After living approximately 1.8 miles from O.A.R.S. headquarters just outside of Angels Camp, California for more than 2 years, I decided it was time to go on a rafting trip.  And since I had previously been on some run-of-the-mill, average Class II-III rapids in the past, I also decided it was time to up the ante and take on some big guns.   Did those other rafting trips in the past even count if there was no thrill?

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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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It’s 7pm on a warm mid-August evening and I’m halfway down the wall of the Tuolumne River canyon. Far below me, meandering like a silvered serpent, runs the river—still distant though I’ve already been hiking downhill for half an hour. Faint murmurs of running water and fragments of voices from a rafting party camped on a lone sand bar rise up to greet me on the delicious, velvety-soft air. 

I hadn’t planned on walking this far down—the climb back up will leave me exhausted and drenched in sweat—but the canyon pulls me in, each turn in the trail promising yet another closer view of the river, and I can’t help myself. The opposite hillside has already taken on the deepening yellows of late summer grasses, accented by the oranges and reds of the setting sun; and upriver the canyon reveals its source, a glimpse of high peaks and lingering snowy patches on the Sierra crest. The scene is utterly enchanting. 

Written by David Lukas

David Lukas is a professional naturalist and writer. For more than 20 years, he has conducted nature tours and classes in places such as Peru and Borneo. He is the author of Wild Birds of California and the newly revised Sierra Nevada Natural History guidebook, the classic hiker’s handbook to plants and animals of the Sierra Nevada. He also wrote the environment chapter for the Lonely Planet travel guide to Yosemite National Park, and several hundred newspaper and magazine articles on nature.

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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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CaliforniaTravelExpert.com editor, Veronica Hill, featured our Tuolumne “Wine on the River” trip as her pick of the day.

Our gourmet rafting trip features exciting Class III-IV whitewater rafting throughout the day, followed by comfortable beach camping, knowledgeable wine stewards, and gourmet cuisine prepared by a guest chef. California’s Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River is located just outside of Yosemite National Park, within a half-day’s drive from San Francisco and Sacramento. Scheduled 2-day trips on the “T” begin on May 4 and May 11 ($525 per person), and 3-day trips are planned for Aug. 17 and Aug. 23 ($791 per person).

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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We’d like to welcome new friends to the O.A.R.S. page on Facebook® and do some good in the process, so between now and Earth Day—April, 22nd—we’re donating $1 to the Tuolumne River Trust (up to a maximum of $2500) for every new O.A.R.S. fan.

Write on our wall. Listen in. Post your photos. Join a conversation. Tell us about your adventures. In turn, we’ll share with you timely photos and videos from our trips, as well as interesting news and special offers on some great adventures. Get to know the people behind the company—and help us get to know you.

The Tuolumne River:  Located just outside Yosemite National Park, the Tuolumne (pronounced Too-all-uh-me)  offers 18 miles of desolate canyon, thrilling Class III-IV rapids and hikes up side canyons carved by cascading waterfalls. It’s almost hard to imagine finding this kind of remote wilderness just a short drive from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Sitting in a sleek, stealth dory, content with my thoughts, I watched golden strands of silk drift through the late afternoon sunlight in the Grand Canyon. These strands, actually tiny ballooning spiders, carried me into another world. One so entirely peaceful and relaxing, that nearly a year after the experience, my memory escapes back to that moment daily.

Have you descended into the bowels of the Grand Canyon to face Class 10 rapids or stood at the rim in awe of the canyon’s enormity? Have you experienced Yellowstone National Park’s geysers from the boardwalks or on a sea kayak away from the shuffling masses? Do you remember your first night spent under a blanket of stars? Was it in a national park?

Yosemite National Park Ranger, Shelton Johnson, in the Ken Burns “National Parks: America’s Best Idea” documentary, stated the obvious so eloquently – and the eloquent so obviously. His words, “A single moment in a national park can last forever” still resonate with me more than a month after I first heard them.

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Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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Summertime, sweet summertime:  school is out, warm weather is here, and you just might be ready to sign up for that whitewater rafting trip you’ve long been considering.  There’s no time like the present!

Ask yourself some questions first to help you decide what river trip is right for you. Be honest.  What do you like? Are you an adrenaline junkie? Do you enjoy stepping out of your comfort zone? Are you looking for a fun, one-day rafting trip for the entire family? Have you rafted before, loved it and want to step it up a notch? Are you looking for something close to home? Are you looking for stunning scenery? Do you want to combine your river trip with another activity to turn it into a vacation?

California rivers are rated Class I – V.  Here is a brief explanation of river ratings to help you decide what is right for you:

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor

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