On The WaterFront…

Peak water flows are dropping, but there is still plenty of whitewater for last-minute summer fun. Because the California and U.S. West whitewater rafting seasons are beginning to wind down, some O.A.R.S.’ office staff members have been able to get away to experience our trips. Tyra, our California/Oregon Adventure Consultant, is just back from O.A.R.S.’ Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser Rivers trip. The Class IV Canada whitewater apparently offered some of the biggest, baddest whitewater she has experienced. In addition, there were so many bear and Bald Eagle sightings they almost became old news. Tyra loved the region so much, she started looking into real estate. We’ll see if we can keep her interested in California rivers for at least a few more years. I’m just back from the Green River through the Gates of Lodore, where Debbie, one of our long-time Adventure Consultants, is right now. We’re all looking forward to her report – this is her 13th O.A.R.S. rafting trip. I can tell you I was deeply inspired by the moonshadows on the canyon walls. Azz is out on Hells Canyon section of the Snake River in Idaho, no doubt enjoying the O.A.R.S. “Wine on the River” trip featuring Ironstone Vineyards wines. The trip was originally intended to take place on the Middle Fork Salmon, but due to fires, the trip was moved. Steve, our marketing director and intrepid mountain biking and whitewater fiend, just returned from the Upper Klamath River in Northern California. “It’s definitely different than the typical Class IV California pool and drop rivers. It’s more like a continuous steep slide of Class IV whitewater…big fun. All the passengers were there for the whitewater, not the scenery, and they weren’t disappointed.” Other News… The Tuolumne River Trust (http://www.tuolumne.org) will be hosting public hearings on Wednesday, September 5, 6:30 pm at the Sonora Opera Hall and on Thursday, September 6, 6:30 pm at Downey High School in Modesto. The Topic? The city of San Francisco wants to take more water from the Tuolumne River to deliver to the Bay Area. Approximately 60% of this additional water would support new outdoor water use, such as for lawns and office parks.