Click here to view the video version of this interview.

Have you heard the one aboot the Canadian who migrated to California for the summer? That’s right, our California & Oregon regional manager has come down to foster the camaraderie of a tight California rafting guide crew and wow everyone with his off-the-charts Karaoke renditions of Sinatra. Avoiding the bitter cold each winter, James Rodger escapes to Patagonia to raft the wild Class V whitewater of the Futaleufu River. Having started river guiding in 1996, Rodger has worked for O.A.R.S. now for seven years. He loves to cook a variety of local, organic dishes and enjoys casting a fly rod into a river or stream on his days off. He is known for his friendly personality, can crack a joke in any crowd setting and takes pride in his Canadian heritage – still watching the Canadian news at night. Rodger has the confidence you want on a river trip; he is always happy to share his knowledge about a given area, and goes out of his way to make sure that our guests have a trip of a lifetime.

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.

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.

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

Written by Lauren de Remer

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

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Clifton Paul Fadiman said it best, "To take wine into our mouths is to savor a droplet of the river of human history."  Three Northern California whitewater rafting outfitters take his words literally and offer combination wine tasting and river rafting trips.  However, no other outfitter offers more river options and variety of vintners than O.A.R.S.

Two other California outfitters, Adventure Collection and Mariah, offer wine tasting trips, however, they are based solely from the South Fork of the American River.  Mariah offers a wine-tasting presentation in their Beverage Garden in their riverside camp and AC offers one-day rafting trips combined with one-day wine country touring.

O.A.R.S. wine tasting and river rafting trips offered this summer include:

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Have you booked a whitewater rafting, sea kayaking trip or multi-sport vacation to Mexico or Canada with O.A.R.S.?  You may want to read the following Associated Press article that outlines the new I.D. rules for travelers crossing the U.S. border:

New rules requiring passports or new high-tech documents to cross the United States’ northern and southern borders tale effect Monday, June 1, 2009.

In 2001 a driver’s license and an oral declaration of citizenship were enough to cross the Canadian and Mexican borders; Monday’s changes are the last step in a gradual ratcheting up of the rules. Now thousands of Americans are preparing by applying for passports or obtaining special driver’s licenses that can also be used to cross the border.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Mindy Gleason, who has worked with and has been whitewater rafting with O.A.R.S. for nearly two decades, recently returned from the Upper Navua River in Fiji as the first person to navigate each river included in the O.A.R.S.’ Seven Whitewater Wonders of the World.

These crème de la crème whitewater rafting trips include:

• Colorado River through the Grand Canyon
• Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho
• Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser Rivers in British Columbia
• Futaleufu River in Chile
• Klinaklini River in Coastal British Columbia
• Tuolumne River near Yosemite National Park in California
• Upper Navua River in Fiji

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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The bears are out at Chilko Lake!  One of our Canada whitewater rafting guides was out kayaking on the lake and had an incredible opportunity to get close (though not too close, of course) and take a few pictures.  Many thanks to Jamie Kathol for sharing these incredible images with us.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Just got my National Geographic Adventure magazine in the mail this morning… and there is a sweet article about the Arctic’s Firth River. The trip is led by our very own Brian McCutcheon of O.A.R.S. sister company, R.O.A.M.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Hey, we’re not the only ones who think the Lodge at Chilko rocks! Check out the July issue of Outside Magazine for the article “From Vancouver to Labrador, Canada’s best new summer adventures. Plus: Why heading north with a weak dollar isn’t as costly as you might think.”

The Chilko Lodge, located just north of Whistler, is basecamp for the O.A.R.S. Chilko Multi-Sport trip. The action-packed itinerary for this trip includes five days and four nights of hiking, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking (on Chilko Lake), as well as fly fishing, yoga, hot-tubbing and just plain relaxing. There is still space available on the following dates: 6/29, 7/13, 7/20, and 8/10.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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