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The ECHO World Headquarters is Moving!
After running ECHO for 36 years, owners Dick Linford and Joe Daly are slowing down. Not disappearing, mind you. Just slowing down. Thanks to computers, phones, and instant messaging Joe will work from his home in Berkeley, California and Dick will work from his new home in Bend, Oregon. Sadly for all of us, Sue Kingsbury and Sadie (the brains behind the whole operation) are retiring. Sue will continue to work on a part time basis and promises to make a guest appearance at new office.
Zach Collier is our new general manager. Zach earned a degree in mechanical engineering from UC Davis in 1996 and an MS in the same from Stanford in 1998. He started guiding for ECHO in 1998. He managed our Tuolumne operation for four years, and ran a sweep rig in Idaho for four years. He spent most of his winters traveling in South America and Asia, and teaching high school math and community college engineering. He has worked in the ECHO office for the past three winters. Each year he has learned more about rafting and ECHO, and has convinced Dick, Joe and Sue that he can run the company. In fact, we know that he is bringing new energy and enthusiasm to the company.
Last year we had a trial run where Zach lived and worked in the town of Hood River, Oregon. It was a success. So we’re moving the ECHO World Headquarters there from Oakland where it’s been for the past 36 years.
Our new office will be in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge and is close to many nearby whitewater rivers including the Class IV White Salmon River. The new location is also geographically between both Rogue River and the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
So next month when you call us at (800) 652-3246, we’ll be answering your call in beautiful Hood River. If you’re ever in town, stop by and say hi!
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The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Turns 40
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is turning 40 this year. Here at ECHO, we celebrate the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act because it provides unparalleled protection for both the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and the Rogue River. In fact, the Middle Fork and the Rogue were two of the original eight “charter” rivers designated by Congress when they signed the act on October 2, 1968. The Act declares:
“It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that certain selected rivers of the Nation which, with their immediate environments, possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values, shall be preserved in free-flowing condition, and that they and their immediate environments shall be protected for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Congress declares that the established national policy of dams and other construction at appropriate sections of the rivers of the United States needs to be complemented by a policy that would preserve other selected rivers or sections thereof in their free-flowing condition to protect the water quality of such rivers and to fulfill other vital national conservation purposes.”
The original eight Wild and Scenic Rivers are Middle Fork of the Salmon and the Clearwater in Idaho, the Wolf in Wisconsin, the Eleven Point in Missouri, the Middle Fork of the Feather in California, the Rio Grande in New Mexico, the Rogue in Oregon, and the St Croix in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Today there are more than 165 rivers and over 11,000 river miles protected by the Act.
In order to be designated as a Wild and Scenic River, a section of the river needs to be “free flowing” and demonstrate “outstandingly remarkable values” such as scenery, geology, fish and wildlife, historic, or other similar value. Rivers can either be designated by an Act of Congress or by the Secretary of the Interior.
The main purpose of the Act is to protect the free flowing character of America’s rivers by protecting them from dams and water diversions that currently affect most rivers in our country. In addition, every river in the system is managed to protect the “outstandingly remarkable values” for which it was designated by a federal agency such as the Forest Service or BLM. The Act states:
“Each component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System shall be administered in such manner as to protect and enhance the values which caused it to be included without . . . limiting other uses that do not substantially interfere with public use and enjoyment of these values.”
Basically the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act provides unwavering protection for the rivers we run. Thank you Senator Frank Church!
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Behind the Scenes Guide Stories
Textbook River Guide Ingenuity on Bear Camp Road
by Hata Hill
This year we ran a couple of 5 day Rogue trips, which we love because they afford the option of a layover day and more time to enjoy the beauty of the Rogue. Our July 3rd launch was one of these, which meant that we took out on the same day as our July 4th 4 day trip. Our former guide and longtime river running friend Peter Fox had organized the July 3rd trip, and brought along three of his own catarafts. This meant that at Foster Bar we had 10 guides, 39 guests, and 25 boats including all the rafts and duckies! Suffice to say this required both of our trucks to bring all the gear back over Bear Camp Road.
Both trips reported good times had by all, but the shuttle drive was when things got interesting. Our trusty older truck, affectionately known as Charlie Brown to the guides, lost the alternator belt and stopped running once the battery wore down. Geoff and Billy identified the problem and 10 improvising minds set to work. The initial solution was a makeshift belt fabricated out of duct tape. They jump-started Charlie with Howie, our newer diesel flatbed, and got going again. It worked great for a few miles but eventually the friction proved to be too much for the duct tape and they broke down again. This time James suggested they use parachute cord, the stout nylon cordage we use for oar leashes and miscellaneous repairs. (This was appropriate as James’ nickname has been P-cord since guide school in ’06.) They jumped Charlie Brown again and made it home with an alternator belt made out of string.
ECHO Guides Set New Record For On-Time Performance!
by Dick Linford
ECHO is adamant that our guides be on time -or early- when they load their boats the first morning of a trip. Our guides for our August 22 Rogue River trip set a record for promptness that we think will stand for years to come. On Tuesday, August 21, the crew of Zach Byars, Billy Miller, Colleen Winters, Colleen McNally-Murphy and Allison Ahlert were up at 6 AM as usual, and on the road to put-in by 7. Retired Rogue manager Adam Farmer was filling in as manager for Hata Hill and Maggie Hodges, who were on a private Grand Canyon trip. He was making sure things ran like clockwork on his watch.
The crew whipped through getting the boats in the water and rigged. Zach, as lead guide, left at 8:30 to meet our guests at the Galice Lodge. He stopped on his way at the US Bureau of Land Management office to register the trip. The BLM officials informed Zach that ECHO didn’t have a trip starting that day. Our trip started on Wednesday. Zach drove back to put-in just in time to catch Colleen, who had set off in her raft to secure the first night’s camp. After a good laugh, the crew decided to keep the boats in the water and camp at put-in. Someone ran back to the house to get kayaks to play in on the upper river.
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This River Is My River, This River Is Your River
The song sung to the tune of THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS MY LAND…..
Chorus:
This river is my river
This river is your river
From the top of the canyon
Down to the Salmon
It’s Wild and Scenic
So it’s protected.
This river is here for you and me.
While we go boating
The sweep is floating
Guides set our tents up
Wow! what a setup.
They cook our dinners
Meals are always winners
This river is here for you and me.
CHORUS
This trip has young kids
This trip has old kids
The valley’s golden
The mountain’s awesome
The hot springs roast us
Our Zach, we toast him
This river is here for you and me
CHORUS
The rock’s on the right side
Jerry goes to the left side
On a rock, go high side!
Jerry goes low side.
Disaster looms ahead,
ECHO guides are there instead.
This river is made for you and me.
CHORUS
Wrens on the river
Music surrounds us
And at the campsite
We get the real treat.
Laurie and Tom have come
To lead us all is song
This river is here for you and me.
This river is my river
This river is your river
From the top of the canyon
Down to the Salmon
It’s Wild and Scenic
So it’s protected.
This river is here for you and me.
by Emily Harris, a guest on the July 23, 2007 “Bluegrass on Whitewater” trip.
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Your Own Private Rogue River Trip
ECHO has been allocated three small start dates on the Rogue River in southwest Oregon. They are September 3, 5, and 9. What makes them so special is that the maximum party size is 10 people. In addition, September is a wonderful time to raft the Rogue since the temperatures are moderate and there are few others on the river. If you have a group of eight or more people, the trip is entirely yours. Think about it, your own private float trip with friends and family!
We can tailor many parts of the trip to your liking. For example, the trip length can be three or five days, you can choose to stay in wilderness lodges, the menu can be designed to your wishes, and if you have a favorite ECHO guide, we will try our best to get him or her to be on your crew. A three day trip would make a great bachelor party, a four day trip would be a good family vacation, or a five day trip with a few nights at wilderness lodges would be a great way to relax in the scenic wilderness.
Call us at (800) 652-3246 to learn more about this special opportunity. We love to talk about our trips!
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2008 ECHO Guide Schools
We just finished our 2007 professional guide school on the Rogue River in Oregon. The eight day guide school included two days of instruction at our guide house and six days of instruction on the river. Both participants and guide trainers report great weather and an wonderful time had by all.
After talking with the students and guide trainers, we’ve scheduled our guide schools for 2008. The first will be another 8 day professional guide school on the Rogue Starting on May 17, 2008. Next we will be offering a 7 day advanced whitewater school on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.
The advanced whitewater school will be offered to those that have taken a previous ECHO professional guide school or the equivalent. Participants will be expected to have basic wilderness guiding skills when they show up for this school. The course will include a day of instruction at put-in, five days on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, and a day of instruction at our guide house in Salmon, Idaho. While on the river, all participants will float the river in paddle boats and will be focusing on their paddle boating skills through the challenging whitewater found on the Middle Fork in May. We’ll be flipping boats, swimming rapids, and working on rescue techniques.
Learn More About ECHO Guide Schools.
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Lake Creek Update - June 16, 2007
Fires associated with the Pistol Creek fire of 2000 charred the Lake Creek watershed. Since then two microburst storms have caused mud and trees to slide down Lake Creek and block the river. The most recent occurred last summer and caused the blockage at Pistol Creek Rapid that was removed by the Forest Service. During that time, we had a trip on the water that had to end early and you can read more about that trip here. Earlier this spring, higher water moved some logs around in the new Lake Creek Rapid which has made it more difficult, especially for sweep boats.
This is the account of our last trip that passed through the Lake Creek Rapid. We launched on the Middle Fork on June 16 and arrived above Lake Creek on the morning of June 17th with a sweep boat, oar boat, paddle boat, and three kayaks. We’d been here two weeks before so we had a good idea of what the rapid looked like. Since then, the river had dropped almost a foot and some logs seemed to have moved around.
The long rapid below Lake Creek consists of three main parts. The entrance is fairly tight and there is a large vertical tree on the left side that water is piling up against. Next are three smaller vertical trees in the middle of the current. The rapid ends as the river heads straight for the rootball of a fallen tree. It looks like there are three large trees there and they are more or less parallel with the current. Running into these trees would be dangerous. You can however make a hard move to the right into a small eddy to avoid the trees. Below here, the current swifty leads into Pistol Creek Rapid.
Our first reaction after looking at the rapid is that it was easier and safer than when we’d run it on May 30th for our Salmon Supreme trip. The water wasn’t moving as fast or as strong into the trees at the bottom. We decided it was safe to run and we asked our guests to walk around the rapid as there was no benefit of extra people in the rapid above the dangerous logs. Plus, the rapid isn’t all that much fun anyway.
Ian went first. Two weeks ago, his oar boat hit the logs at the bottom and he was a little freaked out from that incident. He went left of the three trees in the middle of the rapid and reported that it was shallow. This time he took a stronger reverse ferry angle at the bottom and crossed the eddy line on the bottom right perfectly. Then Dave went in the paddle assist boat with two guides as paddlers. They made it down effortlessly.
This was followed by three kayakers running the rapid. We were a bit nervous about kayaks running this rapid since a flipped kayak could easily be swept into the rootball or the logs at the bottom. After talking with these guys in camp, we realized that they were solid kayakers from stories of the many Class V runs that they’ve done. They had no problems and, in fact, easily caught the right side eddy at the bottom of the rapid.
Finally, I ran the sweep boat down with Shay. We entered the top and came precipitiously close to the tree in the entrance. Then I pulled hard on the sweeps and rode the slack water down the right side of the current. This allowed us to easily run right of the three trees. Then I dropped the sweeps as we went through the hole. After the hole I had plenty of time to recover and pull the sweep boat and put the nose in the eddy and the bottom next to the trees. As soon as the stern hit the eddy, the boat was pulled strongly to the right. It wanted to spin and I let it so that we ran backwards down the right side.
Later that night I walked up to Helfrich camp and talked to Christian, one of the most experienced and competent sweep boat drivers on the Middle Fork. He said that he ran left of the three trees, and was able to run the bottom part without spinning around backwards.
Note: This information is accurate as of June 17, 2007. The entire rapid is dynamic and things could change day to day. Please scout and use your own judgment.
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Salmon Supreme Trip Report
by Rick Groff
The 2007 Salmon Supreme rafting crew huddled in their sleeping bags at Boundary Creek Camp in the early morning hours of May 29th- waiting for the morning chill to lift and the guests to arrive. Frost lined the bag openings from frozen breaths, a 0 degree bag needed it’s occupant to dress in fleece to help ward off the cold. It was 20+ degrees and no one wanted out. It was still better than the first put in here last year where our ECHO River Trips crew faced several inches of new snow while rigging the boats and waiting for early morning put in.
There were six of us on this year’s crew: Colleen, the consummate rafting queen whose river skills are unquestioned and pleasant demeanor infectious; Ian, an earnestly solemn and talented guide whose years on the Middle Fork are punctuated with stints as a professional fishing guide in Montana; Zach, who will be arriving with the guests on the transport bus from Stanley shortly, is the pacesetter for the three primary guides and the source of boundless creatively positive energy and an obvious card carrying member of the “Too Much Fun” club.
Rounding out the guide group are the AB’s (Assistant Boaters- those of us working this trip to gain our Idaho guide’s certification for the Middle Fork) including Geoff, a rapier witted guide from ECHO’s Rogue operation whose humor and general good nature are contagious; Ori- a hard working and eager young Oregonian attempting to work her way into an ECHO summer position on the Rogue and yours truly, a middle aged man trapped in a boy’s brain, with issues of existential uncertainty for which rafting helps serve as a temporary elixer.
Riding as safety kayakers are JT and Dave two long time ECHO guides whose familiarity and comfort on the Middle Fork are undisputed and very obvious. These two are dialed in.
The guests arrive at mid-morning. Chris and Linda, a middle-aged couple of inexhaustible good cheer; Alex, a helpful and friendly retired adventurer, Lloyd, a reserved engineer from the South West whose love for the outdoors will become clear; Jody, an exceedingly fit family practice doctor with a gift for Southern understatement, and, of course, Bill the ECHO River Trips legend who has more trips down the Middle Fork with the company than some of it’s newer guides. His ribald good humor with an East Coast bite will provide all with constant entertainment. Bill is generous to a fault.
We leave Boundary in 2 Avon Spirits, the 18′ workhorses of most river operations, a 14′ Adventurer used as the paddle raft on which most will travel down the river and the Cataraft a 16′ pair of tubes lashed to an aluminum frame and able to withstand nearly any significant river condition. It’s a beautifully sunny Idaho morning. The water is cold, the guests eager and the guides banter comfortably.
First night’s camp is about 20 miles downstream at Dolly Lake. The guests and guides are tired after a long day of rigging, orientation and getting accustomed to the rigors of paddling through a series of Class III and IV rapids including the sudden appearance of Velvet Falls, a Class IV falls that inspires discussion if not trepidation with most groups. Lessons on “Groover” etiquette are explained and the elimination habits of more than a few people will change markedly for the next 7 days.
Salmon dinner is prepared, eaten and commended by all. Tents are rigged, paco pads and sleeping bags laid and the darkness of our first river night consumes the canyon.
Day 2 is protracted as guests rise slowly from that first uncertain night’s sleep on the water’s edge. After a filling breaky we raft down past Lake Creek’s blowout where a large logjam has given away creating a treacherous section of the river that requires scouting and a decision to unload the guests and have the guides take the rafts through. An incorrect move or bad timing would be sure to have less than desirous consequences involving large trees, giant root balls and fast moving, cold water. Providence and rafting skills shine and the trip is able to continue with the mornings events captured on digital memory cards for later embellishment.
The day’s float takes us past Sunflower Hot Springs where pleasingly warm water flows up through these mountains and then accumulates in small sitting pools only to then flow out off the rock ledge assisted by an old hollowed log to create a bucolic river shower that most avail themselves of. Onward, past Middle Fork Lodge where the rich and super rich stay and are pampered to the tune of a week’s wages spent for the luxury of a single night in a small cabin along the same river that sustains our travel.
Night 2 is at Whitey Cox camp at mile 46. Whitey’s grave sits on the bench above the beach, the spot where he died placer mining in 1954 at the age of 40. Ian prepares BBQ rib eye steaks and the kitchen crew wrangles together a wonderful salad and garlic mashed potatoes. As is customary, the beer flows- the guests seem more relaxed as their familiarity with one another and the guides matures. The weather is warm . . . life is good.
Day 3 on the river begins as the sun rises over the canyon’s Eastern edge. We’re on the water at 9:45 after a collaborative effort to breakdown camp and rig gear. The goal today is to raft nearly 30 miles to Survey camp at Mile 75. It’s a big day on the water for the paddle crew as they pass through the Tappan Rapds without incident but with river blasts to their upper body. It’s then off to Haystack/Bernard Rapid a dynamic section that has changed recently as the result of debris flows from nearby Pole and Bernard Creeks. At this flow it’s a fairly easy run for the bigger boats. The paddlers are treated to a 5-minute excursion through an arcade style wave train with giant water crests plowing over and into their raft, the screams are honest and real.
We reach Survey Camp at 4:30 and set about derigging the boats with one hand and holding a beer with the other. Tonight is special- it’s fajitas and “Riverritas” the ECHO combination of ample portions of Mr. Cuervo, lime aid, beer and fresh lime over ice. Food, drinks and good conversation are offered and consumed until the darkness sends the guests off to bed. Unnamed crewmembers will wait up in an attempt to see the anticipated Blue Moon rising that is supposed to materialize tonight. However, the only thing that materializes at our camp by close to dawn is an empty Riverrita cooler and several headaches.
The last day on the Middle Fork begins in customary fashion. The Blaster starting at 6:00 am for coffee, breakfast is shopped and the staples of tea, cereal, oatmeal, sugar, honey, etc are placed on the drink/cup table. A Dutch oven fries a side of bacon confirming the adage that when river trips float . . . pigs die. Ori concocts a beautiful collection of pancakes with the requisite fruit; the morning is a success despite the fact that we know we’re leaving this beautiful canyon. All trip members are by now a, mostly, integral whole. This transition is one of the most marvelous events that occurs on these multi-day trips. From strangers to family in a couple memorable float days- wow, were it just so easy on the outside! Perhaps Government’s could take notice of this psychological phenomenon?
On to the Main Salmon and a rendezvous with our hosts there the Sawtooth Adventure Company. We leave Survey Camp and, shortly thereafter, roar through Redside and Weber Rapids as a prelude to Rubber, Hancock and House rapids. These were big water rapids with large wave trains and some spotty rock gardens. Lots of fun and no one wants to stop. Unfortunately, the river flows only one way.
We turn the corner and meet the Main Salmon at mile 96. We’ve had three days of fun, excitement and growth on this wonderful Middle Fork. Yet, there’s one more big rapid, Cramer Creek, to run before we rest for the day. We scout, decide and run; lots of screams and hoots. We’re at camp at Cache Bar on the Main Salmon by 4:00 PM- its 82 degrees, we have a sandy beach and Koob on the upper shelf- our new friends/guides show.
Eric, the owner of Sawtooth, is now trip leader; an elfish ex-actor with a colossal sense of humor and a deep understanding of the Main Salmon river shed and an admirable work ethic he fills the position well. Becka and Johnny are his assistants. 
We also pick up Krista, a longtime ECHO guide taking the season off to marry her sweetheart in Utah. She is a funster: vibrant, helpful and a welcome addition.
The afternoon and evening at Cache Bar are relaxing. Lots of sun, sand, beer and games. Some of the guests swim and all enjoy themselves. JT and Dave will leave us tomorrow. They cook up a memorable BBQ cheeseburger dinner enjoyed by all.
Our 5th day is on the Main Salmon and begins early- we’re on the river by 8:30 AM- it’s a 40 mile day. Lots of big water but without the technical moves on the Middle Fork. It’s warm; the water is not so cold- it beats being at the office. We arrive at Big Mallard Camp at 4:30; the group is tired but upbeat. It’s been a great day covering 40 miles of the Main Salmon in about 8 hours. Appetizers and beer are offered and willingly accepted by most. Dinner is ample and enjoyed.
Day 6 of the trip starts with a big breakfast of custom egg sandwiches and Canadian bacon and fruit. We get on the river by 9:30 AM. Paddle rafters have a big day on large wave trains. Camp was to have been Lower Bull Creek but there is a party there so we raft down another two miles to California Creek, a large, sandy and classic main campsite.
We are soon introduced to Paco man who, in his regular job runs Sawtooth Adventure Company. Paco man’s claim to fame is wrapping himself in one or two 2″ thick Paco pads and allowing himself to be thrown into the river with lovely women and Rogue River guides. Paco man entertains evryone until self-discipline dictates otherwise. The evening is spent in a modified Bocce Ball game and ammo can tug of war. Colleen, the gifted athlete, reigns supreme. The group appears to be amazed and amused at the theater appearing before them with the backdrop of canyon walls and the flowing river.
The last day of the trip begins with wonderful breakfast of bagel sandwiches with lox. It’s an early two-hour float to take out. We need to be there by 11:00 Am as most of the guests fly out of McCall at around 3:00PM and it’s a two hour shuttle. We have a big rapid to deal with however. We scout and run Chittum Rapid immediately above Vinegar Creek where we are about to finish our trip. Zach takes the paddle boat trough a tricky chute on river right again impressing the group with his leadership and boating skills, Colleen takes her Spirit in backwards on a reverse ferry showing her fearlessness and proficiency on the river. The rest of us make it through with grand success as well. Voices are hoarse from all the yelling the last week.
Take out goes smooth. The bus for the guests is late- stress takes over. It appears as the truck loaded with guests leaves for the airport. Hugs, promises of future trips and good cheer are everywhere- maybe a tear here and there as well. It’s tough to leave your new family so soon after you’ve found them. The last we see of our new friends is their van’s trailer’s taillights turning the bend. Hot showers and clean sheets have to be on their minds- it is ours.
A few of us lay on the boat ramp reminiscing the last few days. It’s warm with a slight breeze, we’re tired and not looking forward to the 10+ hour drive back to the Salmon guide house. We laugh, tease and then, leave.
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Rafting with Children - A Family Perspective
-Water Rat in Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame
“What’s our river this summer,” Gabe asks. When my twin boys were seven we took our first family overnight float, a four-day journey down the class II Grand Ronde River in Oregon. What we remember is “Butterfly Camp,” where hundreds of monarchs visited us on the beach, and the way the boys and their step dad, John, lost themselves in the art of creating fire from a spindle and bow they made from a branch and some driftwood. In the end all that emerged was some smoke and a lot of shavings and we were glad we had remembered to bring a lighter so we could grill the steaks. That night we set up the tent, but slept outside, four across on a giant tarp, drifting off before nightfall. The next morning each of us commented on how we awoke at some point in the middle of the night to see the brilliant night sky.
My sons are twelve now and we’ve taken at least one, sometimes two river trips each summer. In recent years we’ve sometimes gone with an outfitter on what my sons’ call the “luxury line.” They are impressed with dessert every night and the fact that they don’t have to do the dishes. Usually they find themselves helping out anyway. That’s where the guides are and they are by far the most fun kids on the trip.
On rivers my sons learn to row a raft and paddle their own inflatable kayaks. They learn to read water: to know where the safe eddies are, and how to find the tongue of a rapid. They learn to notice hawks in the sky and trout in the current. They learn to entertain themselves on the flat stretches, by attempting kayak acrobatics or starting a water fight. We’ve endured many acts of piracy with everyone including the captain ending up overboard, and there are always plenty of stories to tell at camp. I have never heard Gabe and Dylan laugh harder than when we are on a river.
We go on other vacations, car camping, resorts, once the boys even talked me into an amusement park. But our river trips hold a special place in our summers. Maybe it is that odd relationship between the way time slows down but the current keeps moving. Each night there is a room with a new view and new beach to explore in search of rocks and swimming holes and wild denizens. Each day there is a new stretch of river with rapids or hot springs or pictographs along the way. There is no word for boredom in river speak, or if there is, in five years of river travel I have yet to hear it.
After one trip a woman, mother of three, asked a guide what he wanted people to get from the river trip. “It’s a vacation, but it’s more too,” he answered, “A river experience is a chance to tune into a place, and to your own wild roots.” I’d add to that list, and to each other.
© 2007 Laura Stavoe
Laura Stavoe writes essays for many national magazines including FamilyFun, Prevention, Paddler and Ladies Home Journal. She is currently writing a memoir about motherhood, relationships and the outdoors. You can read more of Laura’s work on her website www.laurastavoe.com.
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ECHO Still Has Space on a September Turquoise Coast Trip
While our September 19 Turquoise Coast trip is filled, our September 5 trip still has space on it. Join us in our 11th year of yachting the beautiful Mediterranean Coast of Turkey. This is a tour for people who don’t like tours. Twelve guests and a professional, licensed guide sail for six days and nights, on a beautiful wood motor-sailor, built specifically for plying these coastal waters. Each of the six cabins has a private bath. The crew consists of a captain, a cook and a mate. Each day we have the opportunity to go ashore and visit a special archeological site or village. At night we berth in bustling resort towns or small fishing villages, or we anchor in a beautiful cove.
Before boarding the yacht in the resort town of Marmaris we we spend a full day and two nights in Istanbul, visiting The Aya Sofia, for 2 centuries the largest building in the world, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Roman Hippodrome and the underground cisterns. Then we visit the famous archeological sites of Ephesus, Didyma and Priene.
Those with extra time can take our Cappadocia Extension. In central Turkey, Cappadocia boasts one of the most exotic landscapes in the world. Soft volcanic rock has been carved by wind and water into fantastic shapes, and people have been carving their homes, stables and churches into the rock for thousands of years. They also went underground, excavating whole cities that could hold up to 20,000 people and their livestock for weeks. People lived above ground, at the cross-roads between the east and the west. They fled underground when under attack by any of the armies crossing the Anatolian Plain.
Learn more about our Trips to Greece and Turkey.
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