The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog » Cherry Creek http://blog.aorafting.com Read up on everything related to whitewater rafting on California rivers with All-Outdoors Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:00:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog http://blog.aorafting.com/feed-logo.png http://blog.aorafting.com 100 100 The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog - http://blog.aorafting.com It’s your choice: Cherry Creek or “Fear Factor” re-runs http://blog.aorafting.com/its-your-choice-cherry-creek-or-fear-factor-re-runs/ http://blog.aorafting.com/its-your-choice-cherry-creek-or-fear-factor-re-runs/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:00:30 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4120 It seems way too early to be saying “last call” for Cherry Creek since the season opened up just a few weeks ago, but what can you do.  The water is coming down and all we can do is enjoy it while it lasts.  So, all you adrenaline junkie whackos out there–make your bookings now or be forced to dry your tears while watching re-runs of “The Amazing Race” or “Fear Factor” and eating a gallon of ice cream.  Don’t let it come to that!  After Labor Day weekend the class five party is over.

Not sure what all the fuss is about?  Check out our Cherry Creek rafting reviews and find out.

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/its-your-choice-cherry-creek-or-fear-factor-re-runs/feed/ 0 Two weeks left for Tuolumne and Cherry Creek Rafting http://blog.aorafting.com/two-weeks-left-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek-rafting-2/ http://blog.aorafting.com/two-weeks-left-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek-rafting-2/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:10:27 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4080 It’s the count-down.  Two weeks left for upper and lower Tuolumne River trips.  As dam-controlled runs, these trips rely on releases from reservoirs that we have no control over.  So, this year we’ve been told we’ll have raftable flows through Labor Day weekend and that’s it!

Then it’s time for our Tuolumne  and Creek crews to pack up and head back to homebase.  We do still have limited availability on both these runs so get in touch with us–we’re happy to answer all your questions!

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/two-weeks-left-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek-rafting-2/feed/ 0 Cherry Bomb Gorge eats Cherry Pie for Breakfast http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-bomb-gorge-eats-cherry-pie-for-breakfast/ http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-bomb-gorge-eats-cherry-pie-for-breakfast/#comments Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:06:51 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4014 [

Cherry Bomb Gorge from Evan Garcia on Vimeo.

So you got the Tuolumne, right?  Class IV at regular flows, class -how-you-doin at high water.  Class V Clavey Falls all the time.  Above that, you got Cherry Creek, the toughest commercial run in the US.  Mile after mile of class V whitewater.  What’s above that, you ask?  Cherry Bomb Gorge, which is runnable only by world-class (and totally insane, evidently) kayakers.  This video by Evan Garcia impressed me so much I had to share!

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-bomb-gorge-eats-cherry-pie-for-breakfast/feed/ 0 Memories of Cherry Creek http://blog.aorafting.com/memories-of-cherry-creek/ http://blog.aorafting.com/memories-of-cherry-creek/#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:31:22 +0000 Jeremy http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3423 My fellow reservationist Ian joined me last August on the biggest, baddest river of them all: Cherry Creek. Both of us had talked about trying to tame the wild upper portion of the Tuolumne River for a couple years. But we hadn’t yet found the time, gas money and … okay, fine the confidence to actually go. It all finally came together last summer and with deep breaths, we jumped in.

For anyone who is scared off by Cherry Creek’s intimidating class V rating and legendary status as one of the most challenging runs in North America…you’re not alone. And I’ll be honest – it does live up to the hype. Which is precisely why if you have the chops, you should give it a shot. If you have rafting experience, pass the rapid swim test, and are physically fit to go, you must. One other unofficial requirement is being okay with having a near heart attack when you stare down the throat of each new rapid as you teeter on the top of a steep, watery abyss. If you fit these qualities, you will be just fine on Cherry Creek.

In all seriousness, any rafter who thrives off the adrenaline and excitement produced by hitting a perfect line with a sharp back paddle, shooting through a couple rocks and making a coordinated left turn to avoid falling out of a raft you are only secured to by your toes…this is the river for you. It may sound scary, but there is no bigger rush in any sport.

Ian and I entered the river that day as boys, and came out as men. Men who needed new, clean bathing suits after the Miracle Mile. The rapids were unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Tunnel Chute on the Middle Fork, Clavey Falls on the Tuolumne, Satan’s Cesspool on the South Fork; nothing compares to the rapids on Cherry Creek. It seemed like every corner we turned brought the roaring of a new nemesis. Class V rapid after class V rapid made for an amazing, intense, unforgettable day on the river.

And I can tell you there is no better, more accomplished feeling than getting to the bottom of the last rapid and looking back up (I mean way, way up – Cherry Creek drops an astounding 105 feet per mile, more than double the gradient on the Tuolumne. Trust me, you’ll notice!). And the best part? You’ll just want to hike those rafts back up to the top and do it all over again.

So when the Creek gets down to normal flows and we open up our reservation book for the most insane, incredible river rafting experience in the country later this summer, make sure to take a leap of faith and jump on a trip. You won’t regret it. These AO rafters sure didn’t!

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/memories-of-cherry-creek/feed/ 0 Cherry Creek Season Has Begun http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-creek-season-has-begun/ http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-creek-season-has-begun/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:14:34 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3956 At long last, flows have come down-to-doable on Cherry Creek.  Our esteemed Creek Crew got out there for a sporty training trip while flows were around 2000 CFS and now they are in the 1800 CFS region, heading down to the “standard” flow of 1500 for the weekend.

Trips begin today and are continuing hot and heavy for the rest of the month.  Once September hits, flows will be too low and we’ll close up our class five shop for the year.

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-creek-season-has-begun/feed/ 0 A class V disappointment for Cherry Creek Fans. http://blog.aorafting.com/a-class-v-disappointment-for-cherry-creek-fans/ http://blog.aorafting.com/a-class-v-disappointment-for-cherry-creek-fans/#comments Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:25:12 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3888 It’s true.  Cherry Creek is still too high to run. While flows have been coming down, they’re still about 2700 CFS–700 more cubic feet of water per second than we want to deal with!  Mother Nature won this round.

So, we’re not going to get out there to do our warm-up runs this weekend, and won’t be offering commercial trips by the 1st of August as we had been anticipating.  Revised numbers and consults with the Powers That Be suggest that we’ll be able to open this class V run the first weekend of August though, so put away your hanky and buck up. :)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/a-class-v-disappointment-for-cherry-creek-fans/feed/ 0 Cherry Creek: Moments Away from Take-Off http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-creek-moments-away-from-take-off/ http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-creek-moments-away-from-take-off/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:06:38 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3845 Start reving your class V engines: Cherry Creek is almost up and running.  It’s actually still TOO up and running for now–we are waiting for the water to come down so we can get out there, do some training and warming up, and be ready to take you on the toughest whitewater trip in the continental US!

The magic number we’re waiting for is about 2,000 CFS.  At this point our class V veteran guides plan on being out there this weekend to limber up, and by August 1st, we hope to be open for business.  I’ll keep you updated as we get the latest numbers from Those Who Monitor The Flows–we just have to patient and wait it out.

This trip is very, very challenging and requires an appropriate level of fitness and desire for adventure–please call us with your questions!  You can also check out our Cherry Creek FAQs to get more info on what class V rafting requires.

(Above:  Those are some of our senior guides on a Cherry Creek warm-up trip a few years back!  If that’s not enough whitewater for you I don’t really know what to say!)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/cherry-creek-moments-away-from-take-off/feed/ 0 FINAL DAY for Pre-Season Sale 2011 http://blog.aorafting.com/final-day-for-pre-season-sale-2011/ http://blog.aorafting.com/final-day-for-pre-season-sale-2011/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:00:33 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3005 This is it folks, January 31, 2011 is the last day of our Pre-Season Sale.  Prices go up to normal tomorrow.  Git ‘er done and save 25% on any river, any trip, any day of the week during the regular 2011 rafting season.  From a whiz-bang South Fork Express trip to a mega multi-day Tuolumne-Cherry Creek Combo, you want it, you got it!  Call us at (800) 247 2387 and we’ll set you up.

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/final-day-for-pre-season-sale-2011/feed/ 0 Seriously: Last chance for Tuolumne and Cherry Creek http://blog.aorafting.com/seriously-last-chance-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek/ http://blog.aorafting.com/seriously-last-chance-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:17:02 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=2851 Time to line up and start singing: “Goodnight, farewell, aufiederzein, goodbye!!!  Adieu! Adieu….”  Ok, ok, you get the picture.  This is the last weekend for rafting trips on the Tuolumne and Cherry Creek.  So for all you procrastinators out there, this is your final warning!  The ship is about to set sail on the Tuolumne river season for 2010!  After Labor Day, it’s O-V-E-R over!!!!

(Left: See how fun the T is?  Rox gives it a thumb–and a paddle up!)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/seriously-last-chance-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek/feed/ 0 Two weeks left for Tuolumne and Cherry Creek rafting http://blog.aorafting.com/two-weeks-left-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek-rafting/ http://blog.aorafting.com/two-weeks-left-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek-rafting/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:00:13 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=2836 This is it:  only two more weeks for Tuolumne and Cherry Creek rafting trips!  Just after Labor Day Whabam! the party is OVER and we won’t have enough water for rafting–not until 2011!  If’n you hankering for some class IV wilderness or some class V insanity, it’s time to make your move. 

Call us to see what’s available! 1 800 247 2387…….we’re standing by seven days a week to hook you up with your dream Tuolumne experience.  Well, at least some great Tuolumne whitewater, a bad joke or ten, and a tasty meal or two.  The “dreamy” part we leave to you. :)

(top: the lovely T…..bottom: the intense CC!)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/two-weeks-left-for-tuolumne-and-cherry-creek-rafting/feed/ 0