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.
Many thanks to Pamela Newberry for these incredible images from her recent O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon Dories trip! We’d all love to hear about your experience hiking out of the Canyon from Phantom Ranch on the Bright Angel Trail. Was it the most difficult hike of your life? Was it relatively easy but l-o-n-g? Did you have enough water and snacks? Could you refill your water bottles on the trail? What was your hiking guide like? What was your experience like staying at Phantom Ranch? Inquiring minds want to know…
Here is a short video clip of Bruce Keller guiding his dory One Eyed Jack and guests, Dave and Betsy, through a fun little rapid on the Colorado River. This clip was taken on an O.A.R.S. Dories trip in October 2008.
Maybe some people come away from an 18-day whitewater rafting trip in the Grand Canyon unaffected: I’m not one of them. My O.A.R.S. Dories trip was indeed a transformational experience. My transition into “the real world” has been, uhm, slightly jarring, made easier by the fact that I’ve had contact with some of my trip mates. That, and I’ve had long chats with Azz and Carrie in the O.A.R.S. office who’ve experienced similar re-entry issues.
I’m sharing with you a list of things that may help…
Longtime whitewater rafting and dory guide, Bruce Keller, sure knows how to show folks a good time in 36 Mile Rapid on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon! This ‘bow riding’ video was taken on an October 2008 O.A.R.S. Dories trip from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek.
WILD, the Wilderness Institute for Leadership Development, was created as an extension of the O.A.R.S.whitewater rafting community to provide the ethical, educational, and experiential foundation for inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards, and outdoor and active lifestyle enthusiasts. WILD offers multi-day field based education in hopes to provide its participants a foundation for leading and exploring discussions of sustainability as it relates to them, their communities and their greater world.
As longtime O.A.R.S.whitewater rafting and dory guide, Bill “Bronco” Bruchak states, “I love sharing the magic of beautiful places with others.” Indeed, sharing time with Bronco in the Grand Canyon in his dory, The Yampa, is a magical experience. His rhythmic, hypnotic stroke of the oars creates a floating meditative experience in one of the most spectacular places on earth. Whether rowing flat water, entering a Class 10 rapid, or spotting big horn sheep high up on a canyon wall, his zen-like poise does not waver.
Bronco is a humble and passionate man with a kind soul (and huge heart) who lives and breathes the Great Outdoors. He isn’t simply connected to the places he visits; he is an integral partner. He does not hang up his oars at the end of the day or the end of the season. He IS the dory, the river, the history, the wilderness… Each story he relates deepens your experience and expresses his true love of the Canyon.
Thank you Bronco, for continuing to facilitate the magic…
Alisa Allgood, O.A.R.S.whitewater rafting guide / fashion icon / style guru / woman-power-incarnate (just don’t say the words ‘slap’ or ‘spank’ around her)…
Longtime whitewater rafting guide, pirate, bike-shop owner, mountain biker, entrepreneur, real estate developer and one of my personal favorite storytellers, Rondo Buecheler, guides his dory, Shoshone, through House Rock Rapid on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This clip was also filmed on a recent 18-day O.A.R.S./Grand Canyon Dories trip from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek.
Longtime whitewater rafting guide, Bruce Keller, takes his dory, One Eyed Jack, on a sweet ride through House Rock Rapid. House Rock is located near mile 17 and is given a rapid rating of 4-7. –Colorado River rapid ratings are given on a scale of 1 – 10, with 10 the most difficult. Ratings are based on river flows of between 5,000 and 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).– This clip was filmed recently on an 18-day O.A.R.S./Grand Canyon Dories trip from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek, and the flow was approximately 12,100 cfs.
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