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Profile

Zach Collier


Zach is an avid whitewater boater who enjoys seeing new rivers for the first time. He's also the owner of Northwest Rafting Company, a river outfitter that offers trips in the Pacific Northwest and a few select international destinations.

Connect with zach:
Google+ / Facebook / @zcollier


Recent Posts from zach


Pro Tip: Gear For Rafting the Grand Canyon

Friday, January 27, 2023

Before rafting through the Grand Canyon I was provided many gear suggestions from fellow boaters. Since I flew to Flagstaff for the trip, what I could bring was somewhat limited causing me to agonize over what to bring for our 18 day trip. This article includes some advice based on my experience. Sand Stake and Hammer I’ve only used a sand stake to tie up my boat a few times before...

Gear Garage Ultimate River Runner Contest

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Join our first ever Ultimate River Runner Contest! You'll need to submit videos for review by the judges to show off your abilities. Grand Prize: Immersion Research $1000 gift certificate Rules 1. Be safe! 2. The rules of this contest will change as we go. 3. There will be 2 brackets and 3 winners will be chosen from each bracket to enter the final round. First Bracket - Throw Bag Assessment...

Gear Reviews: Five Good Products Made by NRS

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Our friends at NRS generally make the lowest priced river gear on the market. Even though most of their stuff is designed to be low cost, some items are really good. 1. NRS Big Water V Youth PFD There aren't many good high float PFDs for kids and I personally think this one is the best. It's designed for kids 50-90 lbs giving them 17 lbs of flotation. One of the...

Remembering Vladimir Kovalik

Monday, February 24, 2020

This week we said goodbye to an industry legend. Vladimir Kovalik made an impact in the world of rafting through his gear innovations, tenacity, and passion for rivers.  The following story was written a few years ago by co-founder of ECHO River Trips, Dick Linford, in his book Halfway to Halfway. Vladimir Kovalik Written by Dick Linford WE CALLED HIM VK OR VLAD BECAUSE HIS FULL NAME, Vladimir Kovalik was such...

Top 6 Whitewater Runs on California's Smith River

Friday, January 31, 2020

BoatSmith is a few weeks away, which means whitewater paddlers from across the west will be migrating to Northern California’s Smith River. This is the only watershed in California with no dams, so nearly every fork of the river and every creek can be paddled by whitewater rafters and kayakers. Incredibly, 325 miles of the Smith River is designated a National Wild and Scenic River. Among those miles are countless sections...

The 10 Best Rafting Trips

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Writing any “best” list is tough and certainly an opinion skewed by the motivations, personal likes, and experiences of the author. Here is my own personal top 10, my fave rafting trips from around the world organized by single-day, multi-day, and Class V rafting. These trips are skewed towards rafting trips in the United States for two reasons: I live in the United States and have done most of my boating...

Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Monday, January 21, 2019

Baking a pineapple upside down cake in a dutch oven is a classic dessert among river guides and other dutch oven chefs. Most dutch oven cakes are actually quite easy, but a pineapple upside down cake requires a few tricks to get it just right. It will end up as perfection or a gooey mess. This recipe is based on baking with a 12” or 14” cast iron dutch oven. Ingredients...

Hypalon Inflatable Boat Repair

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Make sure you know what type of material you are repairing, as there are different techniques for repairing different raft materials. This article is for repairing hypalon rafts. What You Need Hypalon Patch Material Scissors Clifton Hypalon Glue or Shore Adhesive (don't use Stabond) Toluene Rag (to "dab" toluene) Glue Brush Pusher Tool (or something firm to push the air bubbles out with) Respirator and Heavy Duty Rubberized Gloves Step-by-Step Guide...

AIRE BakRaft Review

Monday, October 29, 2018

I’ve been using the AIRE BakRaft Expedition for a couple years now and want to share my thoughts about their strengths and weaknesses. First and foremost, these revolutionary ultralight kayaks are easier for hiking into rivers, portages, and international travel. Strengths Weight*: At just 10 lbs this is by far the lightest inflatable kayak on the market Size: When deflated and rolled this boat packs into a nice small package International...

Books: Wild and Scenic Rivers, An American Legacy

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, my friend Tim Palmer wrote this masterpiece full of information and photos about America's Wild and Scenic Rivers. In addition to Tim's eloquent prose it contains beautiful photos, a Wild and Scenic Rivers map, and appendices full of fun and interesting facts. It is both a beautifully presented coffee table book and a textbook about the Wild and Scenic...

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Disclaimer: River conditions, obstacles, and rapids can vary for a variety of reasons. Please combine this general information with good judgment and your own river reading skills.


© 2023 Whitewater Guidebook

Whitewater Guidebook
  • By State
    • Idaho
    • Oregon
    • Utah
    • Washington
    • California
    • West Virginia
    • Bhutan
  • Bucket List
    • Middle Fork of the Salmon River
    • Illinois River
    • Grand Canyon of the Colorado River
    • Futaleufu River
    • Rogue River
    • Selway River
    • Tuolumne River
    • Alsek River
    • Zambezi River
  • Gear Garage
    • Gear Garage YouTube Channel
    • Mediocre Rafting Show Episodes
    • Ask A Question or Add a Comment
    • Best Practices Questionnaire
  • Rafting Forum
    • View Forums
    • Register
  • Blog
    • Gear Reviews
    • Pro Tips
    • Events
    • Trip Reports