Company Description
ECHO was founded in 1971 by Dick Linford and Joe Daly, who were high school teachers at the time. Whitewater rafting was in its infancy then, and attracted mainly thrill seekers. Comfort took a back seat to thrills and chills, and, as Joe says, “Our clients were people whose idea of fun was being cold, wet, and scared.”
ECHO grew steadily, and by the early 1980’s was running trips on 19 stretches of river in five states and Yugoslavia. They now run trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho and the Rogue in Oregon.
Dick and Joe still manage ECHO, and they still guide on trips. Zach Collier became the general manager in 2005 and handles everything from marketing to operations and everything in between. Their hands-on approach, emphasis on quality, attention to detail, and ability to attract and retain excellent guides have given ECHO the reputation as one of the premier rafting companies in America.
