it would involve kayaking and our close friends. All I can say is that he nailed it. It was more perfect than I ever imagined.

- By Jordan Apele

TO VOTE FOR THIS RIVER LOVE STORY, JUST CLICK THE "LIKE" BUTTON

Valentine’s Day River Love Competition

2013-02-14T21:09:14Z

They first met on the river: he a raft guide, she an aspiring kayaker ...

Tell us your river love story and win a whitewater
weekend for two!

This year we are celebrating several Wet Planet Weddings! Love is in the air at Wet Planet, and always has been. Why? Rivers bring people together. River trips can be very special bonding experiences. Many of us at Wet Planet have met our significant other or some of our best friends kayaking or rafting some river in a beautiful part of the world, and choose to continue to share this passion and life with each other. Do you have River Love Story to tell?

THE VALENTINE'S DAY RIVER LOVE COMPETITION: Tell us your story about love found on the river, meeting your best friends on the river, or your love for a river, and win a Whitewater Weekend for Two! Includes a Rafting Trip on the White Salmon River OR Wind River, 1 night lodging, and the worlds best pizza with a local brew at Solstice Wood Fired Cafe.

Entries can be written or video, and must be submitted by February 24th. Selection of the five most captivating entries will be made and posted on our blog the week following. Then you get to vote: the story with the most "likes" will be the winner!

THE RULES:

Entries must be a written story, poem, or video

Maximum 500 words for written entries

Maximum 3 minutes for video

Photographs allowed, maximum 2

Content must be respectful and rated pg13 to be considered

Entries must be submitted by 5:00pm Feb. 24th, 2013

Send entries to riverlove@wetplanetwhitewater.com

THE DATES:

Entries must be submitted by February 24th

Selection of the best 5 entries will be posted to the Wet Planet blog on Wed., Feb. 27th

The story with the most "likes" by Sunday March 3rd will be the winner!

THEME OF THE CONTEST:

Tell us your river love story: about meeting your significant other or your best friends on the river; about your love of kayaking or rafting; about your love for a particular river; about your love for rivers in general.

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ALERT - New Log in White Salmon River Boulder Garden Rapid

Spring Whitewater Rafting in the Columbia River Gorge – Which River Rafting Trip to Choose

Valentine’s Day River Love Competition - The Finalists Are Ready For Your Vote

We've chosen the finalists. Now you get to vote for the winner of a whitewater weekend for two!

River Love - Finalist Number 1 - By Brandon Bloomquist

River Love - Finalist Number 2 - By Cailtlin Head

River Love - Finalist Number 3 - By Twila Zard

River Love - Finalist Number 4 - By Pat Cuffel

River Love - Finalist Number 5 - By Jordan Apele

Valentine’s Day River Love Competition

Tell us your river love story and win a whitewater weekend for two!

Tell us your river love story and win a whitewater
weekend for two!