Wild Azaleas on the Wild Rogue

One of the reasons for this blog is to educate our readers about the beauty and diversity of the wild & scenic Rogue River canyon. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest that borders the Rogue River canyon embraces a treasure of botanical diversity, and is home to incredible wild and scenic Rogue River, isolated wildernesses (324,000 acres), outstanding fisheries and wildlife resources, and breath-taking landscapes of mountains, meadows, streams, and lakes.

The Siskiyou area embodies the most complex soils, geology, landscape, and plant communities in the Pacific Northwest. It is the most floristically diverse National Forest in the country with some extraordinary botanical resources.

And, one of the most gorgeous wild shrubs in this complex ecosystem is the wild Azalea. While not designated as "rare" this incredible beauty with its intoxicating scent is rarely seen by the public because of its preferred habitat of rich woods, stream banks and savannas.

The flowers of these Azaleas have an incredible smell to entice hungry animal life. Their blossoms' scent lures insects, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and bats which then move from plant to plant, feeding on nectar and pollen. The animals, in turn, fertilize or pollinate flowers of one bush with pollen from another.

Early colonists and pioneers used the Azalea for making dyes, herbal teas, medicines and wood preservations.

Today you can enjoy the wild Azalea's beautiful blooms and alluring smells from March through June as you raft, kayak, or hike down the Rogue River. Note that if the weather gets unseasonably warm in the spring, the Azalea's blooms (and, sadly, its scent) fade by late May.

Factoid: The most famous rapid on the Rogue River, Blossom Bar, was named after the wild Azalea's blossom!

Photo credit: Rob Robinson check out his website at robrrobinson.com

Jesse Coombs: Hero & All-around Swell Guy

2007 was THE year for Jesse Coombs. He made so many kayaking first descents in foreign countries that National Geographic named him a 2007 adventure hero. But Jesse's life encompasses much more than kayaking. He is also an award-winning cinematographer. A local boy, Jesse attended Oregon State University and graduated with an engineering degree, an MBA, and then spent 10 years in corporate America. This man's resume is beyond stellar.

Jesse says that he bases his kayaking on his life values: family, fun, honesty, integrity, stewardship, athleticism, a life without drugs and a driving passion to achieve excellence.

We, here at White Water Warehouse are especially proud of Jesse since he purchased some of his first boating equipment from us in 1998. Jesse talks about the start of his incredible life journey. "What got me interested in boating were multi-sport competitions. My first kayaking race was the Mill City triathlon and I did it in a Tahiti (inflatable kayak). I took OSU kayaking classes and was completely hooked from that point forward. What has held my interest is a bit more complex, but it comes down to the following basics: I love nature and rivers are so unique in their perspective. I love athleticism and kayaking is always presenting new athletic challenges--it is such a thrill to feel the power of the water and work with it. I also love the friendships of kayaking, I LOVE the travel that kayaking encourages us to do...I just love the whole kayaking lifestyle."

Jesse's legacy is deeper than kayaking. Recently, he established the The Jesse Coombs Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to "positively influence youth to choose a life free of drugs." Click on the link above to learn more about the Coombs Foundation.

If you are interested in reviewing the story that National Geographic wrote about Jesse's adventure hero award, click here.

We are proud of Jesse and his accomplishments. In our eyes, he is a hero in so many ways that go beyond boating. And better yet, he is an all-around swell person.

Photo credits: Darin McQuoid & Eric Jackson

Rogue vs. Rouge

It is amazing what a misplaced "u" can do! How do you spell rafting the Rogue River in Oregon? The proper spelling is "Rogue" but many folks misspell it. And the improper placement of that little "u" has led to all kinds of fun.

There are two "Rouge" Rivers that are fairly well-known. One is located near Dearborn, Michigan. The other is near Quebec, Canada. The Canadian Rouge River is also a spectacular whitewater river....so, as you can imagine, we have some pretty funny stories about Rogue vs. Rouge mix-ups. Last year a woman was ready to book a trip with us...until she asked the fateful question..."By the way, how far is the Rogue from Montreal?" Oops...several thousand miles! We both hooted when we figured out the mistake.

This year we had a large group call about space on one of our Rogue River lodge/rafting trips. Our suspicions were heightened by the Canadian accent...but, we do have folks who travel with us from Canada so we didn't go there initially. After about 30 minutes of talking back and forth about our rafting and kayaking trips, the decision was made and the date was chosen. Except for one small detail...you guessed it...that pesky little "u" got in the way again!

So if you are looking for the incredible Rogue River in Oregon, the river's name is spelled R-O-G-U-E...but we are always happy to talk to you...even if you really want to raft the Rouge in Canada!

Rogue River: Rafting & Feasting

Talk about a one-of-a-kind rafting trip. We don't offer this culinary odyssey every year because it is so special...and we want to keep it that way. This adults-only culinary adventure combines rafting on Oregon's beautiful Rogue River with rustic Italian food, classic wines, and riverside lodging accommodations.

Our good friend and Italian-stallion, chef Matt Morse, is what this trip is all about. He grew up under the tutelage of Italian women who knew how to cook. These women were natural epicures--coaxing the most out of their superb, fresh ingredients for the meals they would present to their families.

Matt recalls, "I learned from the bottom of my grandmother and mother's aprons. Everything that I cook today I pattern from growing up with the memories of their incredible Italian rustic meals. The dishes I will cook for WWW's gourmet wine & food trip are modeled after the Piedmont style of Italian cooking. I'll serve traditional dishes like an impressive antipasti to start the dinners and follow that with agnolotti (meat-filled ravioli). There will be other foodie surprises too but I don't want to give all my secrets away!"

Matt will be pulling select Italian wines from his personal cellar to serve to our guests. Barolo and Barbaresco--some of the finest red wines in all of Italy--will accompany this Rogue Italian feast.

Factoids: This trip is a 3-day, 2-night lodge trip that begins on July 6 and ends on July 8, 2008. Cost is $990 per adult and is an adults-only trip. You can check out additional information on this trip by clicking here--Rogue River Italian Trip--or click on the link to the right of this page. You will see a sample menu with complementary wine selections on this link.

Splendid Table visits Oregon Wineries

If you love great, fresh food as much as we do here at White Water Warehouse, you probably have your ear pressed up to the radio too on Sunday nights at 6 p.m. That is the time that Lynne Rossetto Kasper host of the Splendid Table on National Public Radio dishes out her unique blend of food information and high jinks. On last night's program, Lynne announced that she and the Splendid Table crew are coming to Oregon on August 5 - 10, 2008 to tour Oregon's wine country. Don't know yet if they will be visiting the southern Oregon wineries.

Did we not tell you in our last blog that Oregon's wineries are garnering national attention?!?

Factoids: Lynne and crew are flying into Portland for the early August event. The potential tour may include an opening night reception and tasting with Lynne, as well as the opportunity to accompany her to the Portland Farmer's Market. If you are interested in joining her, you can sign up for specific info as the plan develops. Go to the Splendid Table website and sign up for more information.

Southern Oregon Wines

Someone once said that to really know the land, drink wine made from the land. Well, actually, I just made that up but it makes sense doesn't it? Southern Oregon's vast collection of rolling hills, rivers, and green forests mean that each winery in the region produces unique and taste-bud popping wines that are truly "born from the land."

We asked Michael Donovan, general manager for RoxyAnn Winery in Medford to give us his perspective on southern Oregon's burgeoning wine industry. By the way, RoxyAnn Winery shared the cool photo that appears in this blog. Michael's thoughts, "Our area is really perfect for a large variety of grapes. We are gaining national exposure and attention due to the incredible geographic diversity that helps produce our spectacular wines. Our region runs from Roseburg to Ashland. In it you will find all kinds of different weather and geographic conditions. And this diversity is what makes our wines special. For example, in the cooler regions growers produce spectacular Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. In the dryer areas, the bold reds come into their own such as the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varietals."

If you are interested in a tour of some of these vineyards/wineries check out the following resources: Southern Oregon Wineries Association's website and the Medford Visitors & Convention Bureau's website.

Factoids: There are currently 36 local wineries listed on the Southern Oregon Wineries website (see link to the right). Donovan guesstimates that there are approximately 50 wineries currently operating in the southern Oregon area and in the next decade there could be as many as 100. White Water Warehouse features many Oregon wines on our Rogue River rafting and hiking lodge trips.

CuisineScene--Uniquely Oregon

2007 was an especially big year for local & sustainable foods growers. Market and farm tours are showing up more on travel itineraries as tourists show increased interest in learning about where their foods are coming from and how their meals are being prepared. 2007 may have been the year of the celebrity chef, but 2008 will be the year of the producer.

And what fine producers and growers we have in southern Oregon! I recently spoke to Spencer Davenport of Hillcrest Orchard about the upswing in Whitewater Warehouse's clients' interests in quality, local foods and beverages. Spencer lead me to a cooperative website called the Oregon Wine & Farm Tour. The site is worth a "look see" because it highlights some well-established food companies like Harry & David and then some smaller producers like Dagoba Organic Chocolate. While Harry & David has been a leader in capturing the nation's lust for fine, locally grown produce for some time, Dagoba is just now being recognized nationally for the superior products the company has developed, produced, and brought to the marketplace.

The group's motto is "Savor the Day." No doubt your mouth will be watering too once you have checked out the varied and unique southern Oregon producers! Loved the site so much that I am posting it under our "links."

FACTOIDS: Some southern Oregon wineries date back to the late 1800s making it the oldest wine region in the state. Southern Oregon's pears and fruit have been world-renowned since the early 1900s...and the shipping of these natural jewels was the start of what we know today as "gourmet gift baskets".

Gender Journeys

We are seeing an impressive portion of our clients who want to book private rafting trips for 2008. While this trend has been on the increase for some time, the real upswing has been the interest in all-women's or all-men's rafting trips. And the Rogue River really offers "it all" when it comes to these gender-specific journeys.

Women love them because the trip gives them time away with girlfriends or family to leisurely enjoy nature and the beauty of the Rogue River canyon--by inflatable kayak or raft. No meal prep, no dishes, no stress, no worries. Just time to re-connect after a day on the river by having a chat-a-thon over a nice glass of Oregon wine!

Men dig these 'mancations' because they can kick it up a notch by kayaking the entire river and at the end of day tip a beer or two. Private cabins offer a soft bed and hot shower to sooth tired muscles after pulling the paddle through the water all day.

Anyone can put together one of these gender junkets by calling White Water Warehouse's office at 1-800-214-0579.

Factoids: Every Saturday and every Sunday throughout the summer White Water Warehouse offers 3-day, 2-night lodge/rafting trips through the wild & scenic section of southern Oregon's Rogue River. Charter groups are 20 - 23 guests in size.

Rogue trail offers Lodge-to-lodge hiking

A steady stream of interested hikers have been calling our offices since the start of 2008. Must be all those New Year's fitness resolutions. Cool thing about hiking the Rogue is that it pairs a fabulous fitness experience with rustic lodges that offer private accommodations, hot showers, and soft beds to trail travelers.

Along the trail you will see historic sites, myriad wildlife, and beautiful wild azaleas, meadows of wildflowers, and moss-covered trees. Spring time is the time to book your hike because while the weather is generally warm, it is not over-the-top hot.

The San Francisco Chronical published an article on this unique hiking trail in mid-March of 2007. Whitewater Warehouse was honored to be listed as one of just two featured Rogue River trail hiking outfitters in the article. The outpouring of interest from that one newspaper article has been incredible.

On a website called trailsNW, one blogger says "Ahh the Rogue, one of the 'must do' hikes in Oregon." The same site lists scenery along the trail as a 4.8 out of 5 stars and difficulty as a 2.8 out of 5.

Factoids: Trail is 42 miles long and takes approximately 4 days and 3 nights to hike its full length. Minimum elevation is 200 ft, maximum is 1100 ft. Whitewater Warehouse offers 4-day, 3-night lodge-to-lodge hiking trips on the following dates: May 31 - June 3; June 8 - 11; June 14 - 17 and June 15 - 18. A special 5-day, 4-night hiking trips is also being offered on May 11 - 15.

The Famous Rogue River Dories

Want to get your hands on a fascinating book about Oregon's early boatbuilders? Check out "Drift Boats and River Dories" by author Roger Fletcher. Fletcher retired in the late '90s from the Oregon State University Extension Service. Since that time, he has made it his life's passion to investigate Oregon's early boatbuilders; research the adventures they experienced on the water; and amass renderings as to how they built their boats or dories.

Roy Gault, Outdoor writer for Salem, Oregon's Statesman Journal interviewed Roger. The following quote taken from the interview and subsequent newspaper story on Fletcher reflects his zeal for the subject. "My passion for boats is tied to the parallels I see between the river and how one runs this course we call life. The river is wonderful medicine for the river of life. That sounds kind of hokey, but that's where my passion is. I enjoy fly fishing and I enjoy getting out, but that isn't what pulls me. It's the river itself, and the people who share the passion.

Author Zane Grey, is perhaps Oregon's most noted Dory boat owner. In fact, before he died in 1939, he owned a fishing cabin on the Rogue River and penned one of his most famous western novels entitled "Rogue River Feud". Even today, you can visit his small fishing cabin located on the banks of the wild & scenic Rogue River.

Factoid: Roger Fletcher's newly released book, "Drift Boats and River Dories" is published in hardback by Stackpole Books. Cost is $49.95. According to reporter Gault, the book identifies 11 wooden river boats used years ago on Oregon rivers, with stories about who used them and how they were used, and instructions and blueprints to build them.

Happy New Year!

Ahhh...the new year gets one to think'in about all kinds of things. Bob and I were discussing last night how lucky we are to have such loyal client-guests-friends. Seems like that is always the natural progression here at White Water Warehouse. Clients turn into friends. What a unique and wonderful business this is!

Just got through writing a "thank you" note to Dr. Luis Vela. He has not only been on many trips with us but has also referred many, many of his friends to us. It makes us happy and proud that he thinks that much of the services we provide to our clients that he entrusts their care to us. Clients like Luis are the reason that our business has been so successful for the past 25 years.

Going into 2008 knowing that many friends--real friends--will be traveling with us on the beautiful Rogue makes our hearts happy. We wish you all happy and safe travels.

Factoid: Return guests make up 36% of our rafting/hiking trips each year. An additional 23% of our rafting guests are referred by past guests that have traveled with us before. So a whopping 59% of our trips are either folks that have traveled with us before or have been referred by folks that have previously traveled with us. Pretty darn coolacious.