White Salmon River – How’d it get its name?

by Mark Zoller | Sep 9, 2020 | Columbia River Gorge, Washington and Oregon fun and outdoor activities, Whitewater Rafting

Corkscrew. Siwash. Waterspout. Zoller Zap. Grasshopper. Top Drop. Each great rapids of the White Salmon River and cleverly named. It was 1981 and none of the rapids had names that year dad opened up the first rafting company on the White Salmon river. Then comes a...

A Wilderness Not So Distant

by Mark Zoller | Jun 23, 2020 | Columbia River Gorge, Washington and Oregon fun and outdoor activities, Hiking, wild flowers

Is a wilderness area to vast and far to enjoy? Is it there only for the extreme explorer? Fortunately a congressionally designated wilderness area can be either magnificently vast and extreme and sometimes easily accessible and breath-taking. Within just minutes of my...

Throwing Sharp Objects

by Mark Zoller | Jun 11, 2020 | Columbia River Gorge, Washington and Oregon fun and outdoor activities

Genius! Take an activity that your mother would never let you do as a kid and turn it into an adventure that promotes fun, competition and personal achievement. Not to mention, it might be one of the best ways ever to rid yourself of tension. It was over a year ago...

Snow-Shoe Adventures in the Columbia River Gorge

by Mark Zoller | Mar 23, 2020 | Columbia River Gorge, Washington and Oregon fun and outdoor activities

Just seven days ago I was out in the warm Spring sunshine doing some yard work. We even mowed the lawn. Then, it snowed! Since you can’t change the weather, you might as well embrace it and enjoy. That is exactly what I did. With a nice six inches of fresh powder on...

Wiggly Worms – Slippery Trout – Giggly Kids

by Mark Zoller | Mar 21, 2020 | Columbia River Gorge, Washington and Oregon fun and outdoor activities, Fishing trips

High lakes in Washington. Just yesterday my son, Zach, was telling me about goal setting. Maybe the best goal setting I’ve ever heard. As he guided guests on 5-day whitewater rafting trips his goal would be to make sure each of the kids on the trip caught their very...

Sleeping Beauty – More than a Disney Princess

by Mark Zoller | Mar 16, 2020 | Columbia River Gorge, Washington and Oregon fun and outdoor activities

There she lays, head propped up slightly, feet gently sloped down, resting next to Mt. Adams who towers above like a prince coming in for the kiss.   As I drive north on Hwy 141 from my home in BZ Corner towards Trout Lake, Washington there is a stellar view...