Northwest Rafting Co.
Hood River, OR
A trip with Oregon’s Northwest Rafting Co. is the ultimate way to experience the other-wordly beauty of the best rivers in the West. Pick your route from the Salmon, Rogue, Owyhee and Chetco Rivers (or if you’re going big, they’ve got trips in Bhutan, Russia and Chile), and pack your camping gear for a couple nights in the great outdoors. By day, you and a guide will hack paddles along your river of choice. Water’s warm(-ish…it is a river after all), the scenery idyllic and the work rewarding. Come dusk, you’ll bunker down at a riparian campsite and partake of the sudsy goodness from Portland’s Basecamp Brewing Company, whose brews make it into the gear of every NWRC trip. If you have special beer requests, just let them know ahead of time. Drinking stories and general ribaldry sure to follow.
Alternatives: North Creek Rafting Company (Adirondacks), Next Level Sailing (Chicago)
PAIR IT WITH …
The Aquaracer. Whether you’re splashing in the shallows or taking the deep plunge, the Aquaracer is level to the task. Tested by Navy SEALS and worn by the Oracle Team that won the 34th America’s Cup, the Aquaracer boasts impeccable diving properties (high luminescence, screw-in crown, extension bracelet for wear over a wetsuit) and a ready-for-anything look.