Venturing down the Nooksack: Rafting expedition offers unique experience

 

The town of Glacier sits in the shadow of Mount Baker on the west edge of North Cascades National Park.

The North Fork Nooksack River flows through the trees at a quick pace, fueled by the continuous snow melt from the mountains.

Rocks and boulders dragged down by the water rise up to form obstructions and narrow channels, churning the water into a froth to create rapids.

It is the only white water rafting opportunity in Whatcom County, a summer activity waiting to be conquered just an hour east of Bellingham along the Mount Baker Highway.

Don Martin, operations manager and river guide for River Recreation, said rafting in Washington is special because each river offers its own microclimate, from the deserts of central and eastern Washington to the lush forested locales of western Washington.

Martin, who has been navigating Washington rivers for 22 years, said the Nooksack River offers rafters sights of some of most beautiful scenery in Washington.

"Short of renting a helicopter, the river is the best way to view Mount Baker," he said.

Martin said awareness of rafting opportunities in Washington has dwindled since the closure of the Washington Tourism Bureau in 2011.

"I attribute it to the fact that Washington hasn't marketed itself as an adventure state," Martin said. "It's frustrating to try to buck the public perspective that we're all about the Space Needle and coffee."

River Recreation operates out of Monitor, Washington, just west of Wenatchee, and makes trips to the Nooksack every weekend and on weekdays when there are enough people registered. It runs from July to Aug. 15, when the salmon return for spawning.

Martin has had to market aggressively to keep revenue flowing and is puzzled by the lack of rafting awareness from Washington locals.

"There is so much of Washington you haven't seen if you aren't on the river," he said.

Paul Engel, owner and guide for Wild and Scenic River Tours, said most people think of Nooksack River as the canoe leg for the annual Ski-to-Sea race, but the river offers much more boating opportunities people aren't aware of.

The Nooksack is divided into three main sections: the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork. The only section for rafting is the North Fork.

The 8-mile run starts with class three intermediate rapids (out of six classes) and ...more