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Thanks for a Great Season!
 We would like to thank all of our guests for helping to make Ouzel's 2009 rafting season a success. Despite difficult economic times and an uncertain future, interest in rafting was strong. While we saw a decline in reservations for longer multi-day trips, weekend getaways and one-day trips were more popular than ever. A special thanks must be offered to our valued returning guests and the friends and family they brought with them. In 2009 this accounted for almost 50% of our reservations. Thanks!
Book Now and Save!
Now is the time to make your rafting reservation for 2010. By making your reservation before January 1st, you'll get 10% off of this year's price. If you are a returning guest, we're offering 15% off current rates. Current rates and next year's trip dates are posted on our website. Book now and save!
Where's Your Guide?
 Neely South (Portland) Working her bar-tending magic at the Rose Garden and reorganizing (whether they like or not) ordering and management systems for the entire venue.
Justin Litzer (Bend) Neck deep in nursing school and working ski patrol at Mt. Bachelor. Married Erika in September!
Jarrod Donatelli (Bend) Spent the fall chasing Widespread Panic shows around the country and recording an album with members of El Dante. Just got back from honeymooning in the Maldives. Married Kristen in September!
Jason Kramer (Bend) Spending a lot of time in the mountains and paying for his play with an online sales job.
Luke Kalstad (Seattle) See the feature on Luke and Carly.
Carly Donahue (Seattle - see the feature on Luke and Carly)
Tim Freeman (Terrebonne) Spent time traveling and visiting family this fall and about to begin a job with the Census Bureau.
Bobby Kutsher (Bend) Teaching at the Riverbend School and helping his daughter learn how to ski.
Erika Wirth (Bend). Will spend her winter as a ski patroller at Mt. Bachelor. Married Justin in September!
Ginny Robbins (Driggs, ID) Ginny is working ski patrol at Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming. She was given a glowing recommendation on the condition that they send her back to us in the spring.
Brent Bellamy (Traveling) Last heard from via email from Bolivia. Seems to be taking Luke’s old title as our penultimate winter traveler.
Ira Munkvold (Eugene) Recovered from the ankle injury that took him out for the season. Currently contemplating graduate school.
Ben Hayes (Walla Walla, WA) Back in school at Whitman College.
Greg Chapman (Culver) Living in Culver and commuting to Oakridge where he is a full-time school teacher.
Joel Ophoff (Bend) Spending time with his new puppy and pursuing a super-secret entrepreneurial opportunity.
Josh Sims (Bend) Having recently purchased Repeat Performance in Bend, Josh is concentrating on being a business owner.
Katy Beloof (Portland) Volunteering for several earth-friendly organizations and eating truffles.
Amy Romero (Bend) “Hanging out” and trying to decide between a winter job and continuing her education.
James Daugherty (Bend) Working as a patroller at Bachelor and an EMT on an ambulance crew. Preparing for nursing school.
Jim Owens (Bend) Spent most of the fall traveling in Spain and Morocco. Will be working at Mt. Bachelor again this winter.
Mary Heimes (Bend) Finishing her masters degree and thoroughly enjoying being a student teacher.
Erin Riley (Bend) Working as a nurse in Redmond and planning her wedding. Erin’s engaged!
Audrey Tehan (Ashland) Back in school at Southern Oregon University.
Alando Ballantine (New York City) Spent the fall doing cultural surveys for wind farms in the Gorge and now in Brooklyn looking for music industry opportunities.
Max Baer (Spokane, WA ) Just started his first year at Gonzaga University.
Cameron Jordan (Bend) Enjoying semi-retirement and working at Mt. Bachelor.
Betsy Niemann (Bend) After a long road-trip home to Chicago, Betsy is back in Bend and looking for work.
John Halushka (Bend) Spent most of the fall working fishing trips on the Grand Ronde and John Day. Getting ready for a long road-trip back east to visit family.
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Free Trip Winner!
 Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out an evaluation this year. Guest feedback is crucial for improving our trips. Anthony W. of Bakersfield, CA. joined us on the Deschutes River in July this past summer. His evaluation was selected at random from all the evaluations we received and he has won a free one-day rafting trip for two in 2010. Congratulations Anthony! Stay tuned for more drawings. We’ll be drawing for a free Rogue River trip towards the end of the year.
First Up in 2010
 As we look forward to next year’s rafting season, our attention turns first to the spectacular Owyhee River. While current long range forecasts predict a warmer and drier winter due to the affects of El Nino, we've already had more early snow than predicted. We've got a good start on the snow pack and are keeping our fingers crossed for a good amount of water next year. Oregon’s Grand Canyon is a unique and memorable river adventure. Stunning scenery, endless hiking opportunities, abundant birds of prey, fascinating geology and hot springs make this river a MUST DO!Until January 1st, we are offering 10% off of 2009 rates to all new Ouzel guests and 15% off of 2009 rates to all returning Ouzel guests. Rates may change after January 1st.
Give the Gift of a River Trip
Make this holiday season extra special for someone. Give the unique gift of a river rafting adventure; a gift that will give them something to look forward to for the rest of the winter and spring! Purchase a gift certificate for a trip next year and receive free Ouzel t-shirts to give along with the certificate (free shipping)!
Good Luck Carly & Luke!
This year we are bidding a sad farewell to two prominent members of the Ouzel family. With the birth of their son, Maxen, in July, Carly Donahue and Luke Kalstad have decided it is time to leave behind the seasonal life of outfitting and guiding and pursue new horizons.
After many years of guiding in the Northwest and Southwest, Luke joined the Ouzel Crew in 2001, quickly becoming a Rogue River trip leader. Often requested by returning guests and well respected by his peers, Luke’s cautious and careful approach to organization and safety reinforced Ouzel's long-held high standards; and he has been instrumental in instilling these values in our up-and-coming trip leaders. In October, Luke was accepted into an extremely competitive underwater construction school in Seattle. Many of us find it hard to imagine Luke studying mathematics, physics, physiology and a wide range other disciplines that are part of the curriculum, but he has taken the bull by the horns and is doing extremely well. Luke's departure leaves some large shoes to be filled.
 Carly came to Ouzel in early 2007. She was the first and only person to be interviewed for the job of reservations manager. The time between her interview and hiring lasted just long enough for Brian to inform all other applicants that the position had been filled and further interviews were cancelled. Over the course of three seasons, Carly proved an indispensable member of the Ouzel management team. She handled every project and task with enthusiasm and skill and was legendary for completing a week's worth of work in a day or two. Most importantly, Carly was extremely gracious with guests and they loved her for it. In Carly's mind there was never “just another inquiry” on the phone or via email, but a real person that deserved her attention. Carly was dedicated to Ouzel, always eager, always available, and proud of her work and the company she worked for. She understood that the professionalism we cultivate in our guides must also be present in the office. She was ever the steady rock in the office during the crazy, fast-paced summer months. As the heart and soul of the Ouzel office and a dear friend, Carly will be sorely missed. Carly and Luke are now blessed with a healthy and remarkably "unfussy" baby boy. Our best wishes and hopes are with them as they start a new life in Seattle.
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