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 'Grand Canyon Dory Boat Trips' Category
Life offers us certain magical treasures that cannot be duplicated. Eating a fresh, warm, buttery croissant in a Parisian café. Sharing your first glimpse into Yosemite Valley with someone special. Sharing a pennant victory on home soil with your baseball-loving kids. Experiencing a whitewater river trip in a sleek, classic dory.
Smooth, solid, surreal…As stylish as it is burly, a dory is to the river what an Italian sports car is to mean, urban streets and rowdy rural routes. No other boat is as capable, safe or elegant on the wild waters that O.A.R.S. explores. Beyond their stout, thoughtful design dories hold a soulful connection to the river and a heritage of western exploration. Combined, the qualities of the vessel make for an unmatched and unforgettable journey.
Dories are made for rock and roll. They’re also finely tuned to provide classic amenities. Hardwood-hulled but ultra-buoyant, they slice walls of wave, buck through rapids and land large drops with ease (and more than enough splash).
Don George, the Adventure Collection’s Web Editor in Chief, is a highly respected and pioneering travel journalist. He was most recently the Global Travel Editor for Lonely Planet Publications. Prior to that, Don was Travel Editor at the San Francisco Examiner & Chronicle and then edited Salon.com’s travel site, Wanderlust. An interview with GC Dory Guide, Jeffe Aronson, is currently featured on Don George’s award-winning blog – “Don’s Place.” Well done Jeffe!
Here is the complete interview…
Well Guided: Conversations with Top AC Guides
Mar 30, 2009
Many thanks to Pamela Newberry for these incredible images from her recent O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon Dories trip! We’d all love to hear about your experience hiking out of the Canyon from Phantom Ranch on the Bright Angel Trail. Was it the most difficult hike of your life? Was it relatively easy but l-o-n-g? Did you have enough water and snacks? Could you refill your water bottles on the trail? What was your hiking guide like? What was your experience like staying at Phantom Ranch? Inquiring minds want to know…
Here is a short video clip of Bruce Keller guiding his dory One Eyed Jack and guests, Dave and Betsy, through a fun little rapid on the Colorado River. This clip was taken on an O.A.R.S. Dories trip in October 2008.
Longtime whitewater rafting and dory guide, Bruce Keller, sure knows how to show folks a good time in 36 Mile Rapid on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon! This ‘bow riding’ video was taken on an October 2008 O.A.R.S. Dories trip from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek.
As longtime O.A.R.S.whitewater rafting and dory guide, Bill “Bronco” Bruchak states, “I love sharing the magic of beautiful places with others.” Indeed, sharing time with Bronco in the Grand Canyon in his dory, The Yampa, is a magical experience. His rhythmic, hypnotic stroke of the oars creates a floating meditative experience in one of the most spectacular places on earth. Whether rowing flat water, entering a Class 10 rapid, or spotting big horn sheep high up on a canyon wall, his zen-like poise does not waver.
Bronco is a humble and passionate man with a kind soul (and huge heart) who lives and breathes the Great Outdoors. He isn’t simply connected to the places he visits; he is an integral partner. He does not hang up his oars at the end of the day or the end of the season. He IS the dory, the river, the history, the wilderness… Each story he relates deepens your experience and expresses his true love of the Canyon.
Thank you Bronco, for continuing to facilitate the magic…
Longtime whitewater rafting guide, pirate, bike-shop owner, mountain biker, entrepreneur, real estate developer and one of my personal favorite storytellers, Rondo Buecheler, guides his dory, Shoshone, through House Rock Rapid on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. This clip was also filmed on a recent 18-day O.A.R.S./Grand Canyon Dories trip from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek.
Longtime whitewater rafting guide, Bruce Keller, takes his dory, One Eyed Jack, on a sweet ride through House Rock Rapid. House Rock is located near mile 17 and is given a rapid rating of 4-7. –Colorado River rapid ratings are given on a scale of 1 – 10, with 10 the most difficult. Ratings are based on river flows of between 5,000 and 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs).– This clip was filmed recently on an 18-day O.A.R.S./Grand Canyon Dories trip from Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek, and the flow was approximately 12,100 cfs.
There’s no denying it… I’ve fallen under the spell of the Grand Canyon. Here is a sampling of some images taken from a recent whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River with O.A.R.S. / Grand Canyon Dories. If you have any photos/videos/stories you would like to share, please send them to info@oars.com. We’d love to hear from you and we’ll post them here with your permission.
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