Rafting the Deschutes

Even though I love being in and around water, whitewater rafting is not generally my forte (something about freezing water, rocks that threaten to toss you overboard and swells that want to swallow you whole). Nevertheless, when in Oregon…

UnCruise teams up with a local company called River Drifters for a day rafting the Deschutes. The Deschutes, a major tributary of the Columbia, is a narrow, winding river which is full of several aptly named rapids. River Drifters suited us up with wetsuits and paddles and away we went in a pair of school busses to our put-in location. Once we arrived, we were sorted into groups depending on your adventure level. My husband and I jumped into the most adventurous boat (paired with several of the UnCruise guides) and pushed off into the shallows where we received some whitewater rafting 101 (hint: never take your hands off your paddle).

It was all rapids from there.

Our guide steered us through rapid after rapid, commenting on the scenery and history of the area between swells. At one point, out boat was instructed to do the opposite of whitewater rafting 101 - lowering one hand (with the paddle) over the side of the boat while holding on with the other and leaning away from safety and towards the river as our boat turned up on its side to go through a particular rapid.

It was very wet. It was very fun.

At the end of our journey, UnCruise greeted us back on shore with a hot soup lunch for which we were all eternally grateful.