The ‘Trip Development Team’ held an off-site meeting in Yosemite Valley yesterday. We were exploring options for new additions to our Merced River and Tuolumne River rafting trips and met with John and Zeb of Yexplore Yosemite Adventures.

(that’s us, the "Trip Development Team" – yours truly, Kristi, Steve and Carrie)

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How best to prepare for a hike into the Grand Canyon?

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Tioga Pass (Hwy 120) through Yosemite National Park’s high country is temporarily closed again due to a late season storm. (The Tuolumne River, the Merced River and other California rivers, are all still accessible.) According to SFGate.com – Tioga Pass Road and Glacier Point Road both are closed in Yosemite as of 11:30 a.m. because of the presence of icy conditions and several inches of snow.Other road closures as of 11:30 a.m. today include state highway 108 at Sonora Pass, state route 4 at Ebbett’s Pass and State Route 89 in Lassen National Park. In addition, chains are required once drivers reach elevations of approximately 7,500 feet. Road conditions may be checked continuously at www.dot.ca.gov.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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There is no better place to experience the Summer Solstice than in the arctic. You get two days in one: you can raft, hike, take photos, and watch for grizzlies or migrating herds of caribou all day, eat dinner, then have another complete day doing the same – all before midnight.

O.A.R.S. offers three departure dates for rafting trips on the Firth River, one of which coincides with the Summer Solstice on June 21. The O.A.R.S. Firth River rafting trip passes through what is considered the “Serengeti of the North” – and is adjacent to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (The other two departures in 2008 are on July 3 and July 17.)

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Tioga Pass is open! This means that you can now visit Yosemite National Park’s High Country (including Tuolumne Meadows) before or after your Merced River or Tuolumne River rafting trip(s).

Tioga Pass (Hwy 120) is typically the last Central Sierra mountain pass to open for the summer months due to late-season avalanche and rock slide dangers. The other passes in the region (Sonora Pass/Hwy 108, Ebbetts Pass/Hwy 4 and Carson Pass/Hwy 88) were opened a while ago.

If you’ve never been to Tuolumne Meadows – here are just a few of the many reasons to visit Yosemite’s high country:
Cooler temperatures than Yosemite Valley
Fewer people
Location of the headwaters of the Tuolumne River
Granite domes -Stately Pleasure Dome/Polly Dome/Daff Dome/Lembert Dome/Fairview Dome/Medlicott Dome/Pywiak Dome/Mariolumne Dome – providing outstanding rock climbing opportunities (especially if you love face climbing)
Permanent snowfields
Spectacular displays of wildflowers
Wildlife
The John Muir and the Pacific Crest Trails pass through
Cathedral Peak

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Tyler Sommerset, of Foothill Rideshare, stopped by the O.A.R.S. office yesterday, bringing with him a groovy green Rideshare Prius. (One of our O.A.R.S. Adventure Consultants already owns a Prius and has a very brief commute…if only she lived nearby so I could hop a ride.) Foothill Commuter Services offers many options for getting you where you need to go without your car. Check out their website (http://www.foothillrideshare.com/index.php) and register for ride-matching, carpooling, or vanpooling. Foothill Rideshare offers Transit Links for public transit routes and schedules for Amador, Calaveras, and Tuolumne Counties as well as Sacramento, Stockton, and points beyond.

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Hot sun, cold water, bulging muscles, big smiles, world-class California whitewater rafting await you on the North Fork of the Stanislaus River… there’s still some time (and snowmelt) left to get on this stunning river.

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O.A.R.S. is doing a benefit whitewater rafting trip on Colorado’s Yampa River on May 22 – 26 for Kelley Kalafatich. As previously mentioned, Kelley developed a rare condition diagnosed as Transverse Myelitis, which results in lesions and severe inflammation of the spinal cord and has left her with paralysis from the waist down and acute nerve pain. Kelley was the stunt double for Meryl Streep in the film “The River Wild” – and most of Kelley’s professional life has been dedicated to being a wilderness guide and making wilderness experiences possible for people who otherwise would not have such opportunities. ALL of the proceeds of this Yampa River trip are being donated to the NTAF Catastrophic Injury Fund on her behalf. Contact info@oars.com for detailed information.

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Well folks, there’s still snow in the high country, so we might be able to squeeze out another week of rafting on the North Fork of the Stanislaus River. It was a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l weekend in Northern California (if not a wee bit HOT) and The Stan was flowing about 900 cfs (cubic feet per second) on Saturday. My husband and I hiked up to Whiteout Rapid on the "trail" suggested to us by James Rodger, our California Operations Manager. (read… we bushwhacked about a mile upriver – you know, he’s from Canada and I suspect they have a different perception of trail than us Yanks)

Here’s a few images of The Stan…

Looking upriver at Whiteout Rapid…

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Kelley Kalafatich is widely acknowledged as an accomplished whitewater rafting guide. In addition to surfing the waves of Santa Cruz, training with Sacramento’s competitive outrigger team, and rafting whitewater rivers around the world, her accomplishments include numerous expedition first descents and many years as a member of the U.S. Women’s Whitewater Rafting Team. She was the stunt double for Meryl Streep in the film “The River Wild.” Most of Kelley’s professional life has been dedicated to being a wilderness guide and making wilderness experiences possible for people who otherwise would not have such opportunities. Seven months ago Kelley developed a rare condition diagnosed as Transverse Myelitis, which results in lesions and severe inflammation of the spinal cord and has left her with paralysis from the waist down and acute nerve pain. The degree of Kelley’s eventual recovery is unknown at this time. Because of her positive attitude and hard work, she may be among the one-third who can recover from this type of spinal injury. However, the expenses of a long and debilitating injury exceed the coverage provided by insurance and any savings from her modest income over the years as a river guide. Friends, co-workers and clients who have known Kelley have been affected by her courage, humility and willingness to do anything for a friend in need. Now is the time to gather together to help this extraordinary woman in her time of need.

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