The Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) website can be found at http://www.dot.ca.gov/ , and the telephone number is 1-800-427-7623, which you can call at any time for current highway conditions.  To contact Yosemite National Park directly for information, call 1-209-372-0200.

If you’ve never been, it’s well worth the drive up and over The Pass.  The road meanders past stunning meadows, multiple granite domes and practically drops you into Mono Lake in the Eastern Sierra.  The temperatures are typically pretty refreshing (at 10,000 feet elevation, they had better be!) and you can see the Tuolumne River near its headwaters.

Also worth a few extra hours before or after your Tuolumne rafting trip is a visit to Hetch Hetchy,(sometimes referred to as Yosemite’s Buried Treasure).  Take note – Yosemite National Park is open 24/7/365, however, the Hetch Hetchy entrance station is open only during daylight hours (ish). 

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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For those of you looking to add a visit to Yosemite National Park to your Tuolumne River rafting trip – take note:  Tioga Pass is temporarily closed due to hail, snow and flooding.  Tioga Pass Road takes you through Yosemite’s high country and to Highway 395 in the Eastern Sierra. 

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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We’re back to that same ‘ol argument… drilling for oil in unspoiled, wild places to remedy our oil issues. 

Despite the fact that there are already 68 million acres of public lands and waters open for drilling, the current administration (and dare I say their Big Oil Cohorts) want to lift the ban on offshore oil drilling.

I checked in with the folks at the Wilderness Society about what’s happening in Alaska, particularly the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and they had this to say:

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Scout asks, "What do the "Classes" I, II, or III mean?"

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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(and C&W, and Folk and Blues)      O.A.R.S. guide Eli Helvey singing Johnny Cash at the Mule Creek Camp on Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rogue River.  (I’m pretty sure Brant and Joslin are in the background whipping up something incredible for dinner.)  Thanks for the music Eli.

Part I

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Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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I swear it!  We just happen to have all sorts of recent video of Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rogue River.  This one is of trip leader, Brandt Shaw, playing around at the Tate Creek water slide.

blog.oars.com/wp-content/uploads/ROG_062908_Olympus 097.mov

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Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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The Snake River Fund (SRF), a donation-based, grass-roots organization, was formed a decade ago to keep Idaho’s Snake River free from U.S. Forest Service fees.  This group has supplied funding to support river personnel, facilities upkeep, river volunteers, safety training, law enforcement, guide education, and other river user services.

The SRF is now a vocal advocate for Snake River watershed.  The Snake River is one of the few remaining intact riparian ecosystems in the U.S. and is one of the jewels of Jackson Hole area, and the SRF has responded to community pressure to become more active in the role as a river steward.  As such, the Fund has recently committed to participate in seeking opportunities to formalize protective measures, participate in restoration projects, and educate and inform the general public through outreach programs.

It is SRF’s vision that the Snake River Watershed will remain a vibrant and diverse ecosystem for many generations to come to enjoy in a responsible manner. It is the Fund’s goal to insure that happen.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Is it considered bragging to say, with all sincerity, that I feel like the luckiest person on the planet?  (really, not bragging, just counting blessings…)  I mean, c’mon… I’m affiliated with O.A.R.S. – a fantastic organization that does things like neutralize all its carbon emissions, utilize solar power, feed its guests organic and locally grown foods, compost its wastes… AND they send me on river trips to capture images for various purposes.

I’m in the process of uploading pictures and video to the O.A.R.S. – Whitewater Rafting facebook page.  Here are some of my favorite images taken from my recent Rogue River whitewater rafting trip, or as I prefer to think of it… Brandt’s Boot Camp.

 A special thanks to trip leader Brandt Shaw and his crew… Joslin, Eli, Crystal and Anna…  for their great guiding skills (and even better cooking skills), their warm and playful personalities, and for creating unforgettable memories!

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Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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… and I mean really, really good food – I’m signing up for another O.A.R.S. Rogue River trip! I just spent five days eating gourmet food on the Rogue, and all I had to do was wash my plate and utensils at the end of the meal. Night one: Copper River Red Salmon, crispy grilled asparagus accompanied by truly the best salad I’ve ever eaten. What a surprise that meal was to the gentleman who stated, "Wow, and I was expecting hamburgers, hot dogs and chili all week." Hat’s off to trip leader Brandt Shaw and guides Eli, Jocelyn, Crystal and Anna who consistently provided superior meals and guiding skills and kept us entertained when needed. A detailed report with photos to follow…

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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