Every year around this time I sit down and go through all the photos and testimonials from the season. As I sort through the emails and the photos it never fails to give me goose bumps, it never fails to make me happy (and a little sad), and it never fails to remind me of the power and beauty of our wild places and, even more importantly, of the unique and remarkable people we are lucky enough to spend time with on the river every season.
Once again, I truly want to thank you all!
Below are a few of the testimonials from the 2017 season.
Kind Regards,
Pete and the Staff of Momentum River Expeditions
“Rogue River Hiking Trip – We have traveled with many guide companies in the past including Backroads, Country Walkers, REI, Northwest Frontiers Scotland, Mountain Travel Sobek, etc and can honestly say we have never had a guide any better than Andy. He took great care to make everything run smoothly, accommodated us at every turn, and was always cheerful, patient, and friendly (sounds like the Boy Scout Handbook). Above all he is a genuinely nice guy and we had the chance to get to know him on the journey as we visited at meals, on the trail, in the boat, or at the wonderful lunches he prepared riverside. Honestly Pete he is a credit to your company and a guide well worth having on staff. ”
“Our group has been boating rivers for over 30 years together, all over the US. We know a good outfitter when we get one and Momentum does an excellent job. Our guides were Tyler, Robin and Ken and they did a wonderful job of taking care of our needs. The food they prepared was excellent and they went out of their way to tend to the individual needs of our group of nine. We are no longer young and require more of our guides now than in years previous and they provided excellent support.”
“I can’t say enough about how Pete and the team made this experience all about “our” experience, and about “our” adventure. The team couldn’t do enough for us, and did it with great modesty, seemingly vanishing in the background so that the river and our experience would be the main event, not them… I’ve been in the business world a long time, watching people try and fail to develop a service model anywhere close to what the guys pulled off in the wilderness. For me their kindness and caring made the adventure complete and gave me a satisfaction and long lasting impression that I’ll never forget!”
“Just returned from a fantastic rafting trip down the Rogue to celebrate my dad’s 80th birthday. We had a group of 10, ranging in age from 11 to 80, and everyone had a blast! Incredible guides provided expert instruction on paddling the rafts and kayaks, they pointed out spots for jumping off rocks, they set up stunning camps, led us on great hikes to waterfalls and provided gourmet meals. Every detail was perfect. They have become part of the family now! Momentum is a first class operation!”
“We just returned from a fantastic 2-day adventure on the Upper Klamath. Our guides, Mike and Pete, were warm, fun, knowledgeable, and committed to giving all of us the best experience on this trip from put-in to take out. Their passion for the river was contagious! And the UK Base Camp? Why can’t all our camping trips be like that? The food was fantastic – fresh, local, and above all delicious. We loved every minute and are already looking forward to planning another adventure with Momentum. If we could give this more than 5 stars, we would.“
“There aren’t enough ways to say how awesome and fun our trip was! Our family of 5 took the 2-day Upper Klamath rafting/camping/kayaking trip. We were so lucky to have Mike and James (and Mike’s wife, Amy) as our guides. They made the trip an unforgettable experience for us. They were so incredibly friendly, accommodating, and great cooks! Their operation is timed and planned to a tee and there was never a moment that we felt uncomfortable or worried. Thank you so much…we’re already starting to plan our next trip with you guys!”
“Exceptional guides in a beautiful place – camped at a beautiful and remote spot on the California Salmon River. Our guides had comfortable tents and great home cooked meals for us each day. The guide in our boat had 20 plus years experience guiding around the world and took us down awesome Class 5 rapids with skill and care. She gave us as much excitement as possible while keeping us safe. I could not recommend this outfit more highly.“
“We have just returned from the 4 day River Rogue camping adventure. It exceeded our wildest dreams. We’ve never taken a guided trip like this as a family and it was perfect in every way. The guides (Tyler, Eric and Daniel) were wonderful – you felt like you were in such safe hands as they totally were in control the whole time which meant we could simply relax and have as much fun as possible. I have 9 year old and 14 year old boys and Tyler encouraged them to stretch themselves in the kayaks as far as they could. To see my very small 9 year old bobbing up and down on rapids yet totally loving every second and knowing that Tyler would never let him try anything he couldn’t handle, was wonderful. Both boys, who’d had very limited exposure to kayaking, thrived, grew and relished the experience and grew in confidence. This was the most luxurious camping trip I’ve even been on. It was proper camping – no frills in terms of accommodation – but the food and organization – oh my! I’m a massive foodie and this was incredible. So healthy, so beautifully presented and stylish appetizers, with wine? Incredible. To arrive at camp and have your tent pitched already each night was such a treat. Not having to think about anything, no jobs to do, no arguments about who was washing up…. It was superb. The Rogue scenery was outstanding. So tranquil, so much wildlife to see, so varied. My favorite memory is floating on my back, in the river, for ages, just in awe of the beauty. For a family adventure, we simply could not beat this trip. It will be one of our best vacations ever. Everyone should try a Momentum River Trip once in their life! We however, are already planning our return trip and encouraging as many friends as possible to try it!”
“Rafting the Rogue River has been a bucket list item for me. So when the opportunity arose to join my daughter, stepdaughter and their husbands for three days on the Rogue, I jumped at it. Literally. Into the raft I went (after donning a lifejacket and becoming oriented, of course). Lynn, Ken and Vickram were our highly professional and very knowledgeable guides. Easy and friendly fellow travelers, they are also skilled guides dedicated to our comfort and safety. They made our three day rafting trip through the canyons of the Rogue a trip of a lifetime. Each of our family members have varying skill levels and experience when it comes to rafting. Lynn, our leader was clear and concise with descriptions and instructions, allowing us to engage the river based on our own ability. She was also quite adept at assessing our personal skill levels and determining what was safe for someone to tackle in an individual kayak… Momentum has gone to great lengths to offer a careful and well thought out experience which makes it easy for guests to simply relax and have a great time. Loved it!”
“The Most Polished Rafting Experience Ever – Momentum mixes outdoor adventuring with glamping to create a truly unforgettable experience. First and foremost they strive to provide a top notch eating experience in the middle of the woods, and they actually deliver on that promise. They also setup and take down camp, thus the ‘glamping’ vibes. And those accommodations are awesome. From there every activity is meticulously organized so that you get the most from each moment on and off the river. “
“My group of 12 spent 3 days on the Private Upper Klamath Rafting Safari Trip and it was an extraordinary experience. We were guided by James and Richard who were absolutely phenomenal guides and even more enjoyable companions on the trip. It felt like they were part of the group. Pete took care of us at camp making sure everything that was planned was executed to perfection. The three created an unforgettable experience for us and far exceeded all expectations. If you are looking for a stress free no hassle rafting experience, look no further than Momentum.”
“Can I give 6 stars? – We had a perfect trip on the Rogue with Momentum. Everything about it exceeded our expectations. Mike was a fantastic guide- kind, funny, patient, responsive, communicative, and knowledgable. He made sure we were comfortable and safe over the three days. The food was excellent, the gear was in great shape, the cutting boards were exquisitely creative, and the lodges were very comfortable. Don’t think twice- book with Momentum!”
“Hands down the best – Quality guides. Good food. Good communication. Just all around professional and competent. Makes for a safe and fun trip.
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“Just wanted to drop a quick note to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for a trip of a lifetime! We knew we would have a blast with our closest friends. We knew the scenery would be beautiful and the river exhilarating. What we didn’t know was how fun, chill, kind and thoughtful our guides would be. We are regular campers and know what hard work the logistics can be. Not only did you think of every detail and teach us about the river, we felt we were amongst friends the entire time. Our kids are still telling Chelsea’s jokes and riddles. Ken’s cocktail hour stories still crack us up. We’re still dreaming about Tyler’s gourmet dinners. You have opened our hearts and minds to a whole new experience. “
“Unforgettable fun and outdoor/boating lessons was what we were hoping to get this week. You two surpassed our expectations. We loved every second of the trip AND our kids learned valuable skills from two calm, competent, strong guides. We wouldn’t change any of it. Except now, our expectations on boating trips will be hard to beat by anyone else 🙂 “
“Thank you (and the rest of the Momentum team!) for an amazing experience. You and the other guides truly “made” the trip what it was. A trip down a river is one thing, but this experience was so much more, so thanks to you, James, and Aaron who made it all happen. Between awesome food, great vibes, and all the knowledge and experience you guys brought with you, it’s a trip we’ll never forget.”
“First and foremost, thank you. What an incredible adventure. We are still buzzing, even though now back at home in the swing of work and mundane family life!
Nothing to argue about – no whining over who was doing dishes, no complaining about making beds or tidying up. It took all that angst out of the family dynamics and allowed everyone to just focus on enjoying each other’s companies. For me, as the family unpaid slave, I couldn’t be more grateful to just switch off and properly relax.
Unplugged – seriously, you need to shout this message from the roof tops. As families are uncoupled by the ever present gadgets, these 4 days felt utterly luxurious to have everyone’s time and attention. I re-found my teen. He gave me a cuddle in the morning in the tent. He came and was on lookout duty whilst I had a pee! Who knew? He was considerate and engaging. He was busy being challenged on the kayak boosting his self-esteem. For families with teens, this trip is heaven sent.
Pushing the boundaries. Tyler was an awesome role model for my boys. He was strict with them, taught them to be safe but to push their limits. When my teeny 9 year old capsized in a fairly turbulent rapid, I was ready to jump in and become melodramatic. Tyler calmly got the raft back there, he was totally comfortable and now lives to tell the tale of the V Rapid that he got the better of 🙂
I almost wept when I saw the landing point at the end of the trip. Here we go, back to the feuds, the battles, the laundry, the cooking, the day job.
You gave me and my family 4 days of unbridled happiness. I will forever be grateful.
Thank you Pete, to all of your fabulous team. It was an absolute pleasure…”
