Rogue River’s Blossom Bar: Rafting it Stroke by Stroke

Whitewater Warehouse early June hikers watch as the raft which carries all their heavy gear and food moves to the river left eddy above the Rogue River’s infamous Blossom Bar rapids.

Bob Meister, White Water Warehouse owner and lead guide on this early June hiking trip, positions the raft above Blossom Bar to begin his descent through the rapid. You can see the “boulder garden” that he must maneuver around before he faces the actual beginning of the rapid.

Bob begins to row the raft back into the boulders on his river right. This allows him to set up to miss the “Picket Fence”–a portion of rocks/boulders at the top of this rapid on river left.

Bob rows the boat away from the “Picket Fence” and perfectly down the appropriate slot. At this water level in June, not much of the actual “Fence” is showing above water. However, you can see some of the rocks that make up the Picket Fence in the middle of the photo. When the water levels drop in later summer, many more rocks/boulders will be exposed.

Bob and raft make it safely downriver…showing what 30-plus years of boating skills offer to our clients! How many rafting companies can actually say that the owner guides on many of the trips!

Great downriver shot through the remaining portion of Blossom Bar rapid.

Hikers move off after viewing “the show”…back on the trail for another fun day of hiking–without heavy backpacks! Bob’s got all of their gear in the raft!