Wine on the River? Sign Me Up.

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?

It wasn’t necessarily the thought of a new adventure, or even the wild and scenic river practically in my backyard that had me jumping into a boat that summer.  It was the lure of good friends, great food and copious amounts of wine from an up-and-coming winemaker that really sealed the deal.   (Disclaimer:  That winemaker, Kate MacDonald, also happens to fall under the “good friends” category.)  

Kate had promised me gourmet food from Chef Damon Jones of Larks Restaurant at the Ashland Springs Hotel, who had delivered amazing meals river-side in the past, along with all the Boyle-MacDonald Napa Cab I could drink.  Add in a wild ride down the Tuolumne River (finally, Class IV) and camping under the stars, and I thought it sounded like the perfect getaway.   

Near the end of August, my boyfriend (now husband) and I, Kate and her husband Craig, and two other friends made our way to a little rafting shanty just outside the border of Yosemite National Park where our guides, Chef Damon and his partner Eva, and a small group of other eager rafters and winos were meeting up for a trip of a lifetime.

The trip started with a crazy ride down a winding dirt road just wide enough for a truck.  Did I mention we were on a school bus?  I think the O.A.R.S. team was trying to prepare us for Clavey Falls the next day.  Once we arrived to our drop off point, we had to make it down a rocky cliff and cross the river to our campsite for the night.  So much adventure and we hadn’t even gotten on a boat yet.   

I’ve been known to whip up some fancy (by beans and weenies standards) camping meals on a propane stove, but nothing could compare to what was being set up when we got across the river to our camping spot.  An outdoor kitchen is the best way to put it.  And while we scanned the area for the perfect resting spot deep in the river canyon, Chef Damon began working his culinary magic.  As they prepped away we sat around in a circle getting to know our travel companions, letting the wine and the conversation flow.   

It was a great way to ease into the trip and have some time to think about what lay ahead downriver the following day.  I’ll be honest, I was nervous.   My friends were all experienced paddlers, but I was a newbie.  All I could think about was how I absolutely did not want to fall out of the raft.  Until the appetizers were served, that is.  

I wish I had a photographic memory and could relay the menu that evening (or any of the food from that trip for that matter), but I do remember being completely and totally satisfied…even after a little sand got on my plate.  Lesson number one the guides teach, don’t set your wine glass in the sand and then pick it up over your meal.  I was hoping that the rules of the river would be a little easier to remember.  

Toward the end of the summer, the Tuolumne a.k.a. “The T” runs calmer than early in the season, but only slightly.  Several times a week water is released from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and you can literally watch the water rise as you gear up for big water ahead.  Ok, now I was really nervous.  

We got briefed, geared up and ready to hop on our boats.  Our guide was Chris Moore, or Seemore as the other guides and locals like to call him.  He definitely takes the river seriously, but he likes to have some fun along the way too.  By day two he would have me at ease in the front position and “surfing” rapids.

The Tuolumne doesn’t give you a chance to get comfortable with what you’re doing.  Within the first two miles you’re going for it.  That’s what I wanted, right?  Never mind my white knuckles, death grip on the paddle and feet jammed into a crevice underneath the seat in front to keep myself from getting catapulted out the side.  I pretty much realized right away that I was getting dumped at some point.  The better question was would it be just me or all seven of us?  

So, about that waterfall I mentioned earlier.  That one is sprung on you the first day of rafting.  And what’s even better is that right before you run it, the guides find a little spot to park the rafts so they can take you over to a nice lookout to see what looms ahead.  That my friends is why I signed up for Wine on the River—after barreling over a waterfall in an inflatable raft, I was going to need a glass of wine to say the least.  

Up to that point, I had managed to stay in the raft.  No way that would happen on Clavey Falls, one of the best known rapids in the West. It had a series of three dips that you had to run just right, or else.  Hence the reason for our guides pulling over to show us what loomed ahead.  

The first boat took off and started making its way into the roaring madness.  We all watched from above with an uncomfortable grimace on our faces, unsure about what we were going to witness.  Wait, they made it?  The first boat actually made it through and with everyone on board.  I thought, “We got Chris, we can make it.”  And just like that we were barreling down a waterfall.  All I remember is a lot of shouting (Chris giving us commands from behind) and walls of water all around.  It was a blur.  A scary as heck and totally exhilarating blur…that not only did we survive, but somehow managed to stay in the boat.  For the first time on the trip, I was at ease.  

After the rush of our first day rafting, we made our way to the campsite for the night—a perfectly sandy beach for flying kites and playing frisbee, a calm spot to swim and just enough shade to snooze.  

Life is good when you’re somewhere along the Tuolumne River with friends by your side, wine in hand and a chef cooking you dinner in the background.  

We had a whole night of laughs, another day on the river and stories that would go into the vault.   It truly was a trip of a lifetime.

Cari Morgan is the Director of PR for The Kathleen Show.  When she’s not out on an adventure, you can find her helping at a local winery.  She currently lives in the Sierra Foothills.

Written by Cari Morgan

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