Winter Rafting On The Wind River, by Zachary Collier, Best Made Guide to River Rafting
Washington’s Wind River in the Columbia River Gorge flows through a beautiful forested canyon, has nearly nonstop Class IV and V rapids and is therefore my favorite river to raft in the winter. Class IV boaters come to the Wind to prove themselves and veteran guides return here to train for other difficult rivers. The Wind typically runs for 3 or 4 days after a solid rain, and thanks to the Pacific Northwest’s wet winters, we have many opportunities to raft it.
Other than your the first time out on the Wind, it’s best at peak flows. It will test every skill in a rafter’s playbook and if you’re lacking something, this river will teach you the needed lesson with the appropriate punishments. Swims through gnarly rapids and broken equipment are the most common learning experiences. Everyone who runs the Wind has a story about a bad swim or something that the river claimed for itself. My requisite failure came when I flipped end-over-end heading though “Climax” (my third time) and was run over by the boat behind me. I’ve also watched in horror as my frame bent like a paperclip while I was pinned on a rock in “Morning Wood”, so named for the log that juts out rather obtrusively.
I typically run a cataraft (or “cat boat”) on the Wind since they are more forgiving in the challenging rapids. Cat boats have two large tubes with a frame in the center, and they are propelled with 8-10 foot oars. They punch through waves and holes, are lighter and are easier to unpin from rocks than traditional rafts, so they are preferred by many boaters on steep, technical rivers like the Wind.
If you’re a seasoned boater looking to test your skills, consider the Wind your midterm exam. I recommend bringing someone along that knows the river and make sure that your repair/rescue kit is sharper than a No. 2 pencil.
—Zachary Collier
