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Rogue River Rafting Trip for Women
Number of days: 4
Itinerary dates: September 9 – 12, 2012
Tour leader: Joslin Fritz
* Register now to join this dynamic group of adventurers.
Join this women-only 4-day river rafting adventure down the beautiful Rogue River in Oregon. Whether it is your first rafting trip or you’re an experienced river runner, the class II and III whitewater of the Rogue is an ideal trip for all. Sit in a raft, relax and enjoy the scenery as your guide rows and shares her interpretive knowledge of the river valley. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can paddle down the rapids alone or with a friend in a single or double inflatable kayak. With plenty of opportunity to try both options, each provide an up-close and personal encounter with the rapids in a safe environment. Grandmothers and granddaughters alike will no doubt enjoy all that the Rogue has to offer.
The Rogue River is one of the first rivers to be protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The area stands still in time, as no new construction along this stretch has occurred in more than forty years. You’ll camp next to the river in spacious tents for two, and enjoy the clear, starry night sky while being serenaded by the rush of the passing river. You’ll be amazed at all of the gear the rafts can take down the river, from comfortable chairs and plush sleeping pads to delicious local wine and microbrews.
Meet-up is at Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge in Merlin, Oregon. Participants will make their own way to the lodge, preferably the night before, for a pre-trip briefing. This is also an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and trip leader, Joslin. A Wanderluster and seasoned river guide through and through, she will give you your trip orientation and answer any last minute questions that you may have. Also at this meeting, she will provide waterproof bags to be used to pack your things for the river trip.
View River Rafting photo gallery
Day 1
Sunday, September 9, 2012 (Meals: L, D)
You will be transferred from Morrison’s Lodge to the put-in just a short drive down the road. Here you’ll meet the rest of
your guides at the boat ramp and listen to a thorough safety talk on trip procedures. Soon after, you’ll board the rafts, push off from the shore and head downstream. The canyon walls rise up around you, heightening the sense of peacefulness and isolation from the outside world.
The going is easy early this day and after a few small rapids, the group will stop for lunch. Pulled pork or deli sandwiches with all the fixin’s might be on the menu, with a healthy selection of fruits, vegetables and dip to accompany the meal. The afternoon brings you to exciting Rainie Falls – the first of the larger white water rapids. The group will get out of their rafts and walk to the rapid, having time to take photos while the guide explains the hydrology of this rapid. You may even be lucky enough to see salmon swimming upstream, jumping the falls!
Soon after Rainie Falls, camp will be set up on a sandy beach. While the guides prepare dinner you’ll have time to explore the wooded terrain, go swimming, read a good book or just relax. For dinner you might feast on grilled wild Alaskan salmon, asparagus, spinach salad with fresh blueberries, and couscous, topped with fresh strawberry shortcake.
Day 2
Monday, September 10, 2012 (Meals: B, L, D)
For the early risers, hot coffee, tea, cocoa and a cold breakfast of cereal, yogurt, and fruit will be ready around 7 a.m. Shortly after, a hot breakfast will be served, perhaps french toast with sausages or blackberry pancakes with bacon. The gear is then packed up and the boats loaded for the day’s rafting. The more adventurous will take control of their own kayaks which are a blast to navigate even in the smallest rapids. In either craft, the fun, splashy rapids provide a cool down to the hot summer day.
This day has small, short, mostly class II rapids interspersed with calmer sections of the river, perfect for just the right amount of adrenaline pumping. Throughout the day the group will be making stops, perhaps to enjoy a dip in a crystal clear side creek, or a short hike up a lush side canyon. Similar to the previous day, you’ll arrive at camp in the afternoon and have time to relax or go for a swim before dinner. Your menu might be a lasagna made in a dutch oven and fresh corn on the cob, with chocolate fondue for dessert. Sit around the campfire and enjoy stories, jokes and perhaps some music from your river guides and fellow rafters.
Day 3
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 (Meals: B, L, D)
Wake-up call, breakfast and departure follow roughly the same schedule as the day before. This is the day you will stop at the Historic Rogue River Ranch. This Bureau of Land Management maintained museum of human history is a few minutes’ walk from the river, offering insights into the canyon’s past in a pastoral setting.
Next, you’ll raft Mule Creek Canyon with its moss-covered rock walls and swift currents. Make sure to look up and around as you pass through the canyon, as most consider this section the most beautiful of the Rogue River. After a lunch of perhaps chicken caesar salad wraps, the group will pull over and take a short hike to look at Blossom Bar, the Rogue’s most famous rapid. The afternoon then mellows out with a float through tranquil Huggin’s Canyon, giving an excellent opportunity for those that haven’t tried the inflatable kayak out yet a chance to do so.
Day 4
Wednesday, September 12, 2012 (Meals: B, L)
After breakfast, the group will depart for the last leg of the journey. Some of the group may practice their newfound rafting skills while the guides keep their eyes peeled for the elusive bald eagles that inhabit this section of the river canyon. After lunch, there’s a short float to your take-out point at Foster Bar where you’ll arrive in the early afternoon. You’’ll pack up the vans and then relax for the scenic mountain drive back to Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge where you’ll arrive around 6 pm.
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Costs:
Contact us for 2012 dates and costs – info (at) wandertours (dot) com
Price includes: 3 nights catered camping, 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, guides, transfers from Morrison’s Rogue River Lodge to the river and back, skilled professional guide service, expedition equipment including 2-person shared tent and waterproof bags, high-quality inflatable rafts and kayaks and related river equipment including paddle and helmet and personal flotation device, gratuities and local taxes.
Price does not include: airfare, airport transfer, pre- and post-trip accommodations and meals, alcoholic beverages, sleeping bag & sleeping pad (these items may be rented on site for $40) or items of personal nature.
We recommend MedEx Assist for travel and/or evacuation insurance.
This trip is limited to 15 women and requires a $250 deposit to secure your spot.
Minimum required: 4 women
Registration Form River Rafting 2012 (PDF)
Please make payable and send check to:
WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116
For questions, please contact Beth at:
beth (at) wandertours (dot)com
206-317-1860
It’s easy to make your deposit of $250! Simply click on the Buy Now button below and you’ll be taken to PayPal where you add your debit or credit card information. Subsequent payments may be made through PayPal by sending to: beth (at) wandertours (dot) com.
Rogue River packing list: Provided upon registration
Rouge River Rafting Trip 2012 Itinerary (PDF)
Tour Leader
About Joslin
Joslin Fritz is thrilled to be leading the Rogue River rafting trip for WanderTours. She has run rivers all over the country and the world, but considers the Rogue to be her all-time favorite. Joslin has been a river guide for 5 years and has spent the majority of that time on the Rogue. After more than 50 trips down the Rogue, she still is held captive by the beauty of the river and all it has to offer. With a vast knowledge of interpretive natural history of the area, a full bag of river costumes, and plenty of wine for camp, she looks forward to sharing the Rogue with you. Whether it’s your first river trip or your 5th, she is certain this will be a river trip you don’t want to miss! Joslin is also the tour leader for the Vietnam and Cambodia WanderTours trip.
Related links:
River Rafting Photo Gallery
South India Culture and Temple Tour