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 'Photo & Video Collection' Category
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.
Some say Tuolumne River rafting trips feature the best California whitewater! O.A.R.S. offers whitewater rafting trips on the Tuolumne River near Yosemite National Park, including 1-, 2- or 3-day trips from big water in the spring to award-winning “Wine on the River” trips throughout the seven-month season. The Tuolumne (or "T") is located between the charming foothill community of Groveland and Yosemite’s northern Big Oak Flat entrance. The meeting place is often La Casa Loma store, at the intersection of Highway 120 and Ferretti Road approximately 7 miles from Groveland. Once you are deep in the Wild and Scenic river canyon, it is hard to believe you are just a 3-hour drive from San Francisco.
California whitewater rafting on the American River-South Fork, near Sacramento, is the ideal rafting trip for beginners, families and anyone looking for an easy rafting getaway in California. This river, located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, is approximately a one-hour drive from Sacramento and three hours from San Francisco. We refer to it as "everyone’s favorite river" because it’s a great place to learn to raft and a place to return to time again, no matter your whitewater rafting experience.
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.
Tyler, our Operations Manager -and relative newlywed- is recently back from the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. He participated in an O.A.R.S.’ sponsored Wilderness First Responder course from Lees Ferry to Phantom Ranch. (O.A.R.S. whitewater rafting guides are reliable, responsible, experienced and committed to enhancing your safety. All are qualified in CPR and First Aid and many earn their credentials in wilderness first responder, swift water rescue and Leave No Trace.)
He claims perfect weather, 9000-12000 cfs, great instructors and all clean lines for 10 days from Lees to Phantom. Hard to doubt him with that grin plastered to his face.
Book by March 31, 2009, and save $250 on any OARS 2009 whitewater rafting/photography trips. You don’t need to be a photographer – or even have much interest in photography – to enjoy these trips. (All include exciting whitewater rafting, camping under a stellar night sky, hiking, lazing around camp, abundant food and drink…) However – All O.A.R.S. photography trips are appropriate for novices, budding amateurs and professionals. These adventures provide a supportive and educational environment to practice and improve photography skills. We put you in some of the West’s most scenic locations with access to some of the country’s most successful, creative and cutting-edge photographers so that you may unleash your creative potential. The emphasis on all trips is primarily landscape photography, and you will certainly be able to relax and savor your beautiful surroundings.
A friend recently sent me this Gabriel Garcia Marquez quote she found in the book Cuba: "…much sooner than later, reality ends up by recognizing the imagination was right."Here’s another Idaho whitewater rafting video, this time featuring the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, to whet your imagination:
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