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SUNNY Temp: 72 °F Wind: NW at 4 mph Sunday, August 4, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend July 30, 2002 Fishing guide Dave Teitzel helps Seong Kim and his family, Eunsun, Susie and Suhyun, lauch a raft in the Rogue River despite the smoke on Monday. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Smoke quells Shady Cove rafting But some vacationers with longstanding plans decide to go ahead and float the Rogue anyway By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune SHADY COVE — Their first Rogue River adventure was so important to the Kims of Albany, Calif., that they ignored the advice of one raft rental operator who said it was too smoky to raft on Monday. Seong Kim called another, and the neophyte rafters were on their way. "I’m excited," said Eunsun Kim as she buckled up her life vest at Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery. She and her husband were visiting with daughters Susie, 12, and Suhyun, 6. With the 12,300-acre Timbered Rock fire just to the north, the air in Shady Cove was dense with ash and smoke on Monday. Susie, however, said she wasn’t worried about the fire. She had her mind on the usual first-timer’s fears. "I’m scared of the rocks ripping up the boat," she said. The Kims listened intently as Dave Teitzel of the Fishin Hole and Fly Shop and Rafting explained the basics before setting them free at the hatchery put-in site. Teitzel said people want to find relief on the water in spite of the fire. "It’s still hot. People are sweating. People want to get wet," he said. Cooler temperatures and a fresh breeze on the river are an attraction, he said, adding that he hasn’t seen a decline in the numbers of people rafting and fishing. But some rafting companies are taking a hit from the orange haze. "We had quite a few cancellations yesterday and a few today," said Rick Barker of Raft Rite in Shady Cove. "(On Sunday) we still had 20 boats, plus Tahitis. Normally, we’d probably have 35 or 40," he said. He said Raft Rite has been advising callers that it’s smoky, yet there are customers who insist on being on the river. "This is like a family reunion, and we’re stubborn," said Joyce Brandon of Ashland as she waited at the hatchery to start her trip. Brandon was joined by eight family members, some of whom had traveled from New Jersey. She said she still thought they would have fun braving the rapids. But glancing down river, she said she did have some concerns. "The smoke: I don’t think it’s so good to be breathing that," she said. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S