River Talk Podcast

This week Peter Fox returns to talk about learning to row and a few controversial whitewater rowing topics.

– Yeti Silo 6G Water Cooler (Zach)

This week Zach, Erik, and Aaron Cavagnolo discuss some pointers about applying to work for rafting companies.

– The Oregon Wildlands Act passes the Senate

High water on California’s North Fork of the Smith River

– Luci Lights (Aaron)

This week we talked with Emerald LaFortune, the Executive Director of Redside Foundation. The Redside Foundation supports the health and vitality of Idaho’s guiding community.

– BoatSmith is just 2 weeks away

Rafting Oregon Hole Gorge on California’s Smith River

– Mavic 2 Pro Flying Camera

This week Aaron Cavagnolo joins us to talk about the dangers of blown neck gaskets, trucks and trailers, and the end of paddle boating in the west.

– American Whitewater dry suit accident report on the Illinois River

– Satellite Texting Devices (Aaron)

Wing Raft on Oregon’s Hood River

This week we responded to mail about inflatable kayaks and Jacob Cruser joined us to discuss inflatable kayak design and what types of IKs work best in what settings. We talked quite a bit about the legendary Stiletto kayak, IK design, and kayak stability.

– Recently updated AIRE BakRaft Expedition (Zach)

This week talked about Rafting Magazine’s recent article about the Clean Line Principle written by Mark Hirst.

Kayak starting line at the Upper Wind Whitewater Festival

This week we talked with Aaron Babcock from the Siskiyou Mountain Club.

This week we talk to Peter Fox about his first raft descents of the Stikine and Futaleufu Rivers as well his the book he’s writing about whitewater rowing.

• Cambridge Welding Personal Dry Box (Erik)
• SUP Paul (Zach)
• Kayak Wheels Priscilla

Today we chatted with Mark Hirst of Lapin Koskikolu and the International Rafting Federation (IRF). Most of the discussion was about IRF raft guide training, but at the end we talked a bit about throw bags.

Northwest Rafting Company is offering an IRF guide, trip leader, and instructor course with Mark in March 2019.

Mark suggested checking out the WWTc Rescue Rope if you’re looking for a great throw bag.

• American Whitewater Membership (Priscilla)
• 13 MM Slings from BlueWater Ropes (Mark)
• Kokopelli Packrafts (Zach)

This week discussed Priscilla’s trip to Washington D.C. and the effects of wildfires on recreation.

Guide Mike Slagle hauls fuel downriver for Wildland Firefighters on the Big Windy Fire on the Rogue River in Southern Oregon.

TRAVEL OREGON REPORT:  THE IMPACTS OF THE 2017 WILDFIRES

Gear of the Week

– Bedrock Sandals