Oregon Public Broadcasting

Claire Hews, 53, of Seattle, gets push off shore and ride the Tieton River on White Pass in Washington. She's a Seattle headhunter during the week, and a veteran whitewater thrill-seeker during her weekends.

The Northwest is a kayaking Mecca.

And every year around Labor Day hundreds of kayakers and rafters flock to the Tieton Canyon in Washington.

That's when frothy white water is released from a dam upstream at Rimrock Lake.

The water is used to irrigate crops and help salmon in the Yakima River.

Correspondent Anna King caught up with a half-dozen kayakers getting ready to hit the whitewater.

Claire Hews:  "My name is Claire Hews and I'm from Seattle, Washington. And today I am gathered with some friends at the Tieton River and we are about climb down this hill, jump in the water and have a great day.

Kayakers slip into the Tieton River on White Pass in Washington. Water managers release water from a dam at Rimrock Lake in the fall to help salmon and farmers.

"It's definitely an adrenaline junkie sport. You will find the same people that are white water rafters and backcountry skiers.

"If you are a real thrill seeker you will throw yourself into something hard right away. If you are smart you will do it slower.

"So this is what's so cool is the sparkle on the water, the sound of the water, fast water, slow water, your friends, it's great. OK we're off!"