Looks like snow is in the clouds blanketing Hood River today, which means we may get our wish for a white Christmas! We hope you are preparing for a great holiday season with your family and we want to wish you and your families good tidings for the New Year.

Our office will be closed from Christmas Eve through January 4, but we have exciting news. If the holiday gatherings around the fire inspire you to take the family on a rafting trip this summer, you can now book your trip online! Simply choose to Make a Reservation from our website and you can click through to reserve space on the date you want. We’ll be in touch via email or voicemail if you have any questions, but until then have a great holiday and we’ll see you in 2010 for another great rafting season!

The holidays are upon us and why not treat your friends and family to the gift of a river trip this year! We offer gift certificates for use on any of our trips. They are available in any dollar amount up to the entire cost of the trip of your choice and can be mailed to you or your loved one. Purchase before December 22 and receive 10% off the face value!

Gift certificates provide an excellent opportunity to gather your friends and family for a river adventure. ECHO trips are fabulous for special occasions, such as family reunions, bachelor parties, anniversaries or birthdays. Let them know of the adventures that await them this summer with an ECHO gift certificate!

Happy Holidays from the entire ECHO staff!

We asked you on Friday to Name That Bird and were thrilled with all of the guesses we received!

The bird in the photo is a Double-crested Cormorant, shown paddling the Rogue River last September. These large waterbirds have stocky bodies, long necks and webbed feet. As you can see from the pictured specimen, they swim low in the water often with only their necks and heads visible, which caused some ECHO guests to nickname them the “periscope ducks”. Excellent divers, these fish eaters can reach depths of 5-25 feet, however their feathers aren’t waterproof, so they are often spotted perched on rocks in the river with their wings outstretched for drying.

There were many correct responses but the ECHO hoodies will go to:

Mark L. of Solana Beach, CA
Bruce D. of Tacoma, WA
Robert G. of Newport Beach, CA

We also asked you to submit name suggestions for the new raft joining our fleet this year. After careful committee consideration, we’ve decided on “Wild Thing” in honor of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the ECHO hoodie will go to:

Sue V. of Chico, CA

Thanks to all for participating and we hope to see you on another ECHO trip soon!

Last spring, the owners of ECHO acquired Sundance River Center, which has been a leading name in kayak instruction on the Rogue River since the 1970’s. Sundance has changed hands a few times throughout the years, but has maintained their emphasis on teaching fledgling paddlers the skills needed to travel safely downriver.

ECHO plans to continue this tradition by operating Sundance’s new kayak schools in the same way that we’ve managed our river trips for over 37 years. After purchasing a new fleet of boats, retaining some solid instructors and tweaking the menu, we’re proud to announce that Intermediate Kayak Schools will run throughout the summer of 2010. We’ve chosen a 6-day format that will include a day to practice and perfect necessary maneuvers on the Recreation section of the Rogue before heading out for a 5-day downriver trip through the Wild and Scenic section. If you’ve gotten your feet wet with river kayaking, but would like more instruction and raft support, you should know that Sundance Kayak School will offer the same excellent gear, food and guides you’ve come to expect from your trips with ECHO.

Learn more about Sundance Kayak Schools and view available dates by visiting the new website at www.sundanceriver.com!

Hard to believe that the 2009 season is almost over, but much like Santa on December 26, we are busy in our workshop planning for summer of 2010! Some special trips are already scheduled including the return of DeRiemer Adventure Kayaking for 2 trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River as well as a Discounted Family Trip on the Rogue River. You can help us make 2010 our best summer yet by telling us what types of trips you’d like to see on our schedule next year. Options include:

- 5 day trips on the Rogue River (includes a layover day)
- 4 or 5 day high water trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River
- 3 day lodge trips on the Rogue
- Rogue or Middle Fork fall fishing trips
- Wild Yoga (on the Rogue River)
- Preferred dates for Family Trips

Contact us this fall when we have flexibility with our schedule to create the perfect charter trip for your large group. River trips can be customized to bring together your friends and family for reunions, bachelor parties, anniversaries or graduations. Start planning by taking a look at our existing schedule of launch dates and then give us a call to reserve a trip for your group. Can’t wait to see you on the river next year!

View Rogue River launch dates

View Middle Fork of the Salmon River launch dates

We’re now half-way through the rafting season and here are some comments from our guests so far!

“Great people, great food, great fun, great rivers. I love you guys.” – J. Littman (Rogue River guest)

“I was way out of my element, but the guides took great care of me. They were pleasant and upbeat the entire time.” – M. Hardy (Rogue River guest)

“All of the guides were an absolute delight – not only were they knowledgeable about the river, wildlife, etc., they had great personalities and were able to engage the varied people that were on our trip.” – K. McLean (Rogue River guest)

“You guys were fantastic and delivered on everything promised. Clearly a great outfit and I would be happy to recommend you guys to my grandmother.” – G. Carter (Middle Fork of the Salmon River guest)

“Almost more fun than should be allowed with your clothes on.” – J. Gates (Middle Fork of the Salmon River guest)

“It far exceeded my expectations how all of the guides treated me like a friend rather than a client…. I was also highly impressed by the knowledge the guides had above and beyond basic requirements, such as plants, wildlife, and geology.” – K. McAllister (Middle Fork of the Salmon River guest)

“A truly once in a lifetime experience…In fact, my 19 year old daughter claims the trip was ‘life changing’. That’s pretty high praise coming from a teen!” – E. Schroederus (Middle Fork of the Salmon River guest)

ECHO guides had a blast at the Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival last weekend and got to experience a mini-reunion before heading out to work at the Rogue or Middle Fork this summer.

Hata, Maggie, Lexey, Zach, both Billys, Al, Katrina, Paige, Colleen and Alex all participated and showed the newly trained guide schoolers just how much fun rafting can be. ECHO placed in multiple events including the cataraft slalom, the oar boat slalom, the cataraft rodeo and the down river paddle boat race. We want to give a huge thanks to SOTAR for providing gear and boats.

Check out more photos on ECHO’s facebook page!

Boaters will be getting wet and wild next weekend at the 26th Annual Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival in Estacada, Oregon. The festival offers boaters an opportunity to gain bragging rights among their peers and allows spectators a chance to see these titans battle the rapids for river-cred. Events include slaloms, sprints, and relays for hardshell and inflatable kayaks, catarafts, paddle and oar boats. Other fun events include the Cataraft Rodeo, Val’s Volleyball, a silent auction and there’s even a Dutch Oven Cook-Off!

Following ECHO’s Guide School in the Columbia River Gorge, our veteran and newly trained guides will represent ECHO on the Upper Clack in multiple events. We’re providing gear and guides to assist in the High School Cup on Saturday at 1 PM and also the Disabled American Veterans Armed Forces on Sunday at 10 AM and 11 AM. Help us usher in the boating season and cheer for your favorite ECHO guide!

When – Saturday, May 16 – Sunday, May 17
Where – 17 miles upriver from Estacada, OR