September 2006

New Ethno botany Tours & Spring in the Skagit Valley –
Dave Sansone, who teaches for the North Cascades Institute, has agreed to teach several classes for us this Spring. There will be lessons on plant identification, ethical gathering practices and traditional use of plants for food, fiber, medicine and shelter. You'll explore meadows and woodlands along the river, forage in nature's well-stocked pantry and learn how to collect in a safe and legal manner while preserving plant habitats. I've known Dave for years and we are very fortunate to have him teaching with us. The groups are quite limited so you'll want to schedule this one early – it's only available until June. If you've ever rafted with us for the Skagit Bald Eagle trip you may have met Dave – you'll now learn about his passion with a trip like no other offered. Click here to check out the new information or give a call to our office.  Ethnobotany Float

March 2006

March 7, 2006:
From my office window I have a beautiful view of mountains and fields. What's amazing about the view is the variety of birds that we watch right from the window. Currently there have been marching armies of mallard ducks – and I mean hundreds of them. As the farmer has been plowing and fertilizing the fields the mallards fly in and "march" in circles, feeding all along the way. I have never seen so many at one time – it's a good thing it's not hunting season! Earlier in the fall and into winter we viewed the trumpeter swans in the fields also by the hundreds. One "family" came in front of our window every afternoon. On day recently I even looked out and there was a beautiful blue heron who seemed to be looking straight at me – I got out my camera to take a quick picture and off he flew.

Spring in the Skagit Valley is coming – the daffodils are starting to bloom in the fields which means the tulips are just around the corner. April 1st is the beginning of the Skagit Valley Tulip festival which lasts all month.  You won't want to miss this  gorgeous array of fields in bloom – along with our annual Secret Skagit Birding trip.

The Eagles are coming! We've been on the river a few times this month and there are already eagles for viewing.  With the weather changing, the Skagit Valley is a beautiful place for a day trip whether you can get on the river or just take a road trip. We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful place where we can view birds right in our own back yard.

January 2005

This first week in January we have seen so many eagles – often around 150 to 200 per trip – we actually loose count after awhile! We were just featured in an article by Greg Johnston of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer which you can find in the Getaway section of the January 6th paper. We had a great bunch of folks with us the day we went – and saw somewhere around 150 eagles.  Read more on line about this trip: Getaway

One place not to miss when you come up the Skagit River for an eagle trip is Clark's Resort and their Eatery Restaurant.  Tootsie Clark is one of our favorite people and offers good food & warm hospitality.  If you want to make your trip up to the Skagit an overnight adventure, be sure and check out our packages with Clarks where you'll have your overnight accommodations, breakfast & a Skagit River eagle trip rolled into one.

December 2004

December 12, 2004: -
Our band of rafters on Sunday were privileged with beautiful weather and well over a hundred eagles.  Along with us was Seattle's KUOW reporter Cathy Duchamp who was putting a story together about the eagles on the Skagit for NPR radio.  We'll keep you posted on when her story will air.  If you'd like to listen (or read) her story you can click here : KUOW story

What better way to celebrate the holidays than getting out with family and friends to see the eagles along the Skagit! December is already proving to be a terrific month for eagle watchers. Last weekend we were witness to somewhere around a hundred eagles along the Skagit. So if you are one of the lucky who has everything ready for the holidays – this is a great time to beat the crowds in January and February. Enjoy the wilderness with warm hospitality and food and reflect on the spirit of nature's wonder.

October 2004

If my 80 year old mother-in-law can go rafting on the Skagit, then so can you!: Last week I took my mother-in-law, wife, sister-in-law and friends on a mid-week eagle raft trip down the Skagit River.  Now you have to understand that my mother-in-law, Martha who lives in Delaware, is going to be 80 years old on her next birthday. When I asked if she'd like to see some eagles on the Skagit, without hesitation she said YES!  Actually I was not surprised since she has gone with us on several raft trips – including a white water section of Oregon's famous Rogue River; the Gila River in Arizona and for her 75th Birthday party in Alaska, the entire family including the birthday girl, children and grandchildren went on a raft trip down the Chilkat River through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Martha got in and out of the raft on her own and thoroughly enjoyed the 5 eagles, blue heron and other birds along with the absolutely gorgeous scenery. Stops at Cascadian Farms for hot chocolate and a trip out to Padilla Bay and up Chuckanut Drive competed a wonderful day in the Pacific Northwest.

Enjoy our Gourmet Sunday Brunch: New this season is our "soon to be famous" gourmet breakfast before the Skagit River Bald Eagle Raft trip.  Meet us at 9 AM for a scrumptious breakfast and continue on up river for an

Excerpts From Our November 2003 News Letter

Why Raft With Pacific Northwest Float Trips?

Dave Button who founded Pacific Northwest Float Trips was born and raised along the Skagit River having lived with his family in Newhalem, WA.  After he graduated from Western Washington University, and completed his army service, he returned to the Skagit Valley to teach school.

Pacific NW Float Trips became the first Washington commercial raft company after taking a trip with the famous Georgie While on the Colorado River in 1973. Button combined his teaching career with Rafting until he devoted himself full-time to Rafting and Tours in Washington & Alaska. The company provides daily trips on the Chilkat River in Haines, Alaska through the Bald Eagle Preserve; on the Skagit , Nooksack & Wenatche Rivers. All Guides have current CPR & First Aid Training. Dave is a swift water rescue Trainer and his company has an impeccable safety record. The company is fully insured and has been operating now for 30 years.

Pacific NW Float Trips takes pride in being ecologically conscious so we can preserve all areas for generations to come Our company has provided custom trips for adventurous travelers in Alaska since the 1980's both on land and on Rivers. Our goal is to provide you with a wilderness experience that will remain with you for the rest of your life.

Best Viewing for Eagles Is On the River / Great Winter Eagle Viewing

By far the best viewing of eagles through the Skagit River Bald Eagle Natural Area is on the river. A gentle float trip through this areas affords optimum photography opportunities and sightings.

While you are on the river, you will be able to see eagles on both sides of the river in places you could never see as an observer from the banks or road. We do ask that you keep your voices down so the eagles are not disturbed as we float, but you can click your cameras as much as you like.

Bring your cameras and dress for the weather is the rule of thumb for these incredible winter trips. The first trips are offered in December and continue through the first part of March as long as there are still eagles.

Call us on our toll free number to book your trip 866-967-8555. Also, look at our web site www.PacificNWFloatTrips.com  for further information. We'll see you on the River!