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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.

Archive for the 'North Fork American River Rafting' Category

News, photos and information about rafting the North Fork of the American River, located between Lake Tahoe and Sacramento. The North Fork American River is a spring whitewater rafting classic run, with emerald green water and steep boulder-strewn rapids.

Weekly Whitewater Watch: August 1st – August 8th 2011

August 1, 2011.

*As we reach the end of our season, keep in mind that due to water flows some of our rivers are no longer run-able. If you don’t see a river listed below, we have stopped running it for the season!

California

Lower Klamath River CFS: 1,100-1,800 Minimum Age: 4 Weather: Partly cloudy this week followed by sunshine with highs in the low 90’s to lows in the mid 50's! This scenic three-day trip runs every Tuesday and Friday through the end of August, with plenty of room for more!

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Written by Brita Olson

Raised on a small island in Northern Michigan, Olson's love for running water developed at an early age. This love drove her away from the Midwest to California to begin work preserving sustainability and delving into the O.A.R.S. segment of adventure travel. Brita enjoys learning about other people, spending time on the water, excursions on her road bike and - when at all possible - combining the three.

Weekly Whitewater Watch: July 25th – August 1st 2011

July 25, 2011.

*As we reach the middle of our season, keep in mind that due to water flows some of our rivers are no longer run-able. If you don’t see a river listed below, we have stopped running it for the season!

California

Lower Klamath River CFS: 1,800-2,000. Current minimum age: 4. Weather: A few showers and scattered thunderstorms early this week followed by sunshine with highs in the low 90’s to lows in the mid 50's! This scenic three-day trip runs every Tuesday and Friday, with plenty of room for more!

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Written by Tianna Stieglitz

Stieglitz is a Hospitality/Tourism Management student from Purdue University. She's from Indiana (born and raised) and loves traveling and seeing new places. Among other hobbies, she love people, being outdoors in creation, and good laughs with friends.

Weekly Whitewater Watch: July 18th – July 25th 2011

July 18, 2011.

*As we reach the middle of our season, keep in mind that due to water flows some of our rivers are no longer run-able. If you don’t see a river listed below, we have stopped running it for the season!

California

Lower Klamath River – CFS: 2,100-2,400. Current minimum age: 4. Weather: A few showers and scattered thunderstorms early this week followed by sunshine with highs in the upper 80's to lows in the low 50's at night! This relaxing, scenic three-day adventure runs every Tuesday and Friday, with plenty of room for more!

Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Brita Olson

Raised on a small island in Northern Michigan, Olson's love for running water developed at an early age. This love drove her away from the Midwest to California to begin work preserving sustainability and delving into the O.A.R.S. segment of adventure travel. Brita enjoys learning about other people, spending time on the water, excursions on her road bike and - when at all possible - combining the three.

Weekly Whitewater Watch: July 11th – July 18th 2011

July 12, 2011.

Planning on taking an O.A.R.S. trip in the near future? Booked on an O.A.R.S. trip already? We present you with our weekly whitewater watch – a resource available to YOU, the interested adventure traveler. Check back every week for updates on rivers across the west! Here you will find information regarding weather, river flows, exciting trips being launched and feedback from our most recent travelers! Our goal is to provide you with answers to your questions and excite your adventurous spirit! Read on to discover what we have in store for you.

*As we reach the middle of our season, keep in mind that due to water flows some of our rivers are no longer run-able. If you don’t see a river listed below, we have stopped running it for the season!

California

Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Tianna Stieglitz

Stieglitz is a Hospitality/Tourism Management student from Purdue University. She's from Indiana (born and raised) and loves traveling and seeing new places. Among other hobbies, she love people, being outdoors in creation, and good laughs with friends.

Weekly Whitewater Watch: July 4th – July 11th 2011

July 5, 2011.

Planning on taking an O.A.R.S. trip in the near future? Booked on an O.A.R.S. trip already? We present you with our weekly whitewater watch – a resource available to YOU, the interested adventure traveler. Check back every week for updates on rivers across the west! Here you will find information regarding weather, river flows, exciting trips being launched and feedback from our most recent travelers! Our goal is to provide you with answers to your questions and excite your adventurous spirit! Read on to discover what we have in store for you.

California

Lower Klamath River – CFS: 4,000-5,000. Current minimum age: 4. Weather: Sunshine with highs in the low 80's to lows in the low 50's at night! Our first two trips of the season launch this week!

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Written by Brita Olson

Raised on a small island in Northern Michigan, Olson's love for running water developed at an early age. This love drove her away from the Midwest to California to begin work preserving sustainability and delving into the O.A.R.S. segment of adventure travel. Brita enjoys learning about other people, spending time on the water, excursions on her road bike and - when at all possible - combining the three.

Weekly Whitewater Watch: June 27th – July 4th 2011

June 27, 2011.

Planning on taking an O.A.R.S. trip in the near future? Booked on an O.A.R.S. trip already? We present you with our weekly whitewater watch – a resource available to YOU, the interested adventure traveler. Check back every week for updates on rivers across the west! Here you will find information regarding weather, river flows, exciting trips being launched and feedback from our most recent travelers! Our goal is to provide you with answers to your questions and excite your adventurous spirit! Read on to discover what we have in store for you.

California

Lower Klamath River – CFS: 4,000-5,000. Current minimum age: 4. Weather: expect some showers Tuesday and Wednesday, but otherwise sunshine with highs in the low 80's to lows in the low 50's at night! Two trips are heading out immediately after the 4th of July!

Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Tianna Stieglitz

Stieglitz is a Hospitality/Tourism Management student from Purdue University. She's from Indiana (born and raised) and loves traveling and seeing new places. Among other hobbies, she love people, being outdoors in creation, and good laughs with friends.

Weekly Whitewater Watch: June 20th – June 27th 2011

June 20, 2011.

Planning on taking an O.A.R.S. trip in the near future? Booked on an O.A.R.S. trip already? We present you with our weekly whitewater watch – a resource available to YOU, the interested adventure traveler. Check back every week for updates on rivers across the west! Here you will find information regarding weather, river flows, exciting trips being launched and feedback from our most recent travelers! Our goal is to provide you with answers to your questions and excite your adventurous spirit! Read on to discover what we have in store for you.

California

Lower Klamath River – CFS*: 5,000-6,000. Weather: sunshine all week with highs in the upper 80's to lows in the low 50's at night. Still awaiting our busy season on the Lower Klamath – early July! We already have two trips booked immediately after the 4th of July! Call now to experience this three day, Class II, forested river trip featuring beach camping, rafting and inflatable kayaking in WARM water!

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Written by Brita Olson

Raised on a small island in Northern Michigan, Olson's love for running water developed at an early age. This love drove her away from the Midwest to California to begin work preserving sustainability and delving into the O.A.R.S. segment of adventure travel. Brita enjoys learning about other people, spending time on the water, excursions on her road bike and - when at all possible - combining the three.

Weekly Whitewater Watch: June 13th – June 20th 2011

June 13, 2011.

Planning on taking an O.A.R.S. trip in the near future? Booked on an O.A.R.S. trip already? We present you with our weekly whitewater watch – a resource available to YOU, the interested adventure traveler. Check back every Monday for updates on rivers across the west! Here you will find information regarding weather, river flows, exciting trips being launched weekly and feedback from recent travelers! Our goal is to provide you with answers to your questions and excite your adventurous spirit! Read on to discover what we have in store for you.


California:

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Written by Brita Olson

Raised on a small island in Northern Michigan, Olson's love for running water developed at an early age. This love drove her away from the Midwest to California to begin work preserving sustainability and delving into the O.A.R.S. segment of adventure travel. Brita enjoys learning about other people, spending time on the water, excursions on her road bike and - when at all possible - combining the three.

Happy Star Wars Day – May The 4th Be With You!

May 4, 2009.

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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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

Whitewater Rafting on the North Fork American River w/O.A.R.S. Guides

April 9, 2009.

I hadn’t been whitewater rafting on the North Fork American River in probably a decade, and now I’m wondering why it took me so long to get back.  The North Fork offers translucent emerald green water… tight, technical, boulder-strewn rapids… steep forested canyon walls… lots and lots of waterfowl… numerous waterfalls flowing from canyon walls… wildflowers! wildflowers! wildflowers!

Many of the California/Oregon raft guides have made their way back from their winter vacations and are participating in two weeks of guide training.  For new O.A.R.S. hires, it’s a chance to practice guiding through new rapids and experience new rivers… for the returning guides it’s a chance to work out the winter kinks.  James Rodger, O.A.R.S. California/Oregon Regional Manager, invited me to join his crew of 14 yesterday.

The North Fork American is a spring run – the flow depends on snowmelt and rain… no dam-released flows here.  The weather may not always be ideal this time of year.  Most days are sunny and in the 60s and 70s, however, sometimes we get late spring rains.  With proper clothing and gear (I highly recommend a dry suit), a little rain or chilly weather just doesn’t matter.  Hey – we’re going to get wet anyway.  Mother nature gave us a little of everything yesterday… gray skies, downpours, sun, drizzle, sun.  The weather didn’t dampen our spirits though.  We were too busy paddling hard through Slaughter’s Sluice, Chamberlain’s Falls, ZigZag, Achilles’ Heel, Bogus Thunder, Grand Slalom, and Staircase.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor