Creekin is something whitewater paddlers do. Goin down to the “crik” is something the locals do. Since Eagle Creek is nearly in our backyard and given that I wore overalls this past weekend then throw in the variable that Ox “we goll darn gone and done it” pronounces it that way, well, ORT went crikkin.

This little tributary to the Clackamas wasn’t quite rip snortin with all the recent rain but it was full which buffered out the normally technical sections and made for some quality crikkin. After about 3 portages and several astonished looks from fisherman who do indeed say crik we finally arrived at what might be the most forgiving 18 footer ever.
After the crew successfully navigated that remote behemoth we bounced on down to the lower falls.

What is normally an undercut nasty horizon line was a big wave train with a few large holes which we smashed right down the gut. It was a goll darn hoot. The Oldsmobile that has been in the crik for years was still parked in the river bed but all those nasty trees which can clog up the busy III+ section below the lower falls were gone. Well shoot! So we parked the boats in the barn and headed on down to the No Place Saloon where we wetted our whistles and reflected back on just how fortunate we are to have such a lovely little crik.

Special thanks to our following supporters who provided safety gear which made our day in the country such a delight: Next Adventure, Aire Rafts, Shred Ready Helmets, Whitewater Designs, Team Quest (nice barn), Immersion Research, and OS Systems.

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The Wildwater Story

“When ordinary people, share a singular passion, the extraordinary emerges.

WildWater is a journey into the mind and soul of whitewater, into the places only river runners can go, places of discovery, solitude and risk. Its a visually stunning feast for the senses, and an expedition into new ideas. We set out to create a new kind of adventure film. One where image, sound and ideas trump all else. We wanted to communicate the essence of the thing – wild places and whitewater – and put its soul on film. A tall order. After thousands of hours of effort around the world and in our studio, we have achieved much of the goal. Borrowing Hollywood film tools and techniques, including RED digital cinema cameras and world class post production techniques, WildWater brings not only new perspectives, but new images to kayaking and the world of adventure cinema.

The film focuses on a handful of peoplle who share a deep passion for wild places, rivers and running whitewater. We meet Rod Nash, the wise elder of the river and one of the founders of the wilderness movement in the USA, while he is rowing the Grand Canyon once more at age 72. We meet Doug Ammons, author of the book Whitewater Philosophy and one of Outside Magazines Greatest Adventurers of the last 100 years. And we hear from the current generation of men and women, sharing their love of this shared epxerience. The result crosses beyond generational and experiental boundaries, even beyond whitewater, to look at the soul of adventure sports and what they mean to all of us as a practice that is about far more than just fun.”

Check out the Oregonlive article covering the day’s event.

A quote from TRR Coordinator (and ORT paddler) Shane:

“The point”, said Shane Conrad, a volunteer organizer who served three tours in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps, “was to ward off the drinking and isolation that often follows vets home when they leave the military.”

“We got too many guys locking themselves in their rooms, turning on their Xboxes and playing Halo all day,” said Conrad, 26, referring to a violent video game popular among Iraq and Afghanistan returnees. “A whitewater raft trip on a cold winter day offers a double dose of the camaraderie and adventure that most vets abruptly lose when their duty ends”.

To see more photos from the Sandy, visit the ORT Flickr page.

Collaborative

Hydro

Intensity

 In an attempt to summarize another season of growth, survival, and evolution, ORT relied on our Chi, our life force.  Collaboration; a process where two or more people work together to realize shared goals, social leadership, working together to obtain greater resources especially when competing for finite resources.  Hydro; hydro power, electric energy, one thankfully not requiring dams in this case.  Intensity, a measure of energy per unit, a gauging of value and hard work. 

 The CHI of ORT.

 In isolation we are nothing special.  Ambitious and physical with the intellectual attributes to plan and follow through.  Our finite resources are mostly left unhindered by family and careers.  These have either been compensated for, neglected, or rarely exist. 

The profile of a whitewater paddler?  Depends on one’s level of acceptance.

This is our profile.

 3,000 miles of driving + 240 phone calls + 975 emails + 11 meetings + 2 fundraisers + 9 blog entrys + 648 pictures + 21 hours of gear maintenance + 90 consecutive days of subconscious thought = 1 team leader.  Do the right thing as the people your value system has deemed to be important are watching.  They are learning, emulating, and criticizing your every transparent move as the mostly unchartered evolution continues.         

 In 2012 we are coming back.  More festivals, energy, fun, passion, sweat, pain, laughter, frustration, patience, and hope.  We are human.  In isolation we are nothing special.  Come together with us and feel our CHI.

 THE OREGON RAFTING TEAM  

With some newly aquired software, ORT renders its’ videos in full 720p HD now. Check out the lastest video of ORT and WRRR on the Upper Wind last month and make sure you select 720 in the bottom right of the youtube window.

Check out still pics from the day here and on NW Rafting’s flickr page.

ORT out!

September 26^th, 2010.

The Oregon Rafting Team had the amazing opportunity to spend the day on the Clackamas River with kids from Janus Youth.  Driving out to the river we were worried that the youth would be scared off by the rainy weather.. but no. Cloudy weather and rain would not scare these kids from Portland. As we questioned their resolve, they were already on their way. True Oregonians.

Gettin crazy at the put-in

Our ever optimistic claims that the sun would soon break through were not taken seriously and everyone involved set upon the task of preparing to launch.

Dr. Frankenstein set upon the daunting task of educating these newbies on whitewater survival. “Who has ever whitewater rafted?”.  Two hands out of eleven rose. Right on. Swimmers? For sure. Nice.

What a group!

After a lesson on river safety, a warm up workout of stretches, lunges, and sprints.. we were ready to launch. Three guides, three talented counselors, and eight teenagers found our way into three rafts and began the voyage down the boney Clackamas.

Words cannot describe the fun, excitement, and appreciation that occurred on the river. The scenic Clackamas lived up to its reputation as we made our way. Eagle sightings, cliff jumping at Big Eddy, and the sound of laughter were the highlights on our three hour voyage. It is amazing to see a kid who has never rafted lunge across the boat to pull his buddy, who nearly fell out, back into the boat…twice. That is what builds friendships, trust.. And will be remembered forever. The youth amazed everyone with their ability to listen to instruction and their ability to navigate, upon command, the river.

We all became better people that rainy day in September.

Whitewater action!

A special thanks to ORT members Dr. Frankenstein, Rowdy, and Ck for making this trip happen. Also, to Ezra, Mr. Kitchen and Mr.? for their talented supervision of our participants.

Until next time.

View a video of the day’s events below!