Dana Blanc is one of our most requested guides in California. Thankfully, I was able to catch up with him to pick his brain about his passion for rivers and what keeps him hanging around. Over the past 9 years, Blanc has also guided in, Wyoming, Texas and Alaska.

He’s an Angels Camp local and is quite fond of the outdoor life in the foothills. Blanc works at Bear Valley Ski Resort in the winter and enjoys playing guitar and bass in his free time, and lives for the rush of never knowing what the next amazing experience will be or when it will come.

Click here to view the video version of this interview.

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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Our area manager in southern Oregon, Kate Wollney, also known as, ‘Queen of the Rogue,’ sits down with us to answer a few questions about herself and why she’s chosen to work for O.A.R.S. Over the past 18 years, Wollney has also guided in California, the Grand Canyon and Idaho. She is from Eugene, Oregon but currently resides in Driggs, Idaho during the winter months. Her favorite food is flourless chocolate cake, she loves to ski and enjoys listening to rapids more than any other sound or musical beat. Oh, and her fleece skirts are a must-have for any cold-weather river rat!

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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In our most recent blog post about camping, we discussed what you can expect on any standard O.A.R.S. river trip, but if sleeping in a tent isn’t your thing, check out the accommodations below for a flavor more suitable to your palate. Our favorites range as far as the majestic Andes to the wilds of British Columbia. It’s a perfect way to enjoy the comforts of home while visiting these remote locations.

Lodge at Chilko Lake: An upscale private residence in British Columbia’s historic ranch country at the head of the Chilko River. Overlooking the river valley and picturesque mountaintops, the main lodge is a formidable log structure manufactured from local timber and is the focal point for meals, cocktails and socializing. It has wireless Internet, a big screen television (if you must), and comfortable lounge chairs in the main dining room.  The upper level is a luxurious suite with an impressive king bedroom, sitting area and grand bathroom complete with double headed showers. The ground floor has a bar and lounge, game room and access to the popular fire pit area. The cabins feature fine craftsmanship, comfortable furnishings and a magnificent collection of antiques and collectibles. The ranch is perched closely to Ts’yl-os Provincial Park, the prize jewel of the British Columbia park system. This slice of paradise is also our home base for our 5-day Lodge at Chilko Lake Multi-Sport. Other than rafting, this tour includes: kayaking, hiking, bike riding and fishing, with additional options to go horseback riding or heli-hiking at 7,000 – 9,000 feet above sea level.

Lillaskog Lodge:  A classic mountain house that makes you feel happily stranded in the woods. Located thirty minutes outside of Yosemite National Park in northern California, Lillaskog Lodge offers complimentary breakfast each morning for their guests, fresh eggs from their chickens and homemade bread. This rustic lodge is minutes away from where O.A.R.S. meets for their Tuolumne River trips, and rests on top of a hill above a prime fishing spot accessible only by a covert trail. In 1980, a wildfire crawled across the hillside; subsequently, sapling trees sprouted in its wake the day owner Bill Charlson purchased the property. He built the rustic lodge and appropriately named it Lillaskog, which is German for, ‘small forest.’ Today it’s a two-story log cabin with wood-burning natural heat ventilation, and a common room complete with a fireplace, TV & book collection, and even a grand piano. The deck looks out over the Sierra backcountry just east of the town of Groveland. With over seven rooms uniquely named to match local fames like Tioga, El Capitan or Bridalveil, there’s no denying this place its unique character.

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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Those of you who have traveled with O.A.R.S. on previous rafting or multi-sport adventures are undoubtedly familiar with the efforts we take to create a comfortable camping experience for all our travelers. However, for those who have yet to experience the art of camping with O.A.R.S., allow us to share a few examples of what you should expect on a multi-day adventure:

First off, our guides are experts at finding the best camp spots away from other groups. You may often feel as though you are the only ones on the river. Camp may be at a still, sandy alcove on the water’s edge, or a sunny, green clearing among mammoth cedars and towering cliff faces. There are trailheads, fishing hideaways and swimming holes just a few moments away.

Upon arrival at camp, your guides will set up comfortable camp chairs, drinking water, a “loo with a view” (placed at a discrete location away from camp generally with a scenic vista), a hand-wash station, and a full-scale kitchen.

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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Ali McNabb is one of our adventurous Wyoming guides, a BBQ-loving gal originally from Austin, Texas. In addition to kayaking, she also enjoys bike riding, hiking and reading in her down time. McNabb worked previously at Trek American and has traveled abroad extensively in between seasons, mainly in Mexico, but also throughout South America, Turkey and Ethiopia. 

1.  How long have you been a guide?

I have been a guide for 5 years and been lucky in my guiding experience to have traveled throughout most of North America, exploring the most amazing National Parks and Provincial Parks imaginable.

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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As I recall my childhood with my father, there are a number of memories that stand out—getting our scuba diving certification in Monterey, photo-copying my hands on the copier at his office, backpacking trips to Yosemite, whale watching off the Farallon Islands, building a tree house together from scratch, and doing my general best to live up to everything that comes along with being daddy’s little girl.

In my mind, I’ve been fortunate to have the best parents in the world, and yet I don’t spend nearly as much time with them as I should. When I was in high school and college, hanging out with dad was at times an obligation—a constant reminder to push for success and prioritize the activities around me. These days, my dad and I are two of a kind, so annoyingly alike that we find ourselves debating just about everything, but learning from one another’s perspectives while respecting our subtle differences. Now, more than anything, I look forward to those encounters and relish our adult relationship.

This week, I’m driving up to southern Oregon with my dad to raft the Wild & Scenic Rogue River on a 4-day wine-tasting trip. What better way to celebrate the approach of Father’s Day than to disconnect in the outdoors? Since my dad is the owner of a software company specializing in big mainframe databases, I wanted to vacation somewhere that was free of the distractions of everyday life and would allow those responsibilities to flow furthest from his mind while offering us some good-old-fashioned quality father-daughter time. Since there’s no cell reception on the river or outlet to charge up a laptop, it’s the perfect setting to reconnect with each other.

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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Dear Waterblogged Readers,

Taking over a blog is like adopting a half-written book. There’s no outline for what is to come or someone to hold your pen along the way. It’s a delicate honor, one that is equally challenging as it is promising. Perhaps it’s similar to what makes adventure travel, adventurous; it’s the realization of the unknown, the fact that tomorrow will never be the same as today, and permitting that consciousness to settle into words.

Some of you may know me already, most do not; either way, I hope to bridge that gap as the months progress. Having worked at O.A.R.S. now for more than a year as the California & Oregon Adventure Consultant, I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to transition into a new role with such a fantastic adventure travel company! My employment history includes a background in publishing and environmental philanthropy, with an interest in geotourism and eco-conscious exploration.

Also transitioning into a new role at O.A.R.S. is Stacey Scott—a valued employee of several seasons and Angels Camp local. We’re confident Stacey will quickly establish herself as an even greater asset to our team and a wonderful resource for our travelers as the new California & Oregon Adventure Consultant.

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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It’s an early 6:00 AM rise, and I’m already hiking at a fast pace to beat the crowds to Half Dome. My eyes are still waking up to the idea, and I find myself suddenly wishing I were more physically prepared. I’m accompanied by my good friend, John DeGrazio—a Yosemite naturalist and guide—and a New York couple with big heavy packs and brand new gear, gators and all. The woman turns to John and whispers, “Is she going to make it?” referring to my tiny daypack and tank top attire. John laughs and whispers back, “Oh yeah, she’ll rock it!” I stop to take a quick photo of a chipmunk posing on a rock while the couple searches for sunscreen, John urges us onwards.

Nearing Vernal Falls on the mist trail, I put on rain gear for the next half mile. It’s almost June, which means the waterfalls are full and showering the path ahead. The trail’s elevation increases as we begin to encounter a series of switchbacks. Stopping momentarily for a bathroom break above Nevada Falls, I filter drinking water from the Merced River using John’s pump. “Not much further,” John promises.
 

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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As a supporting sponsor for the 2010 San Francisco Ocean Film Festival (SFOFF), O.A.R.S. donated a 4-day sea kayaking trip in Johnstone Strait, British Columbia as the grand prize for the on-site raffle (lucky winner being local Anne Trott of San Francisco). With tickets selling at $10 each, we helped raise over $3,000 for the festival and we’re delighted to support North America’s premier "cinemaquatic event." This year, SFOFF presented 40 highly commendable films that raised passionate feelings amongst it’s attendees. From Wednesday, February 3rd – Sunday, February 7th, each session brought new insight and understanding to the beauty, mystery and excitement of the seven seas and the obsessive connection that accompanies it. By popular demand, the seventh annual film festival was expanded to a five-day event in order to cater to their ever-growing, ever-adventurous audience.

Although there were many talented filmmakers present at Friday’s reception, below is a list of the awards given:

Coastal Culture Award
“In Altro Mare,” by Franco la Cecla

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Written by Lauren de Remer

O.A.R.S.' Marketing Communications Coordinator & Waterblogged Editor

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