We had a full week of adventure on the Snake, Columbia, and Deschutes Rivers. Our trip was in full swing. We’ve biked, hiked, kayaked, jet boated and toured wineries, Now it was time for white water rafting. The last time I white water rafted was in Costa Rica, and I couldn't wait to try it again. This time we had seven people in our raft.
They told us to find groups that wanted to get a lot wet, a little wet or stay dry. But, I can tell you, everyone got wet, especially the people in the front. I'm glad I had on an extra layer of fleece and the rafting company's wet jacket and high water shoes. Even though the weather was a chilly 63 degrees, I was still nice and toasty.
Before we loaded into the rafts, we were given a safety lesson. No one wants to spill, but there is always that possibility. Of our five rafts, only two people went in and they were pulled back into the raft promptly.
The waves didn't seem that big until you got right on top of them. As the raft went straight into them, waves lunged high and water splashed into the boat and onto our faces jackets, and pants. It was an exhilarating feeling to beat the rage of the water.
This was a 2.5 hour river trip and we hit several rapids, like Wapinita, Boxcar, Surf City and Little and Big Elevators. The Big Elevator was my favorite.
The river was calm between rapids and we slowly drifted along, taking in the beautiful canyon views while basking in the sun. We enjoyed the hillsides and nature as we rafted along.
We were almost done when our guide said, “This is Oak Springs.” The waves splashed over us and we paddled like crazy right before we got to shore. What an adrenaline rush.
After the rafting, we sat near the river, eating lunch and sharing stories from the afternoon with our fellow rafters. We craved a hot shower and dry clothes before making our way back to the ship. This trip will be remembered for the rest of my life. I couldn't help but think about the trip Lewis and Clark took along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. It is hard to image how they made it through the rough waters during rigid weather and a long journey.
Judy Peterson, Travel Agent, Peterson Travel Pros