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A Forkie Visits the Rogue River

by Tate Higgins on May 2nd, 2012

As a long time Middle Fork guide for ECHO, it was a little embarrassing that I’d never floated the Rogue River. It’s not because I didn’t want to. I’d been hearing stories about the wildlife, the scenery, and the rapids since I first arrived in Idaho to guide for ECHO on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. It’s just that I’d been so busy loving the Middle Fork that I never wanted to leave Idaho, but at the end of last season I got the opportunity I’d been waiting for.

I had just wrapped up a full season of guiding on the Middle Fork when I got the call from the ECHO office. There was space for me on a September Rogue trip. It was short notice. I had already packed up my summer gear for a winter in storage, but I realized I wasn’t ready to wait another year for a multiday river trip. So, I said yes, and it has been the act of saying yes, of trying new things, that has made all the difference in my life.

ECHO has been running trips on the Rogue River for decades. There is a wonderful history of fun and excitement at ECHO’s guide house in Oregon known as the double wide. Some of my favorite people in the world call this magical place their second home.

Lunch Stop on the Rogue River

Lunch Stop on the Rogue River

I was tagging along as an assistant boatman on this Rogue trip which meant I was responsible for my own boat but would carry no passengers. This gave me a chance to learn the river, and right off the bat the Rogue was strutting her stuff for me. On the first day, I saw a black bear close enough to kiss, watching me with a smile as I floated by. I saw bald eagles and ospreys, and I gasped with delight when huge salmon leapt out of the water right next to my raft.

There’s a playful, competitive spirit between Rogue guides and Middle Fork guides because we have mutual respect and love for each other and the wild and scenic rivers we call home. I had the privilege of working with superstar guide JR on this late season trip. JR has floated the Rogue hundreds of times, and he still smiles like a little kid up and down the river. Even after a full summer of working day after day on the river, JR’s energy made me feel like he was excited as I was to be there. Plus, he’s a magician in the kitchen. Under his leadership and spirit, we made hand-rolled sushi the first night to go along with our grilled salmon. Amazing.

Tate and J.R. Making Dinner on the Rogue

Tate and J.R. Making Dinner on the Rogue

The Rogue is different than the Middle Fork. It is smaller, greener, denser somehow. The rapids aren’t as varied as the Middle Fork, but they are legendary in their own ways. I was excited to see some of the places I’d heard stories about for so long, and like all rapids I’ve ever run for the first time, I was super excited and focused running the mid chute at Rainey Falls, and timing my move at the top of Blossom Bar.

The Middle Fork of the Salmon is my home, but I hope the Rogue crew will invite me along on another trip this summer, and I hope some of those Rogue guides come spend some time with us Forkies in Idaho.

Towards the end of that late season trip, I finally got to float past Tate creek — a place which must have been named for some distant relation who said yes to opportunity and adventure and ended up in Oregon from our family’s beginnings in the southeast.

Posted in Rogue River Rafting

ECHO is an American Rivers Ambassador

by Janda on April 23rd, 2012

ECHO is proud to partner with American Rivers and support their work to protect and restore the nation’s rivers and streams. In 2012, ECHO became a charter member to the River Ambassador program, which seeks to engage our river-loving guests in American Rivers’ endeavors.

Founded in 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and supporters nation wide. Their work contributed to the removal of three dams on the Rogue River in the last 5 years, restoring the currents necessary for wildlife, fish migration, and whitewater rafting. In 2011 they had a strong hand in the removal of the 125 ft. defunct Condit Dam from the White Salmon River (just a few miles from our Hood River office) restoring miles of salmon habitat and whitewater.

Photo courtesy of Jamie Manley, Rogue River guest, 2010

Photo courtesy of Jamie Manley, Rogue River guest, 2010

We teamed up with American Rivers for a Rogue River trip in 2008 to make a film celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, which has protected the Rogue River from development since 1968.

They have also been supporters of our Wild Rivers Night, held each November in Portland, Oregon, where we gather rafters, kayakers, and conservationists to celebrate the wild rivers we love with films and presentations.

Traveling down our nation’s waterways is not just a business for us, but rather a way of life. We seek to share the abundance of the natural world with our guests, but that is only possible with the help of organizations like American Rivers. By protecting wildlife habitats, allowing for fish migration, and battling mining practices that destroy fragile eco-systems, American Rivers works tirelessly to promote healthy rivers. We hope you’ll consider supporting their efforts as we do. Become a member or make your one time donation now!

Posted in General News

Stand Up Paddleboards on the Rogue River

by Zachary on April 8th, 2012

Our guides have fallen in love with Stand Up Paddleboarding on the river. Stand Up Paddleboards (or SUPs) involve standing on a big surfboard and using a long paddle to propel yourself forward. They are surprisingly stable and a fun way to experience the river. Similar to how riding low in an inflatable kayak offers a completely different perspective, standing up on the paddleboard is sort of like hiking down a river!

Stand Up Paddleboards on the Rogue River

Stand Up Paddleboards on the Rogue River

We bought a few SUPs last summer for the crew to play with on their days off, and we thought we could bring them along on trips for paddling the Rogue’s flatter sections. It was no surprise that guides and guests alike loved ‘em! Some of our guides went out every morning and enjoyed the great core workout that comes with balancing and making long paddle strokes. At the end of the season Tate and I took our boards to a few destinations around the Columbia Gorge. Here’s a short video from the Sandy River:

If you’re joining us on the Rogue River this summer let us know if you’d like to try out a SUP and we’ll bring one along.

Posted in Rogue River Rafting

Spring Into Summer

by Janda on March 22nd, 2012

Welcome to the first days of spring, which means summer is just around the corner! To help you focus on your summer vacation plans, we are offering a special incentive to join our June 16-21 or June 21-26 trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in central Idaho. Sign up by April 15th and receive a $200/person discount off the trip price of $1995. Put the savings toward off-river transportation, new camping gear, or some fancy outdoor clothing for a fresh start on the season.

Daylight Breaks on the Middle Fork of the Salmon

Daylight Breaks on the Middle Fork of the Salmon

This is the time to spring into action. On these trips, the rapids will be exciting and the air clear, with a pleasant morning nip in the air. You’ll travel the full 100 miles of this famous Wild and Scenic River, flowing through the largest protected wilderness in the contiguous United States. In June, the canyon is alive with wildflowers, the waterfalls tumble forth, and you may be treated to sightings of fawns or baby bighorns. Join us for these most exciting trips of the year!

June is the best time to see wildflowers on the Middle Fork

June is the best time to see wildflowers on the Middle Fork

Posted in Middle Fork of the Salmon River

New Middle Fork of the Salmon Video

by Zachary on March 10th, 2012

Last summer our friend Nate Herbeck of Sheer Madness Productions joined one of our Middle Fork of the Salmon trips to capture the magic of our trips on video. He came back with so much amazing footage that we decided to make a short film from his footage. Enjoy!

Posted in Middle Fork of the Salmon River

An Interview with Legendary ECHO Guide Tracy Blashill

by Tate Higgins on February 17th, 2012

Tracy Blashill has been guiding river trips around the world for decades and still has the smiles, energy, and excitement of a man truly in love with everything river. He is an expert fly fisherman who knows every bend and riffle on the Middle Fork of the Salmon. He has turned his passion for rivers into a life-long career. In addition to guiding on the Middle Fork, Tracy and ECHO guide Drew Thate are the owners of Territory Anglers, a top notch fly-fishing company in Montana.

Tracy Getting Ready to Make Dinner on the Middle Fork

Tracy Getting Ready to Make Dinner on the Middle Fork

Tracy was the trip leader on my very first Middle Fork trip, and he showed me how to run a wilderness river trip with passion, expert skill, and style. He is a true river professional whose easy going attitude, camp fire stories, and in depth knowledge make for a trip guests remember for a lifetime. I had the opportunity to chat with Tracy recently about his guiding experiences.

How did you end up guiding for ECHO?

I met Dick Linford while I was doing a lobbying internship with American Rivers in Washington D.C. He and I hit it off, and then I landed a guide position on the Middle Fork with a company that launched the same dates as ECHO. I liked ECHO’s style and asked for a job. They hired me. I’ve stayed with ECHO because of their style. ECHO’s clientele is smart, savvy, well-read, and fun. ECHO’s guides are safe, professional, engaging, and damn good companions.

With all the amazing rivers you’ve seen around the world, why keep coming back to work on the Middle Fork of the Salmon year after year? 

The Middle Fork is my dream river. It embodies all that I consider ideal in a river trip. Having heard of the Middle Fork for several years before getting to float it, my expectations were pretty high, and I’ve gotta say, that first trip, the river exceeded my expectations. I LOVE THE MIDDLE FORK! If I had a tattoo it would be something like “Middle Fork Salmon forever.”  I love introducing people to a wild river I know well. It really is a win-win relationship for everybody involved. I think rivers in general benefit from the relationship, too. We need all the river advocates we can get these days.

Welcome to Tracy's World!

Welcome to Tracy's World!

When you’re not working for ECHO, you run a successful fly-fishing company in Montana. How did Territory Anglers come about? 

Drew Thate and I thought that the guest service skills we had learned from guiding wilderness trips could be applied to offering high quality, individually tailored, guided fly-fishing trips. We started Territory Anglers in the spring of 2002.

How did you and Drew make the leap from guides to business owners? 

Wow, when did we grow up enough to be considered “business owners”!? I think we both still consider ourselves guides, first and foremost.

There are legends about you and Drew Thate taking a van, a raft, and a company credit card and searching all over Mexico for untouched rivers. Can you tell me a story from those glory years of exploration? 

For that, I need a river-side camp, a campfire, and a beer.

What are some differences between guiding fly-fishermen versus guiding guests on a Middle Fork trip?

Guiding fishermen there is always an air of expectation, whether it’s spoken or not, that a fish should be hooked. Sometimes trout don’t cooperate. On the Middle Fork, that expectation is replaced by an attitude of “we are going to have a great trip regardless of what events may unfold.”

What do you do when you’re not on the river? 

Think about getting on the river.  I help manage a ski area in the winter, but pretty much everybody knows that my first love is being on the river.

What are you most excited about for this coming float season? 

Celebrating my twentieth season on the Middle Fork and getting to guide on a section of Montana river that has intrigued me for several years, Beartrap Canyon of the Madison River.

What is the future of fly fishing and river trips? 

Years ago, a river guest told me that in the future, river trips would be even more important than ever to help us re-connect to our “wild-selves.” I still believe that.

Posted in Guide News

Starting 2012 Off Right on The West Fork of the Hood

by Tate Higgins on February 13th, 2012

I’m not one who’s big on New Year’s resolutions, but this year, maybe because I just turned 30, I decided to think about some of my goals for 2012. Turns out it’s a pretty short list. It involves some far-reaching and longtime dreams like learning Spanish, buying a horse, and riding across Patagonia with my fly rod on my back, but it also involves something as equally important to my true sense happiness—spending more time outdoors with new and old friends, particularly on rivers.

The thing I love most about running rivers is the people. People who can step outside of their comfort zone and let the power of water running downhill propel them through canyons with smiling faces and senses of adventure make me want to live better. The thing I love second most is, of course, rivers themselves—the shape, the sounds, the feelings of water cutting across the Earth. Put me on a river and I will be content to explore, to experience, to admire, and to learn for a lifetime.

It is almost impossible for me not to be drawn like a man first in love to a new river. Some of these river relationships are brief and some, like the Middle Fork of the Salmon, I’ll come back to my whole life, but all of them are magic that first time. So then, maybe my goal this year isn’t to just run new rivers and chase fish across the world, maybe my goal is simply to be surrounded by magic as much as possible.

New Year’s Day I got up early and drove from Portland to Hood River in search of a little magic. I met up with Maggie, Hata, Billy, and Jenni who had spent New Year’s Eve on the snows of Mt. Hood. These superstars, along with legendary guides Zach and JR helped me start 2012 off right with a float down the West Fork of the Hood River in Oregon.

Put In for the West Fork of the Hood River

Put In for the West Fork of the Hood River

The weather was clear and mild, but there was snow on the ground. We dressed in our winter boating gear and headed to the put in at Lake Branch. We were happy to run into a handful of boaters who had also decided to get out and go for it on the first day of the year. Hata, Maggie, Billy, Jenni, and I paddled a brand new SOTAR raft that Zach custom designed for Columbia Gorge whitewater. She’s called “4×4″ and, with Hata on the stick, she drove like a dream. Zach and JR kayaked, splatting every rock they could find with huge grins on their faces.

Zach calls The West Fork the best class IV run in the Columbia Gorge. He might be right when you take into account tons of fun whitewater drops, waterfalls falling from above our heads into the river in all directions, a couple basalt gorges squeezing the river and rising high above our heads, and the easy accessibility (The West Fork is pretty much in ECHO Headquarters’ back yard). It is a truly stunning run.

Beautiful Scenery and Clear Water on the West Fork

Beautiful Scenery and Clear Water on the West Fork

The West Fork drains off of Mt. Hood, originating in the same snow that some of the group had skied under fireworks just the night before. Talk about magic. The 5.5 mile run starts where the Lake Branch enters the West Fork and finishes just above Punch Bowl Falls. You have to work a little bit for this one since the take out at Punch Bowl is steep (a good reason to volunteer to drive shuttle while the rest of the group works it out). The run also includes a mandatory portage around a fish ladder—a good spot for us to have a snack and to reflect on our good luck to be spending the first day of the year on the water. New boat, new year, new river, and a little bit of Columbia Gorge magic with good friends. Winning! Thanks to all involved for helping me get 2012 started off right, and thanks to The West Fork. I’ll definitely be back. Now, if someone could just teach me to ride a horse and speak Spanish…

Posted in Guide News

Dreaming Rivers

by Tate Higgins on January 31st, 2012

I’m inside the ECHO office. Outside, it’s cold on the streets of downtown Hood River, OR. I’m working in front of a computer screen, but when I look up there are huge pictures on the office walls that highlight some of the spectacular moments in ECHO’s recent history. There’s a shot of a cobble bar camp next to the glowing green waters of the Illinois River in Oregon, a yellow tank like truck on the gravel roads of Siberia’s mountains on the way to the Kaa-Khem River, rafts floating under prayer flags on the Paro Chhu River in Bhutan, and rafts passing below the dramatic granite formations on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.

Poster of the Middle Fork at the ECHO Office

Poster of the Middle Fork at the ECHO Office

Janda sits at a desk across from mine. When I can, I distract her from her work to talk about rivers. She asks me about the Grand Canyon. I tell her that the Grand Canyon is magic, that it’s the place that turned me into a river guide, changing the path of my life, but the Middle Fork of the Salmon is my favorite place in the whole world.

I was never planning on staying working in Idaho forever. I figured I’d work a season or two on the Middle Fork and then move on to another of the world’s rivers. Then I did my first trip down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, and I’ve been coming back every summer since.

Tate + MFK = <3 <3 <3

Tate + MFK = <3 <3 <3

Here is why, with the option to work in lots of amazing places in the summer, I keep coming back:

The weather is how summertime in the mountains is supposed to feel. The scenery is so good that I flip through my pictures and think, Man, I really have a talent for taking beautiful pictures. The hot springs along the river (especially Sunflower) make me feel like the happiest kid in the world. The fly fishing is so superb that after a day of catching tons of trout I think, Man, I have gotten really good at this whole fly fishing thing. The personality of the river is always changing and always engaging that keeps me fully aware and even after dozens of trips there’s not a single boring stretch of water. The 6 day length of the trip is the perfect amount of time to fall in love with the river and leave still wanting more. The guides I work with are some of the most interesting capable people in the world. They could be successful in any endeavor they choose, and they choose to work hard on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River because they love it.

Keep up with the latest ECHO news online or give the office a call and let them know you’re dreaming about summer stars and whitewater days, too.

Posted in General News

Event: A Flurry of Changes

by ECHO Staff on January 28th, 2012

What: Reception at 5:30 PM, Speakers at 6:15 PM
When: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Where: KEEN Footwear, 926 NW 13th Ave. #210 / Portland, OR 97209
How: Register at Eventbrite

GlacierWe feel like we’re always talking about snowpack this time of year, but that is because it plays such a huge role in our rafting season each summer. Reduced snowfall doesn’t just impact skiers and snowboarders, it affects our entire river system. Changes to snowpack and receding glaciers in the Cascade Range will play a part in the future of our summer recreation, but it will also require changes to farming and fishing industries that our vital to our state’s economy.

Climate TrustTo learn more about how climate shifts are impacting snowfall and glaciers in the Pacific Northwest, join The Climate Trust for “A Flurry of Changes”. You’ll hear from Dr. Anne Nolin, a snow hydrology specialist at Oregon State University and Dr. Andrew Fountain, a glacier specialist with Portland State University.

KEEN Footwear will host the event at their Pearl District offices, but space is limited so reserve your seat!

Posted in General News

A Well Connected ECHO

by Tate Higgins on January 17th, 2012

ECHO’s Hood River, OR office is a hot bed of modern technology and connectivity. The first time I stepped foot in here I was blown away. I was struck with two questions – what’s a raft company need with all of these fancy computers and Zach, are you video conferencing with Dick and Joe? The answers – it’s all about connection, and yes, that’s called technology.

Zach at Work in the ECHO Office

Zach at Work in the ECHO Office

Under the leadership of general manager Zach Collier, with river pioneers and ECHO owners Dick Linford and Joe Daly under his tech savy wing, ECHO has been striving to maintain a cutting edge presence on the internet.

Despite embracing the modern in order to connect better with our guests and the world, there’s evidence of a deep river connection everywhere. A back room in the office is piled high with life jackets, kayaks, and throw bags. There’s an old ECHO oar leaning in one corner, the bookshelves are full of river running guides, there’s a dog asleep on the floor, the pictures on the wall celebrate legendary ECHO trips, and sometimes lunch breaks turn into paddle sessions.

River Rafting Books at the ECHO Office

River Rafting Books at the ECHO Office

The mission of ECHO has been, since 1972, to take guests on legendary river trips – trips built around the power of disconnecting from cell phones and computers and reconnecting with the environment, family, friends. We hope to use technology to share the magic of wild rivers that’s why One of the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth works hard in the virtual world, too.

We’re excited about new features on Google+ that allow us to connect and share with our past and future guests, our guides, and the world. We love the fact that we can share videos and photos instantly and free on YouTube, Vimeo, Google+, and Facebook. We couldn’t do without our email and internet.

It can all be a bit of informational overload, believe me we know. Sometimes you just have to step away from the computer and get outside. While you’re here we hope you like us, +1 us, and share the magic of ECHO River Trips with your friends, but most importantly we hope to see you out there on a river someday soon.

Posted in General News

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