The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog

Is Dave seriously RUNNING BACK INTO HIS BOAT??  I think he is.  The man runs on water and here I thought his main claims to fame were his competitive free-skiing videos (no really, look for him on powderwhore.com people, and prepare to be impressed) and his love of literature.  Rumor has it that his favorite play by Shakespeare is Henry V.  So you know he loves The Tudors.  Ha ha, that’s the other Henry.  Currently managing our North Stan operation, Dave has been guiding for AO since 2003, and guides most of the rivers we run so you’re likely to see him just about anywhere you care to raft with us!

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Even the barest mention of Tom makes me and Amy d burst into the “Blame Canada” song, which I don’t think he likes very much, but it’s the truth, so what can you do.  Stop me and Amy d from singing?  Shah, right!  But of course there’s more to Tom than our annoyingness.  Professional Canadian football player? Check.  Singer of Journey songs whenever the occasion requires it? Why not? Has own Wikipedia page? Don’ t we all?  Impressive water balloon toss performance at AO barn party? yessir. Hasn’t let any of this go to his head and is a great addition to AO rafting? Absolutely.

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Mason.  He of the flaming rocket tattoo.   Hoster of mid-winter, off-season (possibly off-color, but I’m just guessing) Prom Nights. Secret channeler of The King, navigator of strange inflatable animals, and latest in a long line of AO love affairs (he’s betrothed to another AO guide–oh South Fork, you mysterious mistress of romance and commitement, how you lure us in, stinky chacos, funny tan lines, and endless deli sandwiches and all).  Mason brings with his mischivious personality other talents–a legacy of service in the armed forces (if he starts telling you stories about creative ways to heat a pot of water watch out!  This guy has some skills!), a serious love of adventure, and a sweet smile that keeps guests writing rave letters and coming back summer after summer.

(The many sides of Mason: Summer in Baghdad (second from left), Summer in the States (far right)………..)

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Oh Diesel to the D-A-N.  What shall we write about you?  The story of how you got your knickname?  No no, the story about the circus is so much better.  And yet, I lack proof that the events unfolded as you say they do and thus, cannot breathe a word.  I must keep my credibility.  And so, your mysteries remain safe.  For now…….or until they are eclipsed by some new hilarity that you cook up in that wacky and mischivious brain of yours…..

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Meet Mr. Nash, one of the lynch-pins of our Tuolumne River operation!  Guiding for us since…..oh lord a long time I’m not even really sure……. Noah has guided basically all of our rivers over his career with us, ran our Merced operation for a spell, and shepards the newest members of the flock at our annual Whitewater Guide Schools.  In the off-season you’ll find him channeling spider-man as he scales rocky precipuces and catching air on the snowy slopes high above Tahoe.  Oh, and as you can see, Left, Nashty is also quite the Grill-Master.

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Where to start here with Colin?  The organic garden in a bathtub?  No, too typical.  Doesn’t set him apart.  Maybe the work with the orphanage in Nicaragua?  eh.  Again, nothing new there–so many people do that stuff.  The irrigation system powered by old bicyle parts?  yawn.   I give up.  So on with the rafting–fondly called The Hatchet, Colin is one of our trusted guide trainers,  a disciplined and serious crafter of whitewater professionals.  In fact, as you can see from the portrait above (Colin is in the middle), The Hatchet takes “professional” behavior seriously–so much so that sometimes we office people have to remind him to loosen up and enjoy the job…..  

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Lenka is a rare bird, both exotic and practical.  She was born in the Czech Republic so she brings Eastern European flair to our Walnut Creek office–and she also keeps it in top form with her impeccable attention to detail. The woman can work wonders with Excel that would make admin assistants the world over drool!  And that’s before she explains it to you in two languages and then heads out the door to train for a marathon.  Like quite a number of AO employees over the years, Lenka also found true love through us, meeting and marrying her sweetheart, AO guide Howard in our office.  Here they are on a summertime Tuolumne River trip……

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A few years ago Roxanne high kicked her way out of the dance studio and into the land of All-Outdoors.  Along the way were stops in Mexico, New Jersey, and a stint as a morning radio show host!  All those early mornings might explain her addiction to vanilla lattes…….Now that she’s with us, she is a key player in our reservations office and keeps the energy high with her sweet personality.   Sometimes that high energy bounces her right out of the boat when she comes out rafting–so although she definately knows her stuff about California rafting, she might not have the best advice for avoiding “out of boat experiences.”  Or maybe it’s just a “do as I say, not as I do” type deal unless you fancy a little whitewater rock n’ roll …

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Some people are just content with what comes their way, happy to sit and let life float past them, instinct urging them to take the path most travelled. Take Jordan for instance. We all have to study a language in college right? He chose Arabic–for the easy A. Obviously. Or after the rafting season last fall, Jordan followed the hordes yet again and trekked into the mountains to do what everyone does to while away the hours: hunting for elusive mushrooms in the underbrush of the Pacific Northwest. But the thing that really makes me yawn–I mean come on, don’t we all do this??–was his sailing trip around the world. If I have to hear one more carbon-copy story about Indian passport clerks or tropical sunsets from the bow of a ship I swear I’ll fall asleep.

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With a voice as big as All-Outdoors, Beth makes her presence known.  Whether she’s rockin’ the dance floor, leading a river trip, or hanging out with friends, her good humor and love of life is impossible to miss.  On the more serious side, she is equally at home in a labcoat, studying the mysteries of the scientific world.  This is Beth’s second full season with AO and we hope we can continue to lure her away from her petri dishes and bunson burners for at least a few more summers…..

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