As you may know, Angels Camp is working hard to brand itself as the Base Camp for Mountain Sports in the Sierra.  A lot of our rural tourism economy is based upon recreation.  Calaveras County boasts wonderful skiing, trails for hiking and mountain biking, caving, horseback riding, fishing, sea kayaking and other water sports.   Currently, the county shares a wonderful whitewater kayaking resource with Amador County on the Mokelumne River.

Missing from the logical mix of recreational activities available to residents and visitors, however, is a good section of whitewater that is readily available to the general public.  Currently, the only viable whitewater section in the county is on the North Fork of the Stanislaus River near Calaveras Big Trees.  This section of river, however, is too difficult for most people since it is a challenging Class IV run that can only be rafted during the spring in a year with normal snowfall.  Even with this year’s exceptionally heavy precipitation, this only extended the Upper Stanislaus’ availability through July.

Written by George Wendt

George Wendt, founder and president of O.A.R.S. is a true pioneer in the adventure travel industry. His passion for running rivers was born in the 60s, when he became one of the first 1100 people to descend the seldom-traveled Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In the decades since, O.A.R.S. has set the industry standard for first-class rafting as well as environmentally and culturally responsible travel on over 35 rivers and coastlines worldwide. To date they’ve positively affected the lives of over 500,000 travelers and in 2008 and 2009 the company was recognized by National Geographic Adventure as “The Best River & Sea Outfitter on Earth” based on education, sustainability, quality of service, spirit of adventure and references.

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George and Pam Wendt, founders of O.A.R.S., moved to Angels Camp in 1974 to set up a base of operations for the Stanislaus River and offer guided rafting trips.  But George recalls that it was the Class II San Juan River in Utah where they took their two sons Clavey and Tyler, aged 7 and 5 at the time, on their first rafting adventure.  This trip instilled a passion for the outdoors and rivers in their children that they now want to pass on to others.   

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Written by Cari Morgan

Cari Morgan is a freelance writer and founder of Evoke PR. She currently lives and plays in the Sierra Foothills.

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I know I’ve been chatting up the Mokelumne River lately.  It is located just up the road from the O.A.R.S. Angels Camp HQ – and it is under threat from a proposed reservoir expansion. So, it’s on my mind. Even though there are no commercial whitewater rafting trips on the Class II Electra Run, O.A.R.S. does offer a handful of special fundraising trips each summer.  (see previous post)

The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) has released the draft environmental impact report for its Water Supply Management Plan 2040. The plan includes expanding Pardee Reservoir. The reservoir would be enlarged by more than 1,200 acres, destroying miles of the Mokelumne River and inundating the historic Middle Bar Bridge.

If you have an opinion about EBMUD’s plans for Pardee Reservoir, whether you support expansion or oppose expansion, tell it to the board members.  There will be a review the water supply plan, including the Pardee expansion, on Tuesday, August 11. EBMUD hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 11.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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The “Electra Run” on the Mokelumne River, located just up Hwy 49 from the O.A.R.S. Angels Camp HQ, has been the staging ground for some noteworthy fundraisers. Most recently, O.A.R.S. sponsored a June 28th whitewater rafting trip to benefit the Foothill Conservancy.  The trip raised approximately $5000 – with all funds going directly to the Conservancy. O.A.R.S. arranged for the special-use permits, provided all the logistics, rafts, paddling gear, and of course, stellar guides.

The Foothill Conservancy is working to prevent East Bay Municipal District (EBMUD) from expanding Pardee Reservoir – which would inundate some of the river – destroying the Electra Run, as well as riverside habitat. It is their hope that the Mokelumne River will be designated a National Wild & Scenic River.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Join a whitewater rafting trip on the Mokelumne River (near O.A.R.S. HQ in Angels Camp) and join Foothill Conservancy’s efforts in protecting this special stretch of river.

The public will have the rare opportunity to raft the Mokelumne River with O.A.R.S. on July 19th. There will be two, possibly three, special river rafting trips on the Mokelumne’s six-mile Electra-Middle Bar run to benefit the Foothill Conservancy and support its work to protect and restore the Mokelumne River.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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