He stepped away from the tailgate, his heavy wading boots kicking the loose gravel on his way down the boat ramp. Every step carried the confidence of someone who knew every inch of this canyon by heart."Evening," he said, pausing just where the dry rocks met the lapping edge of the current.He didn't look at … Continue reading Waders and Whispers Part 4 by Sequoia Hoffstetter

Waders & Whispers | part 3 Four years on the oars changes a person. In the beginning, guiding is a game of chess against the River. You exhaust yourself worrying about the perfect drift, untangling knots, and praying for a rise just to validate your own existence on the water. But by the fourth year, … Continue reading Waders and Whispers part 3: by Sequoia Hoffstetter

The sun hasn't cut through the canyon mist when she steps into the drift boat. Her gear is pristine. Too pristine. She yanks the laces of her boots tight with purpose.  By the time we hit the first deep run on the Deschutes, the river is doing what it does best: rolling heavy over slick … Continue reading Part 2 of Waders and Whispers by Sequoia Hoffstetter