Below is rare footage of people tubing down a stretch of the Metolius River in central Oregon, a river known for its beauty, cold water, great fly fishing, and...
Notable lack of people tubing down it.
I know this, because I've visited the Metolius regularly for over fifteen years. I've only seen a tube in the river once or twice, at most.
Like I said, the Metolius is cold. Spring-fed from snow melt in the upper reaches, where the video below was taken on an August, 2013 day. It also is a wild and scenic river, so when a tree falls into it (which is often), the tree stays where it is.
Thus scouting of the Metolius is essential before going down it in a tube, kayak, boat, or anything else. Once that is done, have fun!
The video shot by my wife shows me, my daughter, and son-in-law having a lot of fun going down a short stretch of the Metolius: just downstream from the Tract C bridge to just upstream of where Lake Creek joins the river.
(My six year old granddaughter tubed with her father, but I don't think footage of her made it into the video.)
I'm in an orange shirt. I'm seen both in a tube, and on the bank shouting directional advice to my daughter on her first trip down. We're using River Run tubes and tubing paddles, as described in a previous blog post.
So far as I can tell, this is the first Metolius River tubing video to appear on You Tube. I feel like Lewis & Clark, Magellan, Christopher Columbus, and the Vikings who sailed to Greenland. All combined.
This is adventuring at its finest. Well, at least at its tubest. In bathing suits, bare feet, and cold butts we braved a river that usually only fly fisherpeople in waders get in. Watch and marvel.
Comments