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.

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

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.

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.

Decades spent guiding have taught us one thing: whitewater changes lives.

We've seen worries wash away from business men, genuine play incorporated back into a mom's day, and new raft guides travel the world exploring river cultures for a more fulfilling life experience.

It all started with attending a Guide School. Below are our top 7 reasons why this year's Wet Planet Guide School can do the same for you.

1. Raft all the best rivers in the Columbia River Gorge for less.

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.

When the Pacific Northwest rain begins to fall and the winter months slyly creep into our daily lives, the whitewater rafting industry does not hibernate. Granted, it does get some much needed rest.  The industry simply shifts into evaluating, planning, and brainstorming for another season.

This period of reflection begins in early December with the annual American Outfitters Association industry tradeshow in Reno, Nevada.

River rafting outfitters, kayak schools, and manufacturers of rafting and kayaking equipment benefit from this natural break in the cycle of business. The time enables the industry to evaluate and improve upon our services.

For our guests, this means the whitewater experience is likely to get better every year.