River Rafting in Washington

River Rafting in Washington/photos by Dane Doerflinger Slideshow : Orion’s trip from Seattle , Washington , United States to 4 cities Leavenworth , Darrington , Index and Black Diamond was created by TripAdvisor . See another United States slideshow . Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

One of my favorite quotes is from the director of '90s movies Slacker and Dazed and Confused , Richard Linklater . In an interview he was quoted as having said, "I'm just trying to live nobly in an ignoble culture." It is the least each of us can attempt to do in our angst-ridden, money-corrupted, ethics-averse society. No matter what, add positively to the fabric of our existence. As I look back on this season, seasons past and those of you who have traipsed through the Orion Commons, that is all I see. People trying to live nobly in our ignoble culture. People trying to contribute. Trying to make a difference. Folks trying to choose the path less traveled and doing good along the way. I think about this now because, in many respects, I feel as if I have fallen down on the job of living nobly. Sacrificing purpose on the altar of expediency. Sacrificing community for monetary needs. Sacrificing nobility for the quick buck. I can assure you it was no...

Perhaps the City of Cashmere did not want to inadvertently promote drinking by calling the rapid a couple of miles upstream of town by the name almost every river rafting guide and river recreationist uses --- Drunkard's Drop --- who knows? As for Boulder Garden, I am assuming that is in reference to Boulder Bend, aka Hobo Gulch, just downstream of Leavenworth, but, where is the recognition for this stretch of the Wenatchee's climax --- Granny's and the notorious Granny's Wave (and, these days, the occasionally disruptive Suffocator)? In any event, the stretch of the Wenatchee that begins in Leavenworth and concludes in Cashmere is Class III. Although admittedly, during spring runoff conditions, the high, cold, fast-moving river deserves river rafters' and, in particular, novice kayakers', respect. http://orionexp.com in reference to: City of Cashmere ( view on Google Sidewiki )

Excellent rendition of all the available camping spots along the Mountain Loop Highway and near the Wild and Scenic Sauk River and the Stillaguamish River. No particular river rafting outfitter is mentioned as offering trips on the Sauk River and so I thought it would be appropriate to list the four commercial outfitters authorized to run the Whitechuck to Darrington stretch of this well-kept whitewater secret. North Cascades River Runners, Downstream River Runners, Alpine and Orion River Rafting http://orionexp.com The Sauk River lost some of its cachet over the last decade because of massive flooding that destroyed the bridge at the launch site and graveled in all of the rapids. But it is slowly healing and the punch of the whitewater is coming back. It's best whitewater shows up during June and July. However, every now and then, due to the glacial melt, it can be very good during the first two weeks of August as well. in reference to: Washington State - Camping Along the Moun...

Like Mike M, I was on the Wenatchee River the day St. Helens unleashed a cloud of ash that blanketed much of the western half of Washington. Orion River Rafting http://orionexp.com was busy with two large commercial rafting trips headed down the river. In the morning, as we were prepping rafts at our launch site off U.S. 2, we heard what we assumed was a detonation by a highway crew doing road work, or avalanche control, or a peal of thunder from high in the Stuart Range. The day was cloudless, sunny and warm, and with everything else going on, we thought nothing of the one-shot rumble. I led the first wave of rafts because I was scheduled to appear on a KIRO radio show that evening in Seattle and needed to get off the river as early as possible. As the rafts approached our take-out in Cashmere, I recall noting thunderclouds massing to the east and seemingly headed up the Valley. I remember thinking how odd that weather was approaching us from the east. I also remember thinking ho...

END-OF-GUIDE-TRAINING PARTY Chumstick Country Club the evening of May 15th. Group Dinner planned. Slideshow from stand-in photographers --- hopefully. Keg. Non-Guidelings (aka Orion Guides) please contact the office if you are planning on attending. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE... Many launch times will be later this season in order to cater to the Seattle metropolitan crowd that party's hardy on Friday night and wants to dodge the traffic headed east out of town. What does that mean to you --- our fearful guides? Well, our Noon and 1pm Meeting Times on the Wenatchee do NOT include a meal which means you will need to eat a humongous breakfast or come prepared with a carbohydrate rich snack to get you through to 6pm. FEAST OR FAMINE You might have heard that I gave away the farm to this Groupon thing. Maybe so, but the Good News to you is that we are bursting at the seams with guide days on the Wenatchee and some of it is spilling over onto other rivers. Starting after th...

I clicked on this article because it just so happens that the subject "Safety Tips for Families Rafting with Small Kids" is a subject that I was considering submitting to an E-zine. I figured I might get some ideas or learn something I had not considered since I do not have any small children of my own. The second of the promised five tips derailed me. Honestly? A 'life rope' connecting your child to the raft while on moving water? This is dumbest idea imaginable --- and I am being kind. NEVER attach yourself, your child, your dog or your worst enemy to a boat in moving water. You are setting yourself up for disaster. Lines and moving water do not mix well. Entanglement issues are the first thing that comes to mind. And, if the child has a line attached to them, and they are tethered to the raft, it isn't only the child who is at risk of an errant line in the event the raft capsizes, or if the child falls overboard on the side of the raft opposite where th...