You know it’s spring when… mornings are brisk, afternoons are balmy… lush green hillsides burst with color from poppies and assorted wildflowers… and our California Whitewater Guide School begins.

Our California whitewater rafting guide school is part Blazing Saddles (think beans and campfires), Survivor (although nobody is voted off the raft) and Navy Seals (you DO look bad a$$ rowing through Satan’s Cesspool and Ned’s Gulch). 

The O.A.R.S. 7-day, March 22 “Beginning Guide Training” meets at River’s Bend Resort on the South Fork of the American River and moves to other Northern California Rivers, possibly the Merced and Tuolumne, depending on water levels and group skills.  Led by longtime O.A.R.S. guides, all the whitewater basics are taught, such as reading water, oar and paddle boat techniques, navigation strategies, rope skills, boat rigging, setting camp, basic swiftwater rescue and equipment care.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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How do the pro’s get those amazing images?  It looks easy, but when you try to replicate some of your favorite images, do you get the same kind of results?  We asked John Blaustein and Justin Bailie (two successful professional photographers who shoot for O.A.R.S. on occasion) to share some of their tips with us.  They each will be leading special Whitewater Rafting Photography Trips for O.A.R.S. this year… Justin will host a 6-day photo trip on the Colorado River through Cataract Canyon on May 3rd and John will host a 6-day photo trip on the Main Salmon River in Idaho on June 14th.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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As of a March 7th report from the American River website, the snow pack that feeds the American River is at 101% of normal.  All three Forks of the American River (South Fork, Middle Fork, North Fork) are swollen with runoff. The North Fork of the American River briefly peaked at 11,000cfs (3 x safe boating flows).

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Anyone who’s been on an O.A.R.S. whitewater rafting trip knows there is much more to our staff and guides than meets the eye.  Take for example John Sproull, the O.A.R.S. mailroom supervisor.  He and his Paddleheads’ teammates, Noel and Jeff, won the 2009 Friends of Calaveras County Library’s Trivia Bee – for the second year in a row.  This year’s theme?  "Reel Trivia"  -  Lucky for the Paddleheads John, a trivia buff, knows just about everything about every movie ever made.  (Is that an exaggeration?)  The Paddleheads have won the popular annual fundraising event three times in the past five years and are sponsored by O.A.R.S.  Congratulations John and Team Paddleheads.

That’s John on the left.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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If you are considering a California whitewater rafting trip and/or a Yosemite National Park vacation, you may want to consider booking your flights now.  Airfares to San Francisco (SFO) from the East Coast are really, really cheap right now.

I subscribe to airfarewatchdog.com – and discovered r/t airfares for less than $300 – even during the peak summer season!

Watch for lower airfares to Oakland (OAK), San Jose (SJC) and Sacramento (SMF).  Sacramento is the closest airport to the South Fork American River, as well as the Middle Fork and North Fork of the American rivers.  It shouldn’t take more than 1½ hours to get from the Sacramento airport to the South Fork American put-in.  It will take approximately 3-4* hours to drive from the San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose airports to the South Fork American/Middle Fork American/North Fork American rivers (or the Tuolumne and Merced rivers).  (*depending on traffic – I would encourage you not to schedule an arrival or departure during rush hour traffic.) All airports are relatively equidistant to the rivers).

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Things are buzzing here in the O.A.R.S. HQ in anticipation of the start of the commercial California whitewater rafting season.  Our guides are thinking about returning from their global jaunts.  Our CA/OR Regional Manager, James Rodger, is back from his winter in Chile, Ecuador, Peru and the Galapagos Islands.  We’re spit-shining the gear for our California Whitewater Rafting Guide Schools (the 7-day Beginning Guide Training starts March 22, the 14-day intensive begins on May 23) and our South Fork American rafting trips will begin as early as April 4.

If you’re considering a spring rafting trip to California and want to combine it with a visit to San Francisco, the Westin St. Francis on Union Square is offering incredible rates from $119 – if you book by 11:59PM on March 3, 2009.  In my experience, their sale rates usually begin at $169, so this is an incredible deal.  Stay in a classic San Francisco hotel, ride a cable car, visit Alcatraz, experience whitewater rafting… and call it an unforgettable California vacation.  If you have time, visit the Napa Valley wineries, or stick around the Sierra Foothills and visit the burgeoning Sierra Nevada wineries. 

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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A friend recently sent me this Gabriel Garcia Marquez quote she found in the book Cuba:  "…much sooner than later, reality ends up by recognizing the imagination was right." Here’s another Idaho whitewater rafting video, this time featuring the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, to whet your imagination:

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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