Nineteen of us in the bus en route to Denali Park’s Wonder Lake fell silent as a grizzly sow popped up over a knoll, two cubs in tow. Our bus eased to a stop as they ambled closer to the road, putting them almost within arm’s reach. The sow flopped to the ground, rolled over, allowing her cubs to crawl onto her belly. In our absolute stillness we heard their suckling sounds.

One decade later, sitting in a sleek dory, The Yampa, we rounded what had to have been bend #473 in the Colorado River, when long-time O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon guide, Bronco, stated matter-of-factly, “Keep your eye out on the cliffs on the left, about a third of the way up. Bighorn like to hang out there.” He spotted them immediately and directed our untrained eyes to the small collection of nearly invisible sheep.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

Janet Walker, an experienced and savvy world traveler currently enroute to Bali, took some time recently between trips to send us photos and answer a few questions about her August 2009 Peru whitewater rafting trip.

Janet had already been to Peru twice before embarking on her O.A.R.S. Tambopata River trip. (She had not yet traveled with O.A.R.S.) I asked her if there were any specific factors that helped her decide on this particular Peru adventure. Her answer? “The clay lick and the trip’s remote location.”

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

2 Comments »

“We must find a way to protect one of the world’s most treasured landscapes — the Grand Canyon — while meeting water and clean energy needs in the face of climate change,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced recently in a video message to the Colorado River Water Users Association in Las Vegas.

His department will begin experiments testing if manmade floods — flowing into the Colorado River — will better protect wildlife and archaeological sites. The floods would be released from the Glen Canyon Dam and could cause a buildup of sandbars and beaches along a 277-mile span of the river in the Grand Canyon.

Man-made floods are an attempt to restore conditions that existed in the canyon before the Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1966. The dam traps sediment formerly carried by the Colorado River, leading to the erosion of beaches in the Grand Canyon downstream.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

However you celebrate the season, warm wishes from all of us at the O.A.R.S. Family of Companies.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

According to a recent communication from The Wilderness Society, large oil and gas companies and lobbyists are trying to kill new protections for Western treasures like Utah’s Red Rock canyon country, Otero Mesa and Wyoming’s Red Desert.

The Wilderness Society and its partners won a recent lawsuit that not only granted temporary protections against oil and gas leasing in Utah’s Red Rock country – it has prompted the Obama Administration to revise Bush-era oil and gas leasing guidelines, which could mean long-term protections for millions more acres of wild lands in early 2010.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

1 Comment »

Please welcome a Waterblogged Guest Contributor, James Rodger. James is the O.A.R.S. California Regional Manager who typically spends his winters south of the border. Last year James guided and participated in trips in Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, Peru and Chile. This year James is in Fiji, poor guy…

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

The holidays are upon us, and many of our guides are departing for far-flung destinations. Our local rivers are quiet. Our office staff is enjoying a collective deep breath after a hectic 2009 U.S. season. I was inspired to ask several folks in the O.A.R.S. office to take a few moments to appreciate and cherish what means most to them, and celebrate what they are most thankful for. Below are their answers…

George Wendt; O.A.R.S. Founder and President
I am incredibly grateful to provide a product that people appreciate, even in an economic downturn. Because our loyal travelers aren’t willing to sacrifice travel and time in the natural environment, we have managed to survive the worst economy in U.S. history. I consider myself extremely fortunate to share my passion for wild places with so many others, from families experiencing their first camping trips together to seasoned world travelers. Because of you, for 40 years my family and I have been able to seek out wild places, and share them with friends and guests, as our livelihood. May you too have much to be thankful for!

Tyler Wendt; Operations Manager
I’m thankful for my lovely wife and our home in Murphys, California. I’m grateful for the opportunity to live and work in this beautiful part of the world, surrounded by my family and a great group of friends and coworkers. And I’ll be thankful for the winter when it finally arrives and for the melting snow come spring.

Steve Markle; Marketing & Partnerships Director
I’m grateful to have a job…with a company that has mastered the recipe for providing intensely meaningful travel experiences. I appreciate that I am part of a company of caring people…who support each other and have managed to endure an economic downturn that could have just as easily sank the ship…I am grateful to all those who support my efforts to do my job well.

Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

A member of the O.A.R.S. Family of Companies, Rivers Fiji is a whitewater rafting, inflatable kayaking, multi-sport eco-outfitter based out of Pacific Harbour in the Fiji Islands. Recently honored at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards for "Best for Preservation of Cultural Heritage," Rivers Fiji was one of 35 companies singled out by the judges. In total, there were more than 2000 nominations submitted by travelers worldwide.

A prestigious honor indeed, but who is Rivers Fiji and why the recognition?

O.A.R.S. is indebted to longtime friends, Nate and Kelly Bricker, for assisting in the creation of Rivers Fiji and the Upper Navua Conservation Area. Nate and Kelly first visited Fiji as tourists in 1993. They returned in subsequent years, exploring deep into the interior of Fiji’s main island, Viti Levu. In 1997, Nate was working for O.A.R.S.  Having just explored the Upper Navua River, he and Kelly enthusiastically talked to O.A.R.S. founder and president, George Wendt, about their vision of offering guided trips on the Wainikoriluva (‘luva) and Upper Navua rivers.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

2 Comments »

Do you have an opinion about the Merced River? The National Park Service and Yosemite National Park are seeking the public’s ideas for a plan to protect the Merced River, which runs through the heart of Yosemite Valley.

In response to public comments the public scoping period has been extended to February 4, 2010.

According to Ranger Kari Cobb the Park is seeking public comment on how to preserve the pristine beauty of the Merced River but at the same time make it available for visitors to enjoy.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »

In honor of Veteran’s Day, all U.S. National Parks are waiving entrance fees today. You may still visit a national park, even if you aren’t one of the fortunate ones to get up and out from behind your desk today.

You may view 21 web cams spotlighting various parks via this U.S. Department of the Interior site. The National Park Service operates web cams at many parks, and photos are usually updated every 15 minutes. Many of these sites also offer air quality info as well. Check it out:  http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/WebCams/.

Thank you Veterans for putting your lives at risk for our safety – and thank you to all the folks who had the foresight and wisdom to set aside land for everyone to enjoy in the form of a national park.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

No Comments »