Here is more info on all our Upper Klamath Safari Trips >

And on our Gourmet Safari Trips >

The post The Upper Klamath River Safari is Featured in Sunset Magazine appeared first on Momentum River Expeditions.

And, in the spring…

There are few places like it on earth when it comes to whitewater and beautiful rivers.

It is a big reason some of the best guides in the world make their way here every April. It is truly a playground of wild rivers.

Whether it is a 3-day weekend of very comfortable camping (yes, glamping) and the big whitewater of the Cal Salmon or other world beauty of Clear Creek. Or a 4-day trip down the Illinois – what some consider to be the beat wilderness river trip in the country.

This is a good spring to check one out…

Southern Oregon & Northern California Spring River Trips:

The California Salmon
3 days/3 nights | April – June | Class IV+/ V | Gateway: Ashland/Medford, OR (MFR) / Redding, CA (RDD)
California’s premier spring run, this is one of the most spectacular class V adventures in the country!. This is a signature spring trip and, for many of us, the “Cal Salmon” is our favorite class V river in the U.S. It combines beautiful, lush coastal scenery, an intimate, marble-smooth, granite inner gorge, a seemingly endless number of waterfalls cascading in from above, emerald-green waters, tons of wildlife, a comfortable pop-up base camp, and unequaled class IV-V pool-drop whitewater. This is truly a world-class, high-adventure run. The late May dates are getting full.

Clear Creek Kayaking Trip
3 days | Mid May – Mid June | Class IV | Gateway: Northern CA / Ashland, Or
Clear Creek is like no other stretch of river in the country and one of the most unique trips we offer. Tumbling out of the Red Buttes Wilderness Clear Creek carves an extremely narrow and rocky gorge with a rainforest feel and crystal clear water – there are places where the canyon is not much wider than our kayaks. The trip combines high adventure, spectacular beauty, pop-up riverside glamping, and a chance to run a stretch of river that is rarely seen (or even heard of). The highlight of the trip is ‘Clear Creek’ – a spectacularly beautiful, remote, and extremely rarely run tributary of the Klamath. It is truly a magical place.

The Illinois River
4 days | April – early May | Class IV+ (V) | Gateway: Medford OR (MFR)
Southern Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Illinois River is considered by some to be the best wilderness rafting trip in the country. Few rivers can match its combination of extreme isolation, solitude (we can only take 24 people a year down this river!), beauty, and whitewater. The Illinois features crystal clear water, countless waterfalls tumbling into the river, a spectacular canyon with steep walls draped in moss and ferns, and world-class pool drop whitewater. This rafting trip is what wilderness river running is all about.

The post Southern Oregon & Northern California Spring River Trips appeared first on Momentum River Expeditions.

These trips are our roots, we love them, and they are a big part of the reason some of the best guides in the world call Ashland, Oregon home during the river season.

The snowpack’s range from 130 to close to 200%. Below are our spring trips that will benefit the most from all this snow and precipitation. Even on a huge snow year some of these rivers have very short season and the best dates (or all the dates) book fast.

As always – While spring offers some of the biggest and most isolated trips anywhere for most trips you do not need to be an experienced adventurer, an athlete, or even to have ever touched a paddle or spent a night under the stars. Our trips are designed for those who like or want to be introduced to the outdoors and our goal is to make these places we love accessible to everyone. So if you have any questions about whether one of the trips below is good for you just ask.

Spring Snow Melt Rivers:

The California Salmon
3 days/3 nights | April – June | Class IV+/ V | Gateway: Medford, OR (MFR) / Redding, CA (RDD)
California’s premier spring run, this is one of the most spectacular class V adventures in the country!. This is a signature spring trip and, for many of us, the “Cal Salmon” is our favorite class V river in the U.S. It combines beautiful, lush coastal scenery, an intimate, marble-smooth, granite inner gorge, a seemingly endless number of waterfalls cascading in from above, emerald-green waters, tons of wildlife, a comfortable pop-up base camp, and unequaled class IV-V pool-drop whitewater. This is truly a world-class, high-adventure run. The late May dates are getting full.

Clear Creek Kayaking
3 days | Mid May – Mid June | Class IV | Gateway: Northern CA / Ashland, Or
Clear Creek is like no other stretch of river in the country and one of the most unique trips we offer. Tumbling out of the Red Buttes Wilderness Clear Creek carves an extremely narrow and rocky gorge with a rainforest feel and crystal clear water – there are places where the canyon is not much wider than our kayaks. The trip combines high adventure, spectacular beauty, pop-up riverside glamping, and a chance to run a stretch of river that is rarely seen (or even heard of). The highlight of the trip is ‘Clear Creek’ – a spectacularly beautiful, remote, and extremely rarely run tributary of the Klamath. It is truly a magical place.

Middle Owyhee
4 Days | April – Early May | IV+ | Gateway: Boise, ID (BOI) / Eastern OR
One of the most incredible and rarely run river trips in the country. A Middle Owyhee trip is for those who are looking for isolated wilderness, spectacularly dramatic landscapes, and plenty of excitement. It’s a journey to one of the most remote lands in the lower 48. It combines dramatic dark sheer canyon walls, big rapids, and it is even more remote than the Lower. While there is only one class V rapid the remoteness makes it a true expedition. One of our trips was featured on OPB’s Oregon Field Guide. This river trip is a true wilderness experience.

The Illinois River
4 days | April – early May | Class IV+ (V) | Gateway: Medford OR (MFR)
Southern Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Illinois River is considered by some to be the best wilderness rafting trip in the country. Few rivers can match its combination of extreme isolation, solitude (we can only take 24 people a year down this river!), beauty, and whitewater. The Illinois features crystal clear water, countless waterfalls tumbling into the river, a spectacular canyon with steep walls draped in moss and ferns, and world-class pool drop whitewater. This rafting trip is what wilderness river running is all about and we are honored to offer it.

The post 2019 High Adventure Spring Trips appeared first on Momentum River Expeditions.

Once again, we truly want to thank you all!

Below are a few of the testimonials from the 2018 season.

Kind Regards,
Pete and the Staff of Momentum River Expeditions

“As an old river guide, I am very critical of any trip that I take. This was one of the BEST that I have taken. Not only was the river exciting, but our guide, Andy, was one of the best that I have encountered in my rafting experiences. The food was well presented, fresh and extremely tasty. I give this trip a ‘double thumbs up’. I will do this trip again. I urge you to take it for an awesome experience. ”

“The Owyhee River in SE Oregon is in a remote area. That said, you are rafting in an area of beautiful mini Grand Canyon formations on day 3 and 4 of a 5 day/4 nite trip. Food and staff are the best I have experienced on 12 other adventure rafting trips… Momentum has my vote…9 out of a 10. Never mind….lets go 10!!”

“First and foremost, the trip FAR EXCEEDED our expectations!!!  I’ve lived in Oregon for 20 years and have heard about the Rogue but had no idea that such a large expanse of protected river was even there!  What a gem, just beyond beautiful and relaxing!  We could have turned around and done the entire trip again. Our guides were, Mark Crawford, Elisa, Lorenzo.  Everyone of these guides deserves a standing ovation for VERY hard work, attention to detail/safety and above all guest comfort.  We were so spoiled by all three that we were actually starting to feel guilty.  They waited on us hand and foot!  The food was amazing, abundant and way beyond normal camp food (how do you do all that on a river?)…I just can’t thank you enough for creating Momentum and a company culture that far exceeds “going the extra mile.”“

“This trip exceeded my expectations many times over and there is not a single thing I would change about it. While going on a “glamping” river rafting trip certainly isn’t inexpensive, it was worth every penny. The experiences gained and memories our families made together on this trip were simply priceless. Safe to say there were 15 very happy customers! I feel very fortunate that I had an opportunity to go on this trip. It was an experience of a life time!”

“Momentum puts together a top notch experience. Our family has traveled the world together and we didn’t want this trip down the Salmon river to end. We are still talking about it around the dinner table. Booking another for 2020 only because 2019 was already booked.”

“Kudos to you for finding the best ever river guides! I was so impressed with each of them and very grateful for them sharing their love of the River with us.  I left feeling like I gained a much deeper connection with the wonder and beauty of nature…Your guides bring an openness of themselves to those around them and that is rare in this rushed and hurried world.  I wish them all well.  They have truly given me and my family a beautiful  gift by spending the past long weekend with us.  “

“I wanted to let you know directly that we had an amazing trip and were extremely happy with our experience. A big part of that was because of your team. Mark and Jonathan were excellent guides and we felt extremely safe with them. They also happen to be exceptional individuals and it was an absolute pleasure spending time with them… We felt like we were spending time with good friends. We were all sad for the trip to end! I could go on and on with superlatives about your team and the experiences we had. We are hooked and certainly would book a trip again with you all in the future.”

“Exceptional guides in a beautiful place – camped at a beautiful and remote spot on the California Salmon River. Our guides had comfortable tents and great home cooked meals for us each day. The guide in our boat had 20 plus years experience guiding around the world and took us down awesome Class 5 rapids with skill and care. She gave us as much excitement as possible while keeping us safe. I could not recommend this outfit more highly.“

“Not having wifi or cell phone reception for four days (including the drive in and out) was mentally cleansing, although nerve racking at first. Makes you realize how we are hand-cuffed to these devices in our daily lives (…as I type this Yelp review on my iPhone). Just watching our children filled with sheer unadulterated joy as they jumped into the river or got extremely excited seeing an otter or deer was, alone, worth the trip. Wonderful to see the kids having the time of their lives without a TV or an iPad in front of their faces.”

“Our guides, Mark, Lorenzo, Diego, and Eric made this experience possible…. We basically entrusted the safety of our children’s lives to these guys. Looking back on it, I cannot think of anyone else I would trust more under those circumstances. These guys were consummate professionals, who were focused 24-7 and had a mastery over their craft. Third, food never tasted better than after breathing in all that fresh air and taking in the natural energy exuding from the mountains, trees, and river. Our guides prepared the best meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Every meal was a 10 out of 10, hands down. One of the desserts was maybe the best dessert I’ve ever had in my life (i.e. the “Banana Foster”).”

“The Most Polished Rafting Experience Ever – Momentum mixes outdoor adventuring with glamping to create a truly unforgettable experience. First and foremost they strive to provide a top notch eating experience in the middle of the woods, and they actually deliver on that promise. They also setup and take down camp, thus the ‘glamping’ vibes. And those accommodations are awesome. From there every activity is meticulously organized so that you get the most from each moment on and off the river. “

“Had a blast with our group of 8 ladies! The guides were very organized and knew their stuff!! (Lynn, Vickram, Mike and Sam) I’ve never kayaked on the river before and tried the “ducky” their inflatable kayak. Sooooo much fun!! The scenery was remote and beautiful and the food…omg…the food!! Blown away with the quality and originality. I was expecting typical camping food – hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. The spread these guys made everyday was incredible for camping food! Coconut curry with grilled chicken, quinoa with toasted almonds, fresh fruits and veggies, bananas foster with freshly whipped cream!! It was amazing! Go – you won’t be disappointed!.”

“This trip was the best outdoor experience ever. Rafting, Mountain Biking, Hiking, River KAYAKING… it was a perfect three days with great people (my group AND the people we met on the trip) and the best guides you could ever ask for. Highly recommend!!!”

“I wanted to say that our trip was amazing. My kids were in awe of our guides – but especially Rick. They pushed themselves and met people and slept under the stars and had the time of their life. We had the oldest and youngest on the trip 10 – 74 and everyone had a blast. Thank you for making a great company and hiring the best guides! You have something really special going. I have been recommending it all day long on my first day back in civilization. “

“We went on a 4 day trip on the Rogue. The river was beautiful and we had a wonderful time. We have been on several multi-day rafting trips in the past and were very impressed with the quality of these guides. They weren’t just college students guiding in the summer – they were extremely knowledgeable river guides with a great deal of experience guiding on rivers around the world from Patagonia to Africa. They made us all – even the beginning rafter/non-campers in our group feel very comfortable on every bit of the river and especially in the rapids. Additionally, they were absolutely delightful people to spend time with… Diego, Shana, Mark, and Vikram are kind, interesting, fun and all around just lovely and amazing! Great trip!”

“What the heck are you doing reading this review? Book a trip already! Seriously! We have been on MANY rafting trips, and Momentum River Expeditions went above and beyond our expectations and previous experiences! Our guides Rob, Derik & Jeff absolutely CRUSHED IT!!
We brought our nephew along, who is 14, but not entirely comfortable with big adventure. The guides took him under their wing, helping him to try new things, and get a little bit out of his comfort zone, but with absolute safety and without pressure! He was pumped rafting rapids in an inflatable kayak by himself day 3. He had an extraordinary time and left the trip feeling happier and more easy-going than I’ve seen him in years!
We booked the 4 Day Rogue River Camping expedition. The scenery was stunning, amazing birds and wildlife, and a precious scenic River to raft on! Our camping sites were totally EPIC. Waterfall stops and miniature day hikes were a welcome change of pace as we rafted down river. Every day we stopped for lunch at some incredibly beautiful location and the guides prepared an awesome array of lunch food! You will never go hungry on this trip!
It’s hard to explain the JOY I felt every afternoon when we showed up to camp and it was completely set up! HELLO! They set up your tent for you! We relaxed, played in the river, played music together, wandered through the woods and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Then… guides would get appetizers and wine ready… I feel like I should repeat that 32 times. I could just sit back and relax! Fantastic wine and appetizers led to dinner also expertly prepared and served beautifully. And, I feel like it’s important to point out that I never felt weird that the guys were preparing our camp and food and generally doing everything for us. They were absolutely kind and refused our help in the most caring and polite of ways. They were here for us and it was clear.
And emphasis on local and organic food is what originally swayed me to go with momentum. As well as their small group expeditions. Many other rafting businesses that I looked up had upwards of 24 guests on every trip! We would not have enjoyed that. Momentum has small trips with no more than 12 guests, an emphasis on serving local & organic food, expert guides, solid gear and they will provide you with everything you need!”

The post To All Who Joined us in 2018 – Thank You! appeared first on Momentum River Expeditions.

Visit our About Us and Why Momentum pages to learn more. Below is more information on our half day and day trips leaving from Ashland, Oregon, or you can explore all of our river trips our interactive rivers map.

Half & Day Rafting Trips From Ashland Oregon

Upper Klamath Day Trip

1 Day | April – Sept | Class IV+ | Gateway: Ashland / Medford Oregon (MFR)

Rogue River 1/2 Day

1/2 Day Morning or Afternoon | April – September | Class III+ | Gateway: Medford, OR / Ashland Or

Or a Quick 2 0r 3-Day Trip From Ashland Oregon

Upper Klamath Multi-Sport Rafting Safari

2 or 3-Days | Mid June – Sept | Class IV+ | Gateway: Ashland / Medford Oregon (MFR)

The post Half & Day Trips From Ashland Oregon appeared first on Momentum River Expeditions.

Memorial Day Weekend Trips:

Upper Klamath Multi-Sport Rafting Safari

3 days | Memorial Weekend – Sept | Class IV+ | Gateway: Ashland / Medford Oregon (MFR)

Named as one of “Ten Once-in-a-Lifetime Cascadian Journeys” by Portland Monthly – Combine rafting big summer flows down rapids over a football field long, an ultra-comfortable ‘safari style’ backcountry camp (think glamping), and options for mountain biking, running, inflatable kayaking, and fly fishing – there is no trip like it in the U.S.

Find Out More  |  BOOK Memorial Day Weekend (Sat-Mon)

Upper Klamath Day Trip

1 Day | April – Sept | Class IV+ | Gateway: Ashland / Medford Oregon (MFR)

Rogue River 1/2 Day

1/2 Day Morning or Afternoon | April – September | Class III+ | Gateway: Medford, OR / Ashland OR

The post A Whitewater Memorial Day Weekend? appeared first on Momentum River Expeditions.

April 29th 4-Day Illinois River Trip:

One of the great wilderness river journeys in the country – some say the best. Few rivers can match its combination of extreme isolation, solitude, beauty, and whitewater. We can only take about 24 guests per year.

More info >>
Book this trip >>

May 11th 3-day/3-night California Salmon Trip:

California’s premier spring run, and a guide and guest favorite – this is one of the most spectacular class V adventures in the country. Combine a beautiful granite gorge, emerald-green water, comfortable pop-up glamping, and unequaled class IV-V pool-drop whitewater. It is a truly a world-class, high-adventure whitewater run.

More info >>
Book this trip >>

May 19th 3-Day Clear Creek Kayaking Trip:

Clear Creek is like no other stretch of river in the country & one of the most unique trips we offer. The trip combines high adventure, spectacular beauty, pop-up riverside glamping, & a chance to run a stretch of river that is rarely seen (or even heard of).

More info  >>
Book this trip >>

The post Spring is Here!! appeared first on Momentum River Expeditions.

Once again, I truly want to thank you all!

Below are a few of the testimonials from the 2017 season.

Kind Regards,
Pete and the Staff of Momentum River Expeditions

“Rogue River Hiking Trip – We have traveled with many guide companies in the past including Backroads, Country Walkers, REI, Northwest Frontiers Scotland, Mountain Travel Sobek, etc and can honestly say we have never had a guide any better than Andy. He took great care to make everything run smoothly, accommodated us at every turn, and was always cheerful, patient, and friendly (sounds like the Boy Scout Handbook). Above all he is a genuinely nice guy and we had the chance to get to know him on the journey as we visited at meals, on the trail, in the boat, or at the wonderful lunches he prepared riverside. Honestly Pete he is a credit to your company and a guide well worth having on staff. ”

“Our group has been boating rivers for over 30 years together, all over the US. We know a good outfitter when we get one and Momentum does an excellent job. Our guides were Tyler, Robin and Ken and they did a wonderful job of taking care of our needs. The food they prepared was excellent and they went out of their way to tend to the individual needs of our group of nine. We are no longer young and require more of our guides now than in years previous and they provided excellent support.”

“I can’t say enough about how Pete and the team made this experience all about “our” experience, and about “our” adventure. The team couldn’t do enough for us, and did it with great modesty, seemingly vanishing in the background so that the river and our experience would be the main event, not them… I’ve been in the business world a long time, watching people try and fail to develop a service model anywhere close to what the guys pulled off in the wilderness. For me their kindness and caring made the adventure complete and gave me a satisfaction and long lasting impression that I’ll never forget!”

“Just returned from a fantastic rafting trip down the Rogue to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday. We had a group of 10, ranging in age from 11 to 80, and everyone had a blast! Incredible guides provided expert instruction on paddling the rafts and kayaks, they pointed out spots for jumping off rocks, they set up stunning camps, led us on great hikes to waterfalls and provided gourmet meals. Every detail was perfect. They have become part of the family now! Momentum is a first class operation!”

“We just returned from a fantastic 2-day adventure on the Upper Klamath. Our guides, Mike and Pete, were warm, fun, knowledgeable, and committed to giving all of us the best experience on this trip from put-in to take out. Their passion for the river was contagious! And the UK Base Camp? Why can’t all our camping trips be like that? The food was fantastic – fresh, local, and above all delicious. We loved every minute and are already looking forward to planning another adventure with Momentum. If we could give this more than 5 stars, we would.“

“There aren’t enough ways to say how awesome and fun our trip was! Our family of 5 took the 2-day Upper Klamath rafting/camping/kayaking trip. We were so lucky to have Mike and James (and Mike’s wife, Amy) as our guides. They made the trip an unforgettable experience for us. They were so incredibly friendly, accommodating, and great cooks! Their operation is timed and planned to a tee and there was never a moment that we felt uncomfortable or worried. Thank you so much…we’re already starting to plan our next trip with you guys!”

“Exceptional guides in a beautiful place – camped at a beautiful and remote spot on the California Salmon River. Our guides had comfortable tents and great home cooked meals for us each day. The guide in our boat had 20 plus years experience guiding around the world and took us down awesome Class 5 rapids with skill and care. She gave us as much excitement as possible while keeping us safe. I could not recommend this outfit more highly.“

“We have just returned from the 4 day River Rogue camping adventure. It exceeded our wildest dreams. We’ve never taken a guided trip like this as a family and it was perfect in every way. The guides (Tyler, Eric and Daniel) were wonderful – you felt like you were in such safe hands as they totally were in control the whole time which meant we could simply relax and have as much fun as possible. I have 9 year old and 14 year old boys and Tyler encouraged them to stretch themselves in the kayaks as far as they could. To see my very small 9 year old bobbing up and down on rapids yet totally loving every second and knowing that Tyler would never let him try anything he couldn’t handle, was wonderful. Both boys, who’d had very limited exposure to kayaking, thrived, grew and relished the experience and grew in confidence. This was the most luxurious camping trip I’ve even been on. It was proper camping – no frills in terms of accommodation – but the food and organization – oh my! I’m a massive foodie and this was incredible. So healthy, so beautifully presented and stylish appetizers, with wine? Incredible. To arrive at camp and have your tent pitched already each night was such a treat. Not having to think about anything, no jobs to do, no arguments about who was washing up…. It was superb. The Rogue scenery was outstanding. So tranquil, so much wildlife to see, so varied. My favorite memory is floating on my back, in the river, for ages, just in awe of the beauty. For a family adventure, we simply could not beat this trip. It will be one of our best vacations ever. Everyone should try a Momentum River Trip once in their life! We however, are already planning our return trip and encouraging as many friends as possible to try it!”

“Rafting the Rogue River has been a bucket list item for me. So when the opportunity arose to join my daughter, stepdaughter and their husbands for three days on the Rogue, I jumped at it. Literally. Into the raft I went (after donning a lifejacket and becoming oriented, of course). Lynn, Ken and Vickram were our highly professional and very knowledgeable guides. Easy and friendly fellow travelers, they are also skilled guides dedicated to our comfort and safety. They made our three day rafting trip through the canyons of the Rogue a trip of a lifetime. Each of our family members have varying skill levels and experience when it comes to rafting. Lynn, our leader was clear and concise with descriptions and instructions, allowing us to engage the river based on our own ability. She was also quite adept at assessing our personal skill levels and determining what was safe for someone to tackle in an individual kayak…  Momentum has gone to great lengths to offer a careful and well thought out experience which makes it easy for guests to simply relax and have a great time. Loved it!”

“The Most Polished Rafting Experience Ever – Momentum mixes outdoor adventuring with glamping to create a truly unforgettable experience. First and foremost they strive to provide a top notch eating experience in the middle of the woods, and they actually deliver on that promise. They also setup and take down camp, thus the ‘glamping’ vibes. And those accommodations are awesome. From there every activity is meticulously organized so that you get the most from each moment on and off the river. “

“My group of 12 spent 3 days on the Private Upper Klamath Rafting Safari Trip and it was an extraordinary experience. We were guided by James and Richard who were absolutely phenomenal guides and even more enjoyable companions on the trip. It felt like they were part of the group. Pete took care of us at camp making sure everything that was planned was executed to perfection. The three created an unforgettable experience for us and far exceeded all expectations. If you are looking for a stress free no hassle rafting experience, look no further than Momentum.”

“Can I give 6 stars? – We had a perfect trip on the Rogue with Momentum. Everything about it exceeded our expectations. Mike was a fantastic guide- kind, funny, patient, responsive, communicative, and knowledgable. He made sure we were comfortable and safe over the three days. The food was excellent, the gear was in great shape, the cutting boards were exquisitely creative, and the lodges were very comfortable. Don’t think twice- book with Momentum!”

“Hands down the best – Quality guides. Good food. Good communication. Just all around professional and competent. Makes for a safe and fun trip.

‘

“Just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for a trip of a lifetime!  We knew we would have a blast with our closest friends.  We knew the scenery would be beautiful and the river exhilarating.  What we didn’t know was how fun, chill, kind and thoughtful our guides would be.  We are regular campers and know what hard work the logistics can be.  Not only did you think of every detail and teach us about the river, we felt we were amongst friends the entire time.  Our kids are still telling Chelsea’s jokes and riddles.  Ken’s cocktail hour stories still crack us up.  We’re still dreaming about Tyler’s gourmet dinners.  You have opened our hearts and minds to a whole new experience. “

“Unforgettable fun and outdoor/boating lessons was what we were hoping to get this week. You two surpassed our expectations. We loved every second of the trip AND our kids learned valuable skills from two calm, competent, strong guides. We wouldn’t change any of it. Except now, our expectations on boating trips will be hard to beat by anyone else “

“Thank you (and the rest of the Momentum team!) for an amazing experience. You and the other guides truly “made” the trip what it was. A trip down a river is one thing, but this experience was so much more, so thanks to you, James, and Aaron who made it all happen. Between awesome food, great vibes, and all the knowledge and experience you guys brought with you, it’s a trip we’ll never forget.”

“First and foremost, thank you.  What an incredible adventure.  We are still buzzing, even though now back at home in the swing of work and mundane family life!
Nothing to argue about – no whining over who was doing dishes, no complaining about making beds or tidying up.  It took all that angst out of the family dynamics and allowed everyone to just focus on enjoying each other’s companies.  For me, as the family unpaid slave, I couldn’t be more grateful to just switch off and properly relax.
Unplugged – seriously, you need to shout this message from the roof tops.  As families are uncoupled by the ever present gadgets, these 4 days felt utterly luxurious to have everyone’s time and attention.  I re-found my teen.  He gave me a cuddle in the morning in the tent. He came and was on lookout duty whilst I had a pee!  Who knew?  He was considerate and engaging.  He was busy being challenged on the kayak boosting his self-esteem.  For families with teens, this trip is heaven sent.
Pushing the boundaries. Tyler was an awesome role model for my boys.  He was strict with them, taught them to be safe but to push their limits.  When my teeny 9 year old capsized in a fairly turbulent rapid, I was ready to jump in and become melodramatic.  Tyler calmly got the raft back there, he was totally comfortable and now lives to tell the tale of the V Rapid that he got the better of 
I almost wept when I saw the landing point at the end of the trip.  Here we go, back to the feuds, the battles, the laundry, the cooking, the day job.
You gave me and my family 4 days of unbridled happiness.  I will forever be grateful.
Thank you Pete, to all of your fabulous team.  It was an absolute pleasure…”

The post To All Who Joined us in 2017 – Thank You! appeared first on Momentum River Expeditions.

Below are a few notes from our adventure.

Our incredible trail run and outdoor experience began at the Galice Resort, just outside of Merlin, Oregon, near the Rogue River trailhead. Having been on a Mediterranean cruise ship the past few weeks prior, I hadn’t acclimated yet to a resort whose pleasures centered solely around running water, bathrooms and comfort food, valuable commodities in the wilderness area we would be visiting.

My friend Dave and I showed up to this adventure in bad shape, each nursing leg injuries that we tried to magnify by hiking excessively the day before at Crater Lake. On top of that, (but in the name of science and research), we also tasted a couple of local beers the night before, which I know kept me from getting good sleep. A brilliant start!

I aggressively entered the resort and separated the runners from the fishermen and hunters and introduced myself to two of our group – Nick from Minnesota, and Robert from Texas. As the runs unfolded we would see only glimpses from behind of the strong running Nick. Robert was no slouch, and Dave remembered that we saw him the day before Forrest Gumping up the side of Crater Lake, which he confirmed. (That he was running, not that he was Forrest Gump).

We then met the rest of our running group, all at once – five folks from Toronto, Canada. I’m convinced our great northern friends could not have found a better delegation to come down and get rogue with us. On the trail Stacey later told us that her husband Mike had covertly set up the trip, a move that would have covertly triggered a divorce in my house. Stacey was tough and enduring on the trails, steadily leading our little sub group mile after mile throughout the run. Brent was an equally strong runner with a tremendous laugh and wonderful sense of humor (I say that because he seemingly always laughed at my material, which of course was very funny. It was!). Michelle was another strong runner who I can’t thank enough for watching over me and offering me her magic potions, probably when it looked like I couldn’t continue, which was a few times. Karen rounded out the group, and now gets my esteemed “warrior label” – she accomplished what no real self-acclaimed “I only run a little bit around the neighborhood” person could do – she completed this challenge with grace and no worse for the wear! I never stopped to think that maybe that’s one big Canadian neighborhood she was referring to!

While Dave made one of many Galice Resort bathroom visits – I think he’ll eventually come to appreciate this being in the official documentation, I met Jenn Shelton, the famed ultramarathon specialist, who would run with us. “Jenn, I’m Rick, from New Jersey.” “Hey, Rick, I’m Jenn.” In answer to “where are you from” she told me she lived out of her van. I later learned that this was not a Chris Farley “living in a van down by the river” answer, but more like a “live and train in Italy six months of the year and travel from airport to airport via van the rest of the time” reply, like “I’m running with you guys this week and then I’m off to Kilimanjaro next week.” As jet setty as that sounded she admitted later on that her lifestyle sometimes threw her personal possessions out of whack, like how she owned just one fork, versus four pair of cramp-ons.

We then proceeded to the trailhead, where we met Carley, and were introduced to her “stretch and name recognition” ice breaker. Fun, and best to know the names of the people you’re yelling to for help. A quick hello to guides Andy and Mike, who I’ll talk more about later, and we were poised to go. Pete presented some basic survival guidance for getting through the first day, like how to run like $&@$ from a bear! Actually, that’s what I heard – Pete put forth a logical survival strategy. He then talked about two things not in my original welcome kit – rattlesnakes and poison oak. After hearing about how I jumped over a rattlesnake sometime that first morning I have a feeling Pete may incorporate something about that into his next talk. As it turned out, my luck exceeded my stupidity on this one and I didn’t get bit.

Everything I read regarding the sheer beauty and rugged wilderness of the Rogue materialized and played out over the next three days. Words or pictures can’t capture the majesty. I will also never be able to describe the feeling I got when I was running solo along a three foot ledge, a thousand feet off the river, and saw bear droppings on the trail, reminding me they weren’t far away, and that I didn’t have a lot of escape options. That’s not to mention the bobcats and other creatures lurking out there, more things you can’t jump over.

Momentum River Expeditions, you out did yourselves with that first night location! We set up camp along a stunning bend in the river, where level three rapids provided great background sounds, as well as a healthy reminder of how we had to respect the running water. For those who still doubt any of this story I have a picture of me in my tent.

Let’s get to the food – OMG! Andy and Mike set up an unbelievable “kitchen” on the river, and over the next few days continually out did themselves with wonderful spreads. We had all kinds of fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses and dips, hot tomato soup, shrimp and beef fajitas with hearty potato’s, Brie French toast with syrup and sausages, and melted chocolate for dipping fruit, and more. The passion and eagerness to please is what really got me – the guys treated us with humble pride and thoughtful presentation! Andy carved his pineapples so that you could remove a slice, like a drawer in a cabinet. He toasted his almonds to garnish the French toast. His soup came with toasted bread and optional gobs of butter, scallions, and other accompaniments. Folks, this kitchen consisted of a table and minimal equipment, set up on a river! Everything got to camp via raft! I’m leaving out too much and not properly describing my level of amazement and satisfaction here! If I can get this story published, don’t be surprised to see Andy’s “carved pineapple on the Rogue” presentation someday in Gourmet magazine!

I can’t say enough about how Pete and the team made this experience all about “our” experience, and about “our” adventure. The team couldn’t do enough for us, and did it with great modesty, seemingly relishing the background so that the river and our experience would be the main event, not them. They also watched us closely, and were always around the next corner – to the point where I wouldn’t be surprised to someday meet Pete’s identical twin or triplet brothers. I’ve been in the business world a long time, watching people try and fail to develop a service model anywhere close to what the guys pulled off in the wilderness. For me their kindness and caring made the adventure complete and gave me a satisfaction and long lasting impression that I’ll never forget!

What fun we had off the trails! Some will return home talking about how they ran a little in between games of corn hole. We enjoyed playing the card and clue game called “Taboo” around the campfire. Who can forget Jenn’s “lots of dots, not feathers, plus victuals “ clues leading to Indian food? And how about my faulty eyesight, causing me to describe “bicycling,” when the word was really “bikini.” And then there was the lights out singing of “Country Road” – performed ten times! A special nod to Robert for some great guitar playing – another sensitive guy who told us he didn’t want to be “that guy” for stealing the show. Priceless!

Jenn and Carley were amazing – world class athletes, who like Andy and Mike and Pete, encouraged us and made it all about us, and gave of their world class hearts, so that we would have a world class time.

To my friend Dave Butterfield, who once told me I gave him the gift of trail running – he returned that gift, and more, by finding us this wonderful experience.  Thank you, Dave!

So that’s my brief recap, which will inadequately try to describe the last three amazing days on the Rogue River, and the beautiful new friends I’ve made. I loved everybody on this trip and hope we can stay in touch.

A special note to Andy – if your French toast goes viral, ultimately offered on all the store shelves in America, I’ll eat it every morning, after my run.

All the best,

Rick Vegh, October, 2017

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