Momentum River Expeditions – BOOTS on the TRAIL

Rafting Oregon’s Illinois River II 22-Apr-2021

2021-04-222021-05-23Posted in Rafting, Southern Oregon, U.S. RiversTagged Agness Oregon, Illinois River Trail Oregon, Illinois Valley Oregon, Illinois Wild and Scenic River, Momentum River Expeditions, Rafting, Selma Oregon, Southern Oregon5 Comments

The run from Pine Flat to South Bend, where we would camp tonight, has several rapids, but no named ones. That said, two of us (me included) managed to get shot out of our raft when it collided head-on with the side wall in one of the rapids. I was expecting to have to ride the waters to the eddy below the rapid but Jonathan managed to pull both of us back aboard fairly quickly. Still, it was a character building way to start the day. 😳 And it did clear up any lingering personal hygiene issues. 🙄

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Rafting Oregon’s Illinois River I 21-Apr-2021

2021-04-212022-01-31Posted in Rafting, Southern Oregon, U.S. RiversTagged Agness Oregon, Illinois River Trail Oregon, Illinois Valley Oregon, Illinois Wild and Scenic River, Momentum River Expeditions, Rafting, Selma Oregon, Southern Oregon1 Comment

Oregon’s Illinois River stretches some 56 miles (90 km) from its headwaters east and south of Cave Junction, Oregon to its confluence with the Rogue River near Agness, Oregon. The Wild and Scenic Section of the Illinois flows through a steep canyon for 29 miles (46 km) between Briggs and Nancy Creeks. This section features 150 rapids, of which 11 are Class IV and one is Class V. It is reputed to be the most remote, inaccessible river segment in the continental United States. Compared to the bigger rivers we’ve rafted, the Illinois is a very technical one, with a great deal of skill (the guides, not ours) required to weave through its boulder-strewn rapids.

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Rafting Oregon’s Lower Owyhee River V 18-Apr-2019

2019-04-182022-01-31Posted in Eastern Oregon, RaftingTagged Birch Creek Oregon, BLM, Boise Idaho, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Oregon, Jordan Valley Oregon, Momentum River Expeditions, Owyhee Canyonlands, Owyhee River, Rome Oregon2 Comments

Day 5: “Andy’s” Camp to Birch Creek Take-out (5,030 cfs)

The last day on the river is always bittersweet – sad to be leaving such a beautiful and peaceful place but looking forward (perhaps secretly) to a hot shower (particularly enticing after these colder weather trips). Since we’d camped farther downstream than planned, we got a later start than usual for the short run to the take-out at Birch Creek [RM 51].

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Rafting Oregon’s Lower Owyhee River IV 17-Apr-2019

2019-04-172022-01-31Posted in Eastern Oregon, RaftingTagged Birch Creek Oregon, BLM, Boise Idaho, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Oregon, Jordan Valley Oregon, Momentum River Expeditions, Owyhee Canyonlands, Owyhee River, Rome Oregon

Day 4: Upper Whistling Bird Camp to “Andy’s” Camp (6,820 cfs)

Some high clouds came in overnight, but brought no rain, so the day got off to an easy start. This was good, because today would be our longest and busiest one on the river. We started by passing through the towering cliffs of Iron Point Canyon, which are formed from erosion-resistant rhyolite.

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Rafting Oregon’s Lower Owyhee River III 16-Apr-2019

2019-04-162022-01-31Posted in Eastern Oregon, RaftingTagged Birch Creek Oregon, BLM, Boise Idaho, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Oregon, Jordan Valley Oregon, Momentum River Expeditions, Owyhee Canyonlands, Owyhee River, Rome Oregon2 Comments

Day 3: Pruitt’s Castle Camp to Upper Whistling Bird Camp (6,740 cfs)

The rain ceased in the night and we awoke to a day of gloriously dry clarity. 😎 The colors and shapes that form Pruitt’s Castle, which had looked drab under yesterday’s cloudy skies, lit up exuberantly in the morning light. After the baggage rafts left, we did a short hike over to view the Chalk Basin and Lambert Dome.

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Rafting Oregon’s Lower Owyhee River II 15-Apr-2019

2019-04-152022-01-31Posted in Eastern Oregon, RaftingTagged Birch Creek Oregon, BLM, Boise Idaho, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Oregon, Jordan Valley Oregon, Momentum River Expeditions, Owyhee Canyonlands, Owyhee River, Rome Oregon

Day 2: Lower Fletcher Camp to Pruitt’s Castle Camp (4,850 cfs)

The rain ceased in the night, so today started out overcast but dry. We need the rain but life outdoors is just easier when you’re not perpetually moist. The day stayed mostly overcast, with occasional spots of almost clearing. Teaser sucker-holes. Happily, it didn’t rain again, and then only briefly, until we’d reached camp at Pruitt’s Castle [RM 24.5]. After breakfast, we floated down to Weeping Wall Springs to take on fresh, clear water (the river water is pretty silty), have lunch, and take a short hike.

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Rafting Oregon’s Lower Owyhee River I 14-Apr-2019

2019-04-142022-01-31Posted in Eastern Oregon, RaftingTagged Birch Creek Oregon, BLM, Boise Idaho, Bureau of Land Management, Eastern Oregon, Jordan Valley Oregon, Momentum River Expeditions, Owyhee Canyonlands, Owyhee River, Rome Oregon

Background

The Owyhee River and its tributaries incise dramatic and awe-inspiring canyons in the sagebrush and grass-covered plains of northeastern Nevada, southwestern Idaho, and southeastern Oregon. These expansive plains and deep canyons represent some of the most stunningly scenic terrain on offer in Oregon.

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