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.  

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.

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.

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.

Hood River, Oregon whitewater enthusiasts will get their fix for adventure and exploration this week during Erik Boomer's Ellesmere Island Expedition slideshow.

For 104 days last year Boomer and partner John Turk circumnavigated the world's tenth largest island, which just so happens to be located in the polar reaches of our planet.

Using skis, kayaks and boots, the two men traveled 1,485 miles through some of the remotest locations in some of the harshest conditions imaginable. Melting ice, shifting glaciers and the threat of local predators made every day a challenge and every night a celebration.

A few days ago, Heather Herbeck and I grabbed a waterproof camera and went for an exploratory run down the Middle White Salmon River. While we were at it, we hiked upstream from the BZ launch site, past BZ Falls, to the Flume. The following is a series of photos and descriptions of what we found, starting with the put-in trail, and then moving downstream from the Flume and BZ Falls all the way to Husum.

Follow the jump to continue reading and see more photos of the wood on the White Salmon River. After reading this post, please "like" or "share" it on Facebook and help get the word out about the wood. Thanks!

Weddings showcase the love and life two people have built together. Friends and family members travel great distances just to take a glimpse into the world of the happy couple.

For newly engaged whitewater kayakers, that world has likely befuddled the non-river recreation types within the family, eliciting questioning stares and rolling eyes.

However, a wedding offers a glimmer of hope.

Finally, the opportunity has come to show everyone why you've followed the flow of the river. It is the moment when you can illuminate the rewarding qualities behind the crazy, alternate lifestyle of a whitewater boater that has eluded your friends and family members since you took your first river trip.

It's time to get your friends and family out on the river to celebrate your big day with the best outdoor wedding activity.

On Wednesday, representatives from PacifiCorp, county commissioners and local White Salmon River valley residents convened to discuss the progress, schedule, and problems arising with the recent removal of Condit Dam.

Largely instigated by the damage to their wells near the drained reservoir, the cabin and home owners within the Northwestern Lake community had the opportunity to present concerns to PacifiCorp engineer Tom Gauntt and Director of Compliance (go-to man for the project on the White Salmon River) Todd Olsen. The evening was also an opportunity for PacifiCorp to field other questions and provide an update to the decommissioning process.

Despite it's small size, the Latin American country Costa Rica has taken a stand on the international stage.  In a world of resource acquisition and the diffusion of cultural heritage, Costa Rica has made the preservation of its environment and its people the number one priority.
  
Now a leader in sustainable tourism, Costa Rica has preserved that which makes it so unique: a diverse natural environment, a thriving society, and a strong cultural identity.
 
For an intrepid adventure traveler, this means even more than pristine habitat, thrilling and safe adventures, and authentic gifts at artisan markets.  According to an independent research group in Britain, Costa Rica ranks #1 as the "happiest place in the world," perhaps due their prioritization of their environment and their people.

Their happiness could also be due to two simple words that have infiltrated nearly every moment of Costs Rica's daily life.

Just three months after the big breach of Condit Dam, a stretch of the White Salmon River has been opened to hatchery steelhead fishing.

Despite concerns for the river's health and the future of fishing on the one of the Columbia Gorge's best runs for salmon and steelhead, the river has already begun to repair itself.

Heavy sediment loads will continue to make their way down the river as the famous Pacific Northwest winter rains begin to fall, but the fish will likely find a way to survive. More importantly, PacifiCorp has deemed the river banks below the powerhouse safe enough for intrepid fisherman looking to acquaint themselves with the new river.

Signing up for a kayak course in the Columbia River Gorge could entirely change your life.

You've seen images of the classic Pacific Northwest rivers, you've heard how paddling over waves can feel like riding a roller coaster through paradise, you are ready to sign up.

However, few people understand how important it is to have a supportive and successful experience. The quality of instruction, equipment, and service can make learning easier or completely ruin the experience.

At Wet Planet we have begun to develop specialized kayak courses that bring together people with a common interest. By teaching the fundamentals skills and techniques of whitewater kayaking through a common element - such as a group of all women or yogis - the shared experience becomes one of support and encouragement helping students to feel more comfortable on the water.