The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog » South Fork American 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 Guided Family Bike Ride on the South Fork American Oct 2 http://blog.aorafting.com/guided-family-bike-ride-on-the-south-fork-american-oct-2/ http://blog.aorafting.com/guided-family-bike-ride-on-the-south-fork-american-oct-2/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:00:27 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4326 If you’re headed up to raft the South Fork American with us the first weekend of October and you want an easy, affordable way to make a full weekend out of it, check out this cool opportunity with the American River Conservancy!

On October 2 they are offering a guided, family-friendly bike ride on the South Fork American Trail in the Coloma-Lotus Valley.  The three hour ride will give your family a new perspective on the South Fork canyon, and for a $10 buck donation per person it’s a pretty great deal as well.  For more info on signing up and what you can expect from the day visit the Conservancy website.

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/guided-family-bike-ride-on-the-south-fork-american-oct-2/feed/ 0 Sweet Tunes Under the South Fork Sky this September 16-18 http://blog.aorafting.com/sweet-tunes-under-the-south-fork-sky-this-september-16-18/ http://blog.aorafting.com/sweet-tunes-under-the-south-fork-sky-this-september-16-18/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:00:54 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4159 Truth and Savage CompanyOur contacts at the American River Music festival tell us that tickets with full camping passes are selling out fast so if you’re planning on coming for the full weekend it’s time to get those tickets bought!!  It all happens September 16-18, 2011.

This annual festival on the banks of the South Fork American River brings the best of Americana, folk music, and bluesy-folky-rockishness together once a year in the lovely Coloma-Lotus Valley.  Festival goers can also enjoy professional musicians around the campfire, hear live music and at local businesses like Gringo’s Mexican food and Sierra Rizing, a river rafting trip with All-Outdoors, and of course sweet tunes under the clear blue September sky at the main festival stageBlame Sally.

Headliners this year include Blame Sally, Truth and Salvage Company, and Jill Knight!  To see the full line-up check out the festival website.

 

(Above: Truth and Salvage Below: Blame Sally)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/sweet-tunes-under-the-south-fork-sky-this-september-16-18/feed/ 0 How are the Two Sections of the South Fork Different? http://blog.aorafting.com/how-are-the-two-sections-of-the-south-fork-different/ http://blog.aorafting.com/how-are-the-two-sections-of-the-south-fork-different/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:00:36 +0000 Jeremy http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4147 The South Fork American: the river’s so nice, we raft it twice! Okay, sort of. We DO have two separate sections of the river, which make for two awesome trips! Callers will often get confused when they ask us for information on the South Fork, or ask to reserve a trip on the river. Almost every time I ask a caller to clarify which section they want to raft, they respond with, “What’s the difference?” Well friends, I’m here to put that question to rest.

All-Outdoors runs the Lower “Gorge” section and the Upper “Chili Bar” section of the South Fork. Each section can be a full day trip or an express trip (lunch not included). Both runs will meet at the All-Outdoors River Center in Lotus, CA and both boast crazy, fast class II and III rapids throughout. The reason we break it up into two separate trips is because each section has so much unique character, it might as well have been its own river in the first place. Not to mention, running both sections in one day is a daunting, exhausting task that we only take on in very rare situations.

To get to the meat of the issue, there is one logistical difference between the Gorge and Chili Bar. The Lower section usually starts later in the day than the Upper. Many one-day Lower trips will meet around 11 in the morning. Most Upper trips will begin two hours earlier, at nine. So besides the time difference, how does the novice rafter choose the right section for their day trip?

I tell callers the main difference I’ve noticed between the sections…and it concerns the whole reason you call us in the first place; the rapids! On the Upper section, you can count on jumping right into the tough stuff with a class III section at the very top before lunch, and then a mellow ending to the day with an easier class II section. It’s the reverse on the Lower section. You start the day off getting a little practice in with the class II section, then put your new skills to use and tear through a crazy class III section after lunch!

Many first-timers opt for the Gorge section because it allows you some time to get used to the rapids before taking on behemoths like Satan’s Cesspool. The South Fork Lower is our most popular run, but if you want a little more adventure on the South Fork, hit up the Chili Bar for an immediate thrill! Now that you have the run-down on which section is which, the South Fork should take less time to decipher.  And we all know what that means: More time to go on a bumpy, wet ride with All-Outdoors!

PS: You can also read through our customer reviews to help you decide which trip is best for you.

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/how-are-the-two-sections-of-the-south-fork-different/feed/ 0 5th Annual American River Music Festival http://blog.aorafting.com/5th-annual-american-river-music-festival/ http://blog.aorafting.com/5th-annual-american-river-music-festival/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 16:57:55 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3985 The dates and artists are set for the 5th annual American River Music Festival. For music and river lovers this is an awesome weekend.  It all happens September 16-18, 2011.

The festival brings together fantastic folk and Americana artists from across the country, shakes them up and sprinkles them across the valley.  The main stage is at Henningson Lotus park, but select musicians will also play at the hosting campgrounds, the festival river trips on the South Fork of the American, and on a hike in the valley.

For more info on the festival’s artists, schedule, and tickets visit the American River Festival website.

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/5th-annual-american-river-music-festival/feed/ 0 Samurai Swords, Silk Worms, and the South Fork http://blog.aorafting.com/samurai-swords-silk-worms-and-the-south-fork/ http://blog.aorafting.com/samurai-swords-silk-worms-and-the-south-fork/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:09:39 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4037 Everyone knows that during the CA Gold Rush “the world rushed in,” right?   Meaning it wasn’t just Bostonian tailors, Southern farmers, and small-town preachers who up and left their homes to try and strike it rich in California in 1849.  People from literally all over the world jumped on steamers and made their way to the banks of the American River. 

Why is Chili Bar called Chili Bar?  No, not because the 49ers  made tasty beans, but because there were so many Chilean miners in the region.  Anyone who has been to the Gold Discovery State Park knows there were Chinese merchants here from the very beginning.  There were also Europeans, Mexicans, and other folks as well.

What fewer people know is that there was a Japanese colony here too!  In 1869 the very first Japanse colony in the U.S was established in Gold Hill, just a few miles from the AO River Center.  My grade school used to always take a tour to the grave site of the first Japanse person to be buried in the US–it was literally right next door to our classrooms.

The American River Conservancy recently purchased the property where the original colony–Wakamatsu–tried to grow tea, silk, and rice in  the 1800s.  The site is also home to the  historical Veercamp dairy (yes, we used to get our milk there before it closed) and ranch land.  ARC is currently raising funds for the restoration and recent purchase of the property.  They are already giving guided tours so you can see their progress and learn more about this bit of California history so close to the American River. 

On August 20th they’re offering a Wakamatsu tour in the morning–you can check it out the day after your Friday rafting trip or even squeeze it in before a South Fork Gorge trip!

To learn more, visit the ARC website.

(left: one of the historic dairy barns on the Wakamatsu site Right: Okei-San’s grave)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/samurai-swords-silk-worms-and-the-south-fork/feed/ 0 South Fork weekend extender: Brewfest 2011 http://blog.aorafting.com/south-fork-weekend-extender-brewfest-2011/ http://blog.aorafting.com/south-fork-weekend-extender-brewfest-2011/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:23:49 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3440 If you’re headed to the South Fork of the American this weekend and feel like making a full-blown getaway out of it, check out the Placerville Bell Tower Brewfest on Saturday the 25th.

Main Street P’ville (as it’s known to locals) hosts this popular event every year and it’s always a blast.  They shut the street down to cars, crank up the live music, and invite something like 40 different brewries (I’d say “microbreweries” but the last time I went Spaten was one of the booths, and I’m just not sure that Spaten is a wee little craft brewer anymore.  But I digress) to pour samples of their tasty bevvies.

Tickets are available on line and the event starts at 6pm–perfect amount of time to get off the river, take a shower, and get into town!

Get more info on the Main Street website.  For suggestions on places to stay check out the recommendations on our wesbite.  (scroll down to the bottom to see our suggestions)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/south-fork-weekend-extender-brewfest-2011/feed/ 0 From class III to Class IV: the South Fork of the American outgrows its britches! http://blog.aorafting.com/from-class-iii-to-class-iv-the-south-fork-of-the-american-outgrows-its-britches/ http://blog.aorafting.com/from-class-iii-to-class-iv-the-south-fork-of-the-american-outgrows-its-britches/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:41:12 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3356 The South Fork of the American River is looking a little different these days, a wee self-impressed, even a little boastful. 

For those of you who think you already know the South Fork, think again.  The standard flow during the summer months, which makes the SF’s beloved class III run the most popular in the United States, is somewhere around 1200 CFS.  Right now we’re seeing, oh, 5 TIMES that amount–literally 5-6 thousand CFS.  This is the ideal trip for adventurous first-time rafters, and families with older kids and teenagers.  The typical minimum age for South Fork rafting trips is 8 years old, but because of higher flows we’ve moved that guideline up to 12.  So if a high water Kaweah or Merced River trip is a little too much for you, check out the South Fork, which may be just the ticket at these higher spring flows!

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/from-class-iii-to-class-iv-the-south-fork-of-the-american-outgrows-its-britches/feed/ 0 2011 American River Trailfest: June 13th http://blog.aorafting.com/2011-american-river-trailfest-june-13th/ http://blog.aorafting.com/2011-american-river-trailfest-june-13th/#comments Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:50:28 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3259 It’s trailfest time!  And you know what that means.  Yours truly will be covered in ashes, cornhusks and butter as I help the fantastic John M of Cafe Mahjaic with his famous grilled corn!  But more importantly of course, the trailfest raises funds for the American River Conservancy, which has preserved thousands of acres of property in these here parts for sport, relaxation, and preservation.  One of their most notable projects is of course the American River Trail, which allows hikers, cyclists, and horse riders to enjoy the beauty of the South Fork of the American River corridor all the way from the Coloma-Lotus Valley to Folsom Lake.

Trailfest supports these efforts by raising money to acquire more land, build and maintain trails, and keep the office open!  The June 13, 2011 event begins at 5pm and goes until 10pm.  Your ticket gets you a tasty dinner (including that awesome corn!), a couple drinks from local wineries and brewries, and a raging dance party!  Silent auction items include jewelry, massage,  fly-fishing ties, local B&B and restaurant certificates, and even–are you ready for this?–a “giant push pin” and a “camel saddle.”  Don’t ask me, I can’t explain. I just saw it on the list.

For tickets and more information, visit the American River Conservancy Website

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/2011-american-river-trailfest-june-13th/feed/ 0 Sunny Skies and South Fork Raftin’ http://blog.aorafting.com/sunny-skies-and-south-fork-raftin/ http://blog.aorafting.com/sunny-skies-and-south-fork-raftin/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:51:27 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=3023 Shore don’t feel like winter ’round these parts.  Skies have been blue, daffodils are starting to poke their heads up, and the hills are turning green.  Perfect time to remind you that we offer year ’round rafting on the South Fork of the American River.  Sure you need a wetsuit, but the river flows are good (average of 2 grand this week), the hill are alive with spring energy, and you’ll enjoy lots of peace and quiet.  A very different way to see this beautiful river system than in the heat of summer mayhem……

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/sunny-skies-and-south-fork-raftin/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.

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