The 7th Annual White Salmon Riverfest and Symposium is shaping up to be the biggest celebration of our river ever. 

On Saturday June 9th we'll take you on a full-tour of the White Salmon River, help you take home awesome prizes from your favorite local businesses and river gear manufacterers, and give you some stompin good music for dancin the night away.  

We invite local community members, kayaking and rafting enthusiasts, and visitors to come immerse yourself in this mighty river for one great day of events that include an exclusive tour of the Condit Dam site, a Community Raft Trip, kayak and raft races and much more.  

When 700 advocates for clean water come together, there is a lot of celebration.  Add whitewater rafting in, and the celebration only gets bigger.

Talking about solutions, successes and ways to protect our water resources even more, these river warriors created momentum during the 3 day conference that will carry them back to their home watersheds throughout the nation, helping to continue to fight for clean water. 

There is nothing like River Network's annual River Rally and the Waterkeeper Alliance gathering.  This year, the event came to Portland, Oregon.  Wet Planet happily hosted a field trip for 48 lucky participants to explore the newly freed White Salmon River.

The abundant recreation potential within the Columbia River Gorge attracts rafters, kiters, bikers, kayakers, skiers and just about every other type of outdoor enthusiast. However, many of the remote wildflower meadows, sparkling waterfalls and sweeping vistas can only be reached with a sturdy pair of hiking boots and a packed lunch.

Helping to get more people out on the trail, Friends of the Columbia Gorge offers a competition for the intrepid hikers with a bit of whitewater from Wet Planet as a reward.

If you haven't heard yet, it's official. PacifiCorp announced yesterday that the construction on the temporary take-out at Northwestern Park is complete.

We let you know in the last Condit Dam Watch post that PacifiCorp was close to completing construction on the temporary take-out. Well, turns out they really were close to completion. Boaters are now able to use the take-out when running the White Salmon River. PacifiCorp does advise that boaters be aware of and cautious with the ongoing construction in the area of the park. The following is the email we received yesterday from PacifiCorp with the official announcement:

"Re: NW Park Takeout

Update:
Please be advised that the temporary boat ramp at NW Park is ready for use. Please be aware of construction fencing and construction traffic within and around the park.
Signage is on order and will be placed in the next two weeks.
Arianne "

So, our trips this weekend will be the first White Salmon River trips to float the new section of river down to Northwestern (used to be lake) Park.

Deconstruction of the Condit Dam Project continues on schedule with another big hurdle crossed earlier than expected.  River recreation enthusiasts - especially those who have longed for the Lower White Salmon River's perfect class II-III whitewater - will be pleased to hear that the new take-out is only days away from completion, according to PacifiCorp's Project Manager, Russ Howison.

As the erosion wore away at the thick mud slabs lining the river banks, the White Salmon River dropped lower into the canyon.  Three months after the initial draining of Northwestern Lake the timber crib bridge only just began to emerge from beneath the depths of the sediment.  The former bridge, serving as a sot of time capsule, stood in contrast with the Northwestern Lake bridge, just feet downstream.

We just received this update from PacifiCorp regarding the take-out at Northwestern Park. So, I figured I would just share the email. Looks like the temporary take-out should be ready in the next couple of weeks. Thanks to Russ Howison at PacifiCorp for keeping us up to date. Here's the email from PacifiCorp:

Small businesses throughout the Columbia River Gorge have discovered an opportunity to be more proactive in both aligning their values with their business practices as well as building a bigger clientele. They are united under the Gorge Owned (GO!) Business Network, a membership-based organization with a mission to advance Gorge-owned businesses, non-profits and community members with a commitment to a sustainable and prosperous community.

GO! provides education opportunities, practical solutions and valuable connections for local Gorge businesses. Running a small business can be more than a full-time job. By collecting information and providing a space for discussion and learning, GO! makes doing business easier and more rewarding for it's members.

Falling in line with goals created for the Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certification, being a part of the GO! network is not only a benefit for Wet Planet, it is a joy.

The results from last year's sustainability practices data collection are in and it looks like Wet Planet is turning a brighter shade of "green." 

After a season of hard work, we have finished our homework.  Sustainable Travel International has completed its annual review of our practices and given Wet Planet the STEP 2nd Party Evaluation Award.  

The award is not just another fancy logo. It is the recognition of our commitment to what Sustainability means to us. We are also looking at the results of our efforts to begin tackling the upcoming season's goals.

One of the best parts of learning to raft or kayak is joining a community of people who view recreation, travel and adventure as a necessity in life.  They like nothing better than to come together, paddle through the most scenic landscapes, laugh around a campfire, and celebrate the rivers that helped them realize this fulfilling and passionate lifestyle. 

Whitewater events bring together new and old friends, reminding us of the vast community of like-minded whitewater enthusiasts out there.  Be sure to hit up one, or all, of the spring 2012 line-up of whitewater festivals and races in the Columbia River Gorge, even if you don't plan on competing. 

Northwest Creeking Competition

Sandy River Showdown

Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival

Little White Salmon Extreme Kayak Race

White Salmon River Fest and Symposium

Pat Summitt, the influential coach of Tennessee's Lady Vol basketball team, has positively influenced more than just the girls on her team. Since 1974, Summitt has led the Lady Vols to win more titles than any other NCAA basketball team.  As the sad news of her early onset of Alzheimer's Diease becomes a reality, we are beginning to better comprehend the widespread affect she had upon her fans, followers and athletes. The countless wins on her resume may provide statistical proof of her proficiency as a coach, but it is the guidance and wisdom imparted on her team and her fans which elevates her to such a high status among sports fans across the country.

Good coaches, it would seem, teach more than technical skills and impact more than just the individual players.

Kayaking, a sport that fluctuates between an individual pursuit and group effort, also depends on leadership and guidance similar to coach Summitt's. She and the best kayak course instructors share a commitment to the sport from the beginning - no matter what lifestyle sacrifices come along with it - and a lasting popularity and demand amongst would-be athletes and adventure seekers.

Encountering trees on rivers throughout the Pacific Northwest is as common as finding rocks. Wilderness areas surround the headwaters of nearly every major river in the Columbia River Gorge, each full of old and new stands of trees. Heavy winter and spring rains cause dramatic erosion, often in the form of landslides. Add the occasional snow and ice storm into the mix and suddenly there are downed trees everywhere.

It seems appropriate to update the many Portland and Gorge kayakers and rafters with the location of every major wood hazard on the most popular runs in the region. At first, this sounds like a good idea. Paddlers need to know the hazards before they paddle down a river and what better way to find out this information from those who have already ventured into the wood-filled rivers.

However, there is also something incredibly dangerous with this.

For the past four months, the deep and rugged lower gorge of the White Salmon River has sat behind a veil. Video of the explosive breach of Condit Dam and the dramatic draining of Northwestern Lake back in October has continued to stir the interest of a national audience. Other than Andy Maser's timelapse photos, only deconstruction crews and a handful of cabin owners have seen evidence of the restoration progress within the canyon since that day.

While we may not see it, PacifiCorp has been busy on the White Salmon River.

The power company recently released an updated assessment report that addresses the remaining sediment sitting above the dam.   Also included are diagrams for the new boater take-out at Northwestern Lake. Using these reports and the comments of PacifiCorp employees, we can lift the veil enough to get a taste of the restoration action on the White Salmon River.

Kayakers are simple people. Our routine is kept basic, helping us to remember all our gear and get to the river quicker. Multi-day river trips are no exception.

But what about all that gear?
How do I keep everything dry?
Isn't packing a kayak like putting together a 1,000 piece puzzle?

Packing for a self-support kayak trip is not rocket science; however, it does help to know a few tricks and suggestions from the experts. In this blog post we'll explore how to keep all your gear dry, how to fit it into your kayak, and how to pack quickly so that you can get out on the river quicker.

Aside from the obvious gear needs (paddle, PFD, helmet, etc.), there are certain gear requirements that are specific to self-support kayak trips. Additionally, typical kayaking and camping gear also must be looked at from a different angle to better optimize it's function for packing, paddling, and daily use.

In the previous post we discussed why some river runners prefer a self-support whitewater kayak trip to a multi-day raft trip.  Here you'll find more information on the gear required for these trips with an in-depth look at the kayak, camping gear and kitchen equipment.

Whitewater kayakers can cite many reasons why the hard-shell boat is their chosen vehicle for adventure.

They seek the personal and intimate connection to the water. They love the greater variety of rivers they are able to explore. They value the freedom of loading a boat and heading to the river.

With the rise in popularity of multi-day trips, its no surprise that white water kayakers are increasingly packing up their kayak and hitting the river for multiple days, even weeks, at a time. However, the transition between a raft-supported multi-day trip to one where space is much more limited can be an intimidating and scary hurdle to cross.