The New York Times had an amusing article in Sunday’s Travel Section relating the experience of one river guide’s rafting trip down the Owyhee River with several of his buddies. The Owyhee is touted as “Oregon’s Grand Canyon,” and traverses through the southeastern corner of the state. Their May adventure involves Class V rapids, the second-most extreme in difficulty; camping in the shelter of a cave; turbulent weather and not the best of decision making when it comes to booze and gear…It’s rather an example of what not to do–unless, of course, you want to get published in the NYT. For a bit of outdoors in your indoors today, enjoy the story here. And from it, for starters, here’s a nice, yet not-so-advisable, item checklist after they assessed the weight-load situation:

Items that remained on the raft included an iron-wrought set of regulation horseshoes, two bottles of top-shelf bourbon, a small cedar chest of Brazilian cigars, and a 94-quart ice chest packed with five cases of beer. Items left behind in the truck were fleece jackets, paddling gloves and my tent.

And in a case of don’t-try-this-at-home-kids:

When we reached Widowmaker, the Class V+ falls, we shouldered our kayaks over house-size rocks, and lowered them on the other side with a rope. Then with ropes affixed to the raft’s stern and bow, we inched it down the rocky banks, pivoting off rocks, then finally eased it over the drop into the safe pool below.Then it started to hail again.

Their tale is rather intense, but be not deterred, oh happy rafter. The remote Owyhee River, in fact, offers a beautiful desert setting and is marked by sheer cliffs jetting up on either bank. The Lower Owyhee with Class III to IV rapids is appropriate for less-experienced rafters, including children 10 and up. The Middle Owyhee tends to range around Class IV to V. This guide will help with Class descriptions. Several adventure companies offer overnight and week-long trips with experienced (sober) guides. Check out Momentum River Expeditions and River Drifters. Now is a good time to plan for next year as most guided trips launch in late spring and early summer.

No permit is required to raft the Owyhee if you want to go it alone, but you will need to have appropriate boats, gear and training for Class III white water.

And, apparently, a lot o’ booze. Or not.. Not saying which way I’d swing..