A whitewater rafting blog for anyone interested in California whitewater rafting, Idaho river rafting, rafting in the Grand Canyon, as well as rafting throughout the U.S. West, national parks vacations, multi-sport vacations, adventure travel, and all things related to the world's waterways.
The Middle Fork of the Salmon River is second only to the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon as an O.A.R.S. vacation destination, and it is the premiere alpine river experience in the continental U.S. The variety of terrain and the whitewater experience is simply incomparable.
The Middle Fork begins in high-country, deep-green alpine forests, and passes by dramatic mountains and through granite canyons with crystal clear creeks that cascade into the river. As the river descends, mountains make way to vast hillsides filled with billowing grasses and wildflowers. Camps are made on big, sandy beaches and guests can find themselves in any number of natural hot springs easily accessible from the river.
Even though we can’t offer you official university credits, we have no doubt the lessons learned on the river will allow you to reap rewards at your next dinner party!
Nita asked about rating whitewater rafting rapids (say that 3 times). She wants to know what level 7, 8, 9 rapids are like and how often people spill out of rafts when on rapids this size.
Wall Arch, located along the popular Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park, collapsed over the weekend. The arch was 71 feet tall and 33-1/2 feet wide. There’s a story about it in the Salt Lake Tribune.
If you are at all curious to see the gaping hole left by gravity… O.A.R.S. is offering a new trip itinerary in 2009 to Arches National Park. (shameless segue, I know) “The Grand Staircase: Earth, Wind & Water on the Colorado Plateau” spends the first four days whitewater rafting on the Colorado River as it passes from Canyonlands National Park to Grand Canyon National Park. Next up is a pass through Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Guides will lead interpretive hikes through Arches, Bryce, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Grand Canyon and Zion national parks. The trip begins and ends in Salt Lake. Detailed information will be made available in the coming months.
O.A.R.S. has been guiding whitewater rafting trips on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon for 39 years. That’s just shy of four decades to fully understand the river’s nuances, properly pamper guests, discover all the worthy side canyons and creeks and, well… just do it right. Don’t take our word for it. MSNBC placed the O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon trip at the top of their Ultimate Adventures bucket list saying, “There’s nothing as galvanizing, humbling, and deeply spine-tingling as bucking and bobbing down the tourmaline-green Colorado River, the water whooshing a few inches from your backside and 5,000-foot-high walls towering over your head.” You’ll find the full story here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25890516/
The “Tuolumne Wine on the River Trip” was given NBC’s Golden Grape Award as their “Best Wine Adventure for 2007." Joining the 2½ -day, August 24 departure are wine experts, Kate and Craig MacDonald, who will present a selection of wines hand-picked from some of their favorite wineries in California and abroad.
"Full containment expected on August 4, 2008." That’s today folks! The Telegraph Fire near Yosemite National Park is expected to be fully contained – minus a “significant event.” We’ve had beautiful blue (and I mean b-l-u-e) skies the past few days here in Northern California. Thanks to Capt. Mike at the Firefighter Blog for his wonderful, detailed updates. If you want to know what life’s been like around these parts lately, check out the great slideshow he uploaded recently by Al Golub.
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