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.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Summertime, sweet summertime:  school is out, warm weather is here, and you just might be ready to sign up for that whitewater rafting trip you’ve long been considering.  There’s no time like the present!

Ask yourself some questions first to help you decide what river trip is right for you. Be honest.  What do you like? Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you enjoy stepping out of your comfort zone? Are you looking for a fun, one-day rafting trip for the entire family? Have you rafted before, loved it and want to step it up a notch? Are you looking for something close to home? Are you looking for stunning scenery? Do you want to combine your river trip with another activity to turn it into a vacation?

California rivers are rated Class I – V.  Here is a brief explanation of river ratings to help you decide what is right for you:

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Written by Tracy

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What would Luke Skywalker do?  Get out on a river and celebrate, of course!  (I’m stuck behind the computer all day-fortunately I’ve got my lightsaber app for my iPhone.)  Recent heavy rains throughout the state have -thankfully- added to our reservoirs and pumped up the volume in nearby rivers.  Big flows in Northern California = big fun for California whitewater rafting:

These flows were taken from Dream Flows website at 7:00 AM:

South Fork American River – 4048 cfs
Usual summer flows are typically less than 2000 cfs – so it’s a great time to experience the South Fork at super fun, big flows.

North Fork American River – 5030 cfs

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A California whitewater rafting trip on the Merced River near Yosemite National Park begins with Class III-IV rapids and passes through fun, bouncy wave train rapids. A spring run almost always means there will be an incredible display of Sierra Nevada’s gold-plated California poppies.  The terrain is currently lush emerald green smothered with orange poppies and purple lupine.  Daytime temps have been in the 70s, and the skies have been clear.  It’s a great time to be in Northern California.

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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.

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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).

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Time for those rain dances… we could use all the help we can get.  One of the best spring California whitewater rafting runs is the Merced River just outside the gates of Yosemite National Park.  More snow in the mountains and more rain in the foothills = big fun in the spring!  But don’t take my word for it…

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Tom Stienstra’s column in today’s San Francisco Chronicle (“FINDING RELIEF:  Fires, gas prices limit destinations for outdoors trips”) rates favorite destination spots throughout California.  (Hey, we all have our opinions.)  According to Stienstra, Big Sur, the Trinity Alps, the Lassen Volcanic area and Sequoia-Kings Canyon are all areas to avoid due to being “devastated by low lake levels, heavy smoke from fires and high temperatures.” (have-nots)

He got it right when giving Yosemite National Park an approval rating.  I encourage anyone joining a Northern California whitewater rafting trip to visit Yosemite.  Additionally, I would encourage anyone visiting Yosemite to consider adding a trip on the Merced River or the Tuolumne River.  (The Tuolumne River water flow is controlled by up river dams, and is runnable March through September.  Merced River flows are dependent on snow melt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Commercial trips usually run April through June.)

Here’s what Stienstra had to say about Yosemite:

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I caught up with James Rodger a second ago. (He’s O.A.R.S. California/Oregon Operations Manager). We haven’t seen him around the office much lately, and I wanted to know where’s he’s been. Inquiring minds want to know. (I thought maybe he was hiding out because his rockstar girlfriend just left to guide river trips in Peru…)

He told me, “Hey, we’re busy! California whitewater rafting is up. I think people are staying closer to home maybe due to gas prices. We just had some stellar runs on the Tuolumne River this past week or so. It was flowing around 3000 cfs, which is just a great flow. We had great folks and great flows. It’s all good.”

For the record, I think it’s always ‘good’ for James. He’s definitely the go-to guy, the one you want to be on a river with. Easy going. Experienced. Upbeat. Well-traveled. Playful. Responsible.

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Thanks for the HOLLA Tom Stienstra! There’s a fun, informative article on California whitewater rafting found in the online version of the San Francisco Chronicle – the SFGate.com. As Stienstra mentions, for the highest flows – go now!

The Merced River near Yosemite National Park – a free flowing river – may have just another week or so left in the commercial boating season. (Folks in kayaks or inflatable kayaks could probably eek out another couple of weeks.) Don’t let the opportunity pass you by – it’s a super fun and accessible river with bouncy, splashy rapids.

The Tuolumne River (also very near to Yosemite National Park) will run all summer and into September.

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