I have some friends who just got a 16' fishing/ whitewater raft and want to try it out on a river tomorrow. Their looking for an easy river to drift with no rapids so they can get the hang of their new boat. I recommended the Wynoochee because from what i heard it's very easy to drift. If they do that what drift should they do and is there a shuttle service available?
P.s. Is the Kalama a beginners river?
Thanks very much

Egg,

I would think the best place for them to learn to manuver their new raft would be a local, small lake. Might be best to get the hang of handling the oars before they jump into a river.

I am looking at drift boats, and I guarantee ya I'll spend plenty of time on the local pond (Grandy Lake) getting used to it before I jump in the Skagit with it...and that is an easy drift on water I know.

Even "frog water" has its perils...

Mike

I think you might want to start out on a lake as well. If you are however set on heading out into a river, the wynoochee is a moderate river depending on the flow and drift.
Bottom line; Go with someone who knows how to row and has done the drift before you head out by yourself. More than likely youll be fine, but its still pretty cold out for swimming.

If you’re still unsure of yourself start out in the summer on the Yakima River, in the canyon. The stretch from Big Rock down to Umtanum is pretty tame and the fishing can be a lot of fun. When the temperature gets up in the 90's the rubber hatch can be quite prolific, not to mention that sometimes the indigenous female population (read college girls) adorning the rubber hatch is sparsely clad if clad at all!

Have to agree with titanium cranium especially about the college girls rafting down the river topless (been there done that!) oh, and the fishing is pretty good too !!!!

Yakima River here I come you guys are serious about the WSU chicks right

sounds more like the indeginous cwu female; a downstream spawner of sorts...

I just returned from a weekend at CWU and WOW i am gonna need to do a drift this summer on a nice HOT day...

Chromeo

Try the Sky above the falls. It's a piece of cake. j/k The Sky above the falls is a class VI at beast and very cold. Go to the Yak and take a fly rod with you.

Go out on a lake first, then go out on a river with someone who knows how to row and can teach you how to read current.

Safety first. . .

FP

If you ever get down here, The Kalama and The North Fork of the Lewis are easy .....Ross