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

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Spirit of the Stanislaus Event In Angels Camp  ~  Sunday, June 7th  ~  Activities Begin 2:30 p.m. 

To mark the 30th anniversary of the filling of the Stanislaus River Canyon, which flooded a unique limestone river canyon that used to attract over 70,000 whitewater rafters, hikers and other visitors every summer, the “Spirit of the Stanislaus” event  is planned for Angels Camp, California, on Sunday, June 7. 

The event will be held at Utica Park between 2:30 and 6:00 p.m., with live music, food and beverage vendors, speakers and a raffle to benefit Friends of the River (FOR), one of the event’s official sponsors. An evening showing of historic and contemporary river films, including the recent IMAX film “Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk,” will conclude the day’s festivities, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Might I suggest a whitewater rafting trip on the Stanislaus River followed by a trip to the 81st annual Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee in Angels Camp.  Events are held literally around the corner from our world headquarters – honk as you pass by.

A trip on ‘The Stan’  means steep, stellar, technical Class IV whitewater, groves of Giant Sequoia trees, bountiful blooming dogwood trees and Monday morning bragging rights (the Stanislaus has some of the most technical Class IV whitewater rafting in the state). Don’t think too long or hard before booking – this river is near the end of its run for the 2009 season.  (It might be do-able for one or two more weeks  before the flows are too low for commercial boating and you’ll have to wait until next spring – you don’t want that, do you?)

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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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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Written by Tracy

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Rafting the North Fork of the Stanislaus is a constant temptation in April and May (and sometimes well into June depending on the Sierra snow pack) – this STELLAR Class IV Sierra river is literally just up the road from the O.A.R.S. HQ. After years of river rafting, after experiencing dozens of California rivers and hundreds of days on various rivers, I finally found my way onto “The Stan.” I joined an O.A.R.S. “fam” trip with local and regional VIPs and businesses including folks from:

• U.S. Forest Service
• Bear Valley Mountain Resort
• Dorrington Inn
• Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway
• Calaveras County Water District
• Arnold Rim Trail
• Calaveras County Visitors Bureau
• Northern California Power Authority (NCPA)
• Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch/Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Tour
• Quantum Leap Coaching
• Calaveras Council of Governments
• Greater Arnold Business Association
• All Outdoors  (the other outfitter permitted to run The Stan)  (If I’ve forgotten anyone – please let me know!)

I can wax eloquently until I’ve exhausted myself here, but I honestly don’t think I can express to you the true beauty of this river and it’s steep, tight, scenic canyon – it’s one to experience for yourself. The rapids are thrilling and come at you fast and furious.  No doubt you are “in the moment” throughout the day – this river demands attention.  The day brings crystal clear emerald green water; a deep alpine forest of towering pine and fir trees, as well as some of the largest Giant Sequoia trees in the world; staircase drops, chutes, tight squeezes between boulders and an occasional float through calm water; and interesting rafting companions one may normally never have a chance to meet or interact with. 

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Some folks in the office are sneaking off for a quick 1-day rafting trip on the North Fork of the Stanislaus – just up the road from the O.A.R.S. HQ here in Angels Camp.  The Stan offers some of the most technical Class IV whitewater rafting in California.  Think tight technical boulder-strewn rapids and steep granite-filled and lush green canyon walls.  The day ends amongst giant Sequoia trees in Calaveras Big Trees State Park. 

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Written by Tracy

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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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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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O.A.R.S. Founder and President, George Wendt, his son Tyler, Operations Manager, and Steve Markle, resident marketing genius, recently paddled the New Melones Reservoir from Parrot’s Ferry up to the Stanislaus River inflow at Rose Creek.  (I know they were up to something… probably plotting a new O.A.R.S. multi-sport trip or some other California whitewater rafting-based adventure.) The inflow at Rose Creek is about 3 miles downriver from the original put-in for the Stanislaus whitewater rafting adventure and just downstream from the major rapids of the day. I’m sure the experience brought up many memories for George.  Through the early 1980s this stellar Sierra Nevada run was the lifeblood of O.A.R.S.  George established the HQ just up the road, and despite the disheartening loss of this run on ‘The Stan’ to a downriver dam in 1983, the HQ still exists in the same place.  O.A.R.S. now runs the Class IV section of the North Fork of the Stanislaus through the Giant Sequoia groves of Calaveras Big Trees State Park.

George, Steve, Tyler

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Hot sun, cold water, bulging muscles, big smiles, world-class California whitewater rafting await you on the North Fork of the Stanislaus River… there’s still some time (and snowmelt) left to get on this stunning river.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Well folks, there’s still snow in the high country, so we might be able to squeeze out another week of rafting on the North Fork of the Stanislaus River. It was a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l weekend in Northern California (if not a wee bit HOT) and The Stan was flowing about 900 cfs (cubic feet per second) on Saturday. My husband and I hiked up to Whiteout Rapid on the "trail" suggested to us by James Rodger, our California Operations Manager. (read… we bushwhacked about a mile upriver – you know, he’s from Canada and I suspect they have a different perception of trail than us Yanks)

Here’s a few images of The Stan…

Looking upriver at Whiteout Rapid…

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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