Spring preparation

Well, here we are! A shipload of snow in the mountains, a weather change for the better, and a lot of work to do. Fisherman's weekend (April 26th) coming up with hobnobbing at the boat show next door at the Eagle Rock Lodge, as a kick off for the fishing season. It looks like we have a bigger draw to guided fly-fishing on the river this year, since many of the lakes are snow blocked and inaccessible for fisherman.

In the meantime we prepare ourselves for a new paint job on the Lodge and cabins. We are looking forward to new colors on the cedar shakes and fresh painted eve's and trim. Hopefully the weather helps us out to have this done before our annual BBQ party on Saturday the 28th of June. The preparations are in full swing. We are celebrating and commemorating the Inn's being in business for 30 years, it will be a big event. It all starts around 4.00 PM. The McKenzie River inn will be providing gifts, music, salmon, ribs & chicken as well our usual wine tasting featuring award winning wines by Al de Klerk. If you are interested in joining make sure you RSVP at 541 822 6260.

Law conference

For a second year in a row the McKenzie River Inn hosted a wealth of people from March 4th to march 7th. This time for the 26th annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference. The three day event was as spectacular as the people themselves. We had the pleasure to share idea's and gather the long lost wisdom from elder Americans about the many topics that concern so many of us. From compelling a climate of change to the reduction of our carbon footprint, workshops, panels, scientists, activists and other participants yielded an abundance of energy, innovation and inspiration for all who attended.
On a personal note I have learned these four days a great deal about the implications of the destruction, pollution and the vast changing of the ancestral lands of the indigenous people (who are and have been living in harmony with their natural surroundings with respect for all forms of life) and how they have to deal with the protection of their communities from these environmental changes.

With contributions of the Native Forest Council (thanks Tim ) and Infraspect (thanks William) a salmon dinner was prepared by Ellie, our innkeeper, and myself at the main lodge on the day of our guests arrival. We all could enjoy each others company while exchanging expertise and insights not only within the political realm of climate change but also in conjunction with finding solutions from the social and ecological angle. Despite that the perception of developments in environment law is no light material it was obvious that our guests were able to enjoy our facilities and setting at the river. We found ourselves fortunate enough to have such great guests and to host and meet people from all over the country. The overall sound of all the different voices was for us as pleasing as an overstuffed pillow.

Winter spell

January started out with a winter chill. Nearly 10 feet (3 meters) of winter snow has accumulated already in parts of the Cascades and guests have been skiing at Hoodoo in excellent snow powder and taken beautiful pictures of a winter wonderland on the McKenzie which lasted at our place for a day or five. Fortunately the elevation of the McKenzie River Inn is about a thousand feet and the snow mostly doesn't stick so the road stays clear.
It is also the time of year that people start making plans for their summer travels and for couples with wedding plans to check for available dates. Fishing season is just a couple of months ahead of us and equipment is being checked. Drift boats are getting a fresh coat of varnish and the rafts inspected and washed for the fishing and rafting season. It's a great time of the year!

Back country on the DeSchutes river

Early Friday morning on September the 14th we left the McKenzie River Inn for a three day private float on the DeSchutes. After seeing our first sign of wildlife, a (blond) black bear, just before Olallie Campground we ate breakfast at my favorite restaurant "The Gallery" in the little town of Sisters. We enjoyed breakfast and met with Ken, son of Don Hill the boat-builder from Springfield, who would join us for our adventure.
Cody was still a sleep in my Subaru when we headed out for the Bitter Brush Ranch 25 miles east from Sisters. Darrell, the owner, ensured us to do the turn around, since we had to cover 43 (river-) miles from Mecca Flat to the take out in Maupin. After showing us around on his 17.000 or so acres of high desert land with a drop dead cliff and gorgeous river frontage around Frog Spring, we headed back to Mecca Flat for take off.
Everything went smooth. William did an excellent job for putting this together, thanks Bill!
With two rafts, a fourteen feet NRS with paddle-assist and being the cargo-boat and a sixteen feet cataraft and a total of six passengers we made our journey to our first camp for an overnight sensation at Whiskey Dick (see picture above). William cooked us a wonderful meal and after the clean up we all gathered together to evaluate the first day's drift. Although non of us came to it, the fishing looked pretty good that evening. After more socializing we went to bed early. I shared the tent with Joe who, compared to the rest of the crew, was fairly new to river travel.
When I opened the tent the next morning I saw the full glory of the high desert mountain-range (see picture above), Joe and William were already preparing breakfast. One of the highlights (after a great breakfast) that day would be negotiating White Horse, a class IV rapid. From a scouting rock we received instructions from William ("this is a five stroke rapid") and saw several vessels going through this impressive water-mass. Ron left no doubt that he was here before and in a classic formula maneuver brought the sixteen foot cataraft to an inch from the first can opener (a sharp rock just above the water surface). All enjoyed the excitement and felt the adrenaline and made ourselves up for an other great day on the DeSchutes.
Camp for the second night was made at Rainbow Bend. It gave us an opportunity to fish and relax and to go over the ins and outs of being a river guide and floating a river like the DeSchutes. William and I caught some trout, but as always, ...the big one got away!
A strong wind made it extremely difficult to keep a straight line on the third day, but the weather couldn't have been better. Some excitement was there when Ron parked his cataraft on the twin rocks in the tail end of Boxcar Rapids. Professionally and without panic and with a little help from gravity we were able to slide between the rocks, we smiled ...and made our exit.
It was at the take out in Maupin when rain made it's entry and for all of us that was okay, we had three day's of learning and expanding our skills, to hang out together as a group and above all ......having fun! It was a great (long) weekend for all of us,
Thanks to all of you guy's and especially William to make this trip a success!