Michael Hughes
Recent Posts from Michael
Events: Upper Wind Whitewater Festival 2022
The short winter days are gone, its starting to rain, and snow is melting. Spring is here! This past weekend folks from all corners of the paddling world gathered at the Upper Wind Whitewater Festival for a day of racing and paddling fun. My friend Seth at Next West Media spent the afternoon watching racers at Rams Horn. Races A great group of racers showed up. Categories were kept simple with...
Pro Tip: FAQ For New Rowers
I spend a lot of my time recreating and working on the river. I have been on trips with people that have more experience than I may ever gain and people on the river for the first time. There are so many questions new and old boaters have but might be afraid to ask. Whether you are taking people down for the first time or teaching someone to row a boat...
Pro Tip: Planning A Multi-Day Raft Trip
Many people have gathered with their friends to submit permits for multi-day trips across the country. Deadlines for some of the classics pass at the end of January. Everyone is patiently waiting for that email fulfilling their summer dreams. There are also tons of people new to the boating world and are just figuring out how much it takes to plan a multi-day raft trip with their friends. They are just...
Pro Tips: River Trips Games
River trips are all about doing exactly what you want to do. Feel like relaxing in the shade and reading a book? Do it! Can't stand the thought of sitting in a chair because you can do that at home? Grab some other energetic folks and play a game! Here are a handful of ways to entertain yourself or friends while spending your vacation on the river. Bocce Ball Coming out...
Pro Tips: Cooler Packing
Packing your cooler and getting the most out keeping your food cold and fresh is very important. Every cooler expert has their secrete ways for keeping ice until day 10, but it isn't all that hard. Here are some of my tips and tricks for keeping food colder, fresher, and out of the dreaded manky water at the bottom of your cooler. Layers Packing your cooler is layers will help keep...
Pro Tip: River Etiquette
The river can be a busy place with lots of moving parts, users, and ideas. A common understanding of river etiquette for all types of rafts can make or break time spend on the river. Boat Ramp Your trip starts and ends here. You will likely be interacting with the others at the boat ramp while on the river. Be nice to each other because you never know when you may...
New Gear For 2022
2022 is just around the corner. Low inventory and supply chain issues continue to be a problem but there is still new gear coming soon. Here are a couple pieces of new gear for 2022. Hyside Throw Bags There are lots and lots of throw bags out there to choose from. Some good, some in the middle, and some not so good. Hyside is in the process of building two new...
River Lovers Gift Guide
The holiday season is upon us and you may be thinking about getting a gift for a fellow river lover. Hopefully you haven't waited to long to track some of these items down. River Knife There are loads and loads of river knives options out there. Everyone seems to have their personal preference on what they carry but I am pretty sure they won't be disappointed by having another knife. My...
Gear Reviews: AeroPress Go Coffee Maker
I am certainly not a coffee expert but I do drink a lot of coffee. There are also so many different ways to prepare coffee, some good, some not so good, and some terrible. After I broke my french press I decided to give the AeroPress Go a shot. In The Box This brewer comes with everything you need, minus ground coffee and hot water, to get you going right away....
Gear Reviews: Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core SLX Sleeping Pad
While raft trips are sort of like a car camping trip, there is a limit to how much stuff you should bring. Wether you are on a private trip with friends or working a commercial trip you may want to think about simplifying your kit. This season I decided to leave my paco pad at home and give a Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core sleeping pad a try. Size This rendition of...
