Return to the Chetco

This week Zach Collier and friends explored the lower gorge of the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River in inflatable kayaks. On their last trip they took out above this challenging part of the Scenic River Area. So they came back. Only this time instead of 1300 cfs (June 15, 2011), the flow was 90 cfs!

Conehead Rapid on the lower gorge of the Wild and Scenic Chetco River, Northwest Rafting Co. photo

They found the same crytal clear water (just a lots less of it) and plenty of boulders, fun and friendship, plus it seems a budding poet. See the photos of their great two day trip on Zach's Lower Chetco Gorge Report.

Then take a moment to send a brief note to Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Peter DeFazio and thank them for introducing the Chetco River Protection Act that would permanently protect 15 miles of this beautiful river from proposals to mine it. Click here for sample text and email addresses. Do it for this wild, free flowing river and those who love and enjoy it.

Danny Kent's Lower Chetco Gorge Trip Report:

Otters and aughts, waters without watts, duckying down the diverse deluge with wise guests and gratitude... for the mother for each other, sediments not smothered in logging run-off, but rather alive with salamanders and flitting fish, both emerald grotto-pools and the cacophony of cascading cataracts blending to form a bayonet of potent experience, striking out from the heart of the canyon and penetrating our own! Its good to be alive in such a place...Thanks, Zach, for making it possible!