The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog

Hello again,

California has experienced very warm temperatures this first week of July. This was true for lower elevations in the valleys and higher elevations in the mountains. The results of this swing in temperature from below normal to above normal has caused serious snow melt. Rivers are running at late-May levels even though it is July! We are on the downward gradual trend for 2011 flows, but due to residual snow in the High Sierra, it will take a long time to arrive at “low flows”.

My son was on the eastern side of the Sierra a few days ago; a place we  frequented during family backpacking trips when he was young. To his surprise (and mine) he couldn’t get to the lakes we usually fish at in June and July because he needed snowshoes!!! Even if he did get there, they are still frozen and he would have needed to cut a hole in the ice and experience his first ice fishing… in July!

Take a look at the latest report (left). You’ll see not much has changed in regard to flow predictions. It seems we have been fairly accurate in anticipating the flows. Keeping 35 years of detailed flow records certainly has helped, in addition to good data from our friends in Sacramento at the Department of Water Resources.

In this week’s chart, the key number is the second right-hand column at top: “Percent of normal for this date”. Unfortunately, the Department of Water Resources is no longer calculating this number because normally they don’t have any numbers to report! My guess is that is that we are about 200% or more at this time. This is why this year rivers will continue to act like they are in May and June even though we are in July and August.

2011 continues to amaze and thrill us in regard to flows and whitewater action. Each river has a long way to go before it ceases to excite us!

Gregg Armstrong
Owner, All-Outdoors

Bookmark This!

Hello again everyone,

It’s been another wild week of weather in 2011… a good example is the freak cold rain storm that dumped two inches onto a water logged soil left over from late melting winter snow! All of this occurring at the end of June, only a few days from July. Go figure.

On Wednesday, the Merced doubled in flow from 6k to 12k in less than 24 hours! The Tuolumne did the same thing. The North Stan tripled in flow in half the time and reached 4k by 8am and 6k by noon. We canceled the trip of 9 we had scheduled that day… we are very capable to handle a variety of flows and conditions but are wise enough to know this was not something we needed to take part in.

Not sure what a river looks like at high flows? One of our guests took a headcam on a  high water Tuolumne trip last week… (thanks Chuck!)

Flows are beginning to subside now that the rain has passed. Temperatures are rising and by the weekend it will be in the mid to high 90′s on most of our rivers. The 2011 melt will resume. We are past peak flows on all rivers (unless more freak storms arrive), so steady flows should be the norm with a gradual decrease occurring on all rivers. Keep in mind that rivers are at the bottom of the canyons and gravity feeds these rivers through aquifers we never see. A late melt like this plus a late storm add up to a lot of water seepage heading down through the ground until it reaches the rivers. This produces a steady flow that lasts for several weeks.

As you can see from the chart below, we still have enough water content in the snow above the runs to keep rivers acting more like spring than summer for the next two weeks. By mid July we will see “normal” late spring early summer flows through the rest of the month. You can also check out our River Flows page for real-time flow information.

We rarely get the opportunity to run rivers in the heat of summer when they are flowing like the middle of spring. 2011 is an unusual year to enjoy rafting at it’s best when weather in California is at it’s best as well.

Hope to see you all on the water!

Gregg Armstrong
Owner, All-Outdoors

Bookmark This!

You may have noticed the Middle Fork of the American river has been getting a seriously cold shoulder from us so far in 2011.  What gives?  Well, high snow pack and warm weather may be a magic combo for many California rivers, but for the Middle Fork, it means taking an extended Spring Break. 

When flows get over 2000 CFS on the Middle Fork of the American, we typically don’t run it for a host of logistical reasons.   For example, there are a number of rapids–including the iconic and beloved Tunnel Chute–that we literally cannot run.  Instead we have to”portage” them, meaning carry the boats around.  Pretty sure that’s not your idea of fun.

So this year, with the awesome snowpack, we have to wait it out until early July to run this class IV river.  Luckily for you, there are waaaaaay more options than there usually are this time of year, so don’t shed too many tears for the Middle Fork.   Use this as motivation to finally check out the Merced or the North Fork of the Stanislaus. 

But of course we’ll be the first to let you know when we do start running trips on the  Middle Fork in 2011.

(Above: Tunnel Chute in full summer glory)

Bookmark This!

Here we are fryin’ eggs on the sidewalk and we’re still requiring wetsuits?  Everyone is getting out the heavy-duty SPF and we’re suggesting you bury your perfect pedi under some dark black neoprene booties?  What are we thinking?

It does seem counter-intuitive that we still require proper cold water rafting gear now that the weather has heated up and summer is officially here.

So what gives?  The deal is that when it comes to wetsuits, we’re concerned with the temperature of the water, not the temperature of the air.  Trust us, even though it’s blazing, the heat of the air does little to ratchet up the temperature of the water, which–don’t forget–was snow and ice like 45 minutes ago.   And you’re rafting, not sunbathing, so you’re going to be getting splashed all day long.  Your feet are going to be drenched constantly, so wool socks or neoprene booties are crucial unless you fancy the look of frostbite, which, I’m told by local fashionistas, is NOT one of the pedicure trends of summer 2011.

The other thing to remember is that you can fall out of the boat and take an unplanned swim while rafting–quite  a shock without a westuit when flows are high and the water is freezing. Just say no to Hypothermia (yes, it’s real, and no, you don’t want to experience it)! 

So yes, wetuits are still required–but at least they’re thin neoprene; you can be thankful you don’t have to be bundled up in sealskin and fur, right?!  I mean, this little guy is absolutely adorable, but he is definitely not “river ready.”

Bookmark This!

Hi there everyone,

As far as water content and flows goes, we have arrived. What we have been talking about for months is now in full motion. The melt is more than underway and we are feeling it on every river in the State.

This week the Tuolumne and Merced got up to 13k CFS (cubic feet per second); the North Stan, Kaweah, North Fork American and Middle Fork American all crested over 4k CFS! The South Fork held steady between 5k and 6k CFS.

Most rivers may have peaked during the past few days, but those with high elevation drainage like the Tuolumne, Merced, and Kaweah, will likely see more peak flows if temperatures rise to near 100 and stay there for several days.

Flows on all rivers will remain at “springtime flows” for the next 3-6 weeks depending on the river and weather. June has looked like May, and now July will look like June. We do not have many seasons when you can raft high flows in the middle of summer!

Below is the latest water content and flow predictions. As you can see from the chart, numbers remain impressive when it comes to the “Percent of Normal for this Date” in regard to water content. Generally speaking, one foot of snow is the equivalent of one inch of water. The fact that water content is 11″ on the average in Northern and Central California means we still have a blanket of snow 11 feet thick laying over the Sierra! That blanket represents a whole lot of future hooting and hollering through many big waves and drops for the next several months!

You can also visit our River Flows page to track the flow action in real-time.

Look for the next update a week from now prior to the July 4th weekend. Until then you can either dream of being on rivers like this at high flows, or you can get in your car and head up there and experience them first hand…
I recommend the latter.

Gregg Armstrong
Owner, All-Outdoors

Bookmark This!

Here at AO, it’s pretty standard knowledge that we run ten of California’s best rivers. Heck, the phrase dominates our brochures! Most rafters who call in know the basics of river rafting and some even know the technology behind more advanced nuances of the sport, such as predicting flows. But one thing that is a constant struggle, even for reservationists like me, is consistently pronouncing some of the river names. While classics like the South Fork American, Middle Fork American and Cherry Creek are rarely mispronounced, we also run big trips on the Tuolumne, Kaweah and Merced Rivers.

Following is a beginner’s guide to pronouncing the names of these rivers, and a little reasoning for why they are spelled in such a confusing fashion.

Tuolumne River

[Pronounced “Too-all-um-mee” River] This gorgeous river, situated near Yosemite National Park, flows through a deep, wooded canyon. When you meet in Groveland, Calif. to begin your trip with All-Outdoors, you would be hard-pressed to miss the tranquil, nationally-preserved environment of the valley and surrounding towns.

Whether you hit the Tuolumne at high water for one of California’s most potent, intense spring runs or take a more technical, normal water trip in the summer, you’re going to want to tell all your family and friends about every detail. Unless you want to take a shortcut and call the river by its nickname “the T,” make sure to learn that pronunciation before you get off the river so the guides don’t poke fun at you all day!

Kaweah River

[Pronounced “Kuh-we-uh” River] One of the more wild and crazy rivers we run is situated closest to the Los Angeles region, in an area near Sequoia National Park. With snowmelt-reliant flows normally peaking around Memorial Day, make sure you jump on this river early on in the season. All-Outdoors can take you on an unforgettable, technical river full of class IV and IV+ rapids that will provide a wet and rough day on the water.

The Kaweah has adopted plenty of confusion-induced nicknames over the years. Anything from “Kaw-way” to “Kay-uh-way-uh” to “Kuh-something” has been muttered by nervous callers over the years. Now you know, that the “Kuh-we-uh” River is well worth your time; both learning the pronunciation and shredding the whitewater.

Merced River

[Pronounced “Murr-said” River] If you like roller coasters, the Merced River is right for you. Flanked by local homes and in the spring, lush hillsides, this river gives you a couple sections of huge, rolling rapids that really do give the feeling of Space Mountain on water. Also located near Yosemite National Park, the Merced is similar to the Tuolumne in that it is designated as a Wild and Scenic River.

The main mistake when rafters refer to this river is calling it the “Murrst,” though I have heard “Murr-ked” on occasion too. Just remember when talking about it, that it’s two syllables, not one! And when you tell people you went on the roller coaster river, and they ask which one? You’ll know exactly what to say.

(above: Good times on the Mighty Mer!)

Bookmark This!

A couple days ago I wrote about some of the ways we  as a commercial outfitter change things up during high water season. But let’s be frank–y’all are probably more interested in how YOUR experience will be!

First of all: FUN!  Super fun!  High water trips deliver more of everything you love about rafting–the thrills, the rush, the challenge, the suntan.  Ok, not the suntan because you’ll probably be wearing cold water rafting gear from head to toe so the only thing likely to need SPF is the tip of your nose….

High water rafting is fun because the rapids are bigger, the water is faster, and the thrill can’t be beat.  High water also reinvents rivers you may think you know.  For example, the class III South Fork of the American becomes class IV with rapids like Trouble Maker, Satan’s Cesspool, and Haystack Canyon booming like you’ve never seen them before.  Class IV rivers become class IV+ to V, and class V rivers like Cherry Creek become class VI, or outright unrunnable. 

The character of each river transforms as the water rises as well.  For instance  huge waves replace what would be tricky rock obstacles at lower flows.  This amps ups the “roller-coaster” feeling everyone loves so much about rafting and typically creates unrestrained fits of giggling in full grown men and women! Another thing that happens is constant motion–instead of calm sections that require forward paddling, you basically get to sit back and glide along as the current pushes downstream–until the next big rapid, that is, when it’s time to dig in once again.

For you, this means seeing rivers you’ve already experienced in a whole new way–basically making it a brand new trip.  It means being ready for a challenge.  Paddling hard, acting as a team, and having quick response time.  It also means being ready for cold and powerful water should you have an out-of-boat-experience.  So, being honest about your fitness level and the amount of excitement you really want to experience is an important part of getting ready for a high water rafting trip. 

The Merced River, with its long, roller-coaster like wave trains, is a great place to get your feet wet before you check out the technical and very demanding rapids of the Kaweah or the North Fork of the Stanislaus at higher flows.

(Top: see the tiny raft about to enter the monster wave train on the North Fork of the American river? Bottom: Happy rafters and a bright purple wetsuit!)

Bookmark This!

Hello again everyone,

The long anticipated 2011 melt is now underway. The cooler weather and storm patterns have finally left California and have been replaced by typical warm temperatures.  All rivers are responding by running high and fast. I flew over the Sierra on Monday and could clearly see the whitewater on the Merced and Tuolumne… two ribbons of white among canyons of green. I also could see that all snow at lower elevations is gone. It is very different at higher elevations. Above 6000 feet it looks like the middle of winter… a thick blanket of snow covers mountain peaks and valleys and every lake was frozen solid. It was an amazing site at any time of the year, but to see it in the middle of June was sobering and exciting at the same time.

The next week will see some of the highest flows in the past five years. Due to the amount of snow at higher elevations, high flows will last for a long time beyond June 25. Once the peak melt is over, long, gradual “tapering high flows” will take over and last through the main part of summer. The deep snow I saw on Monday will take a long time to melt. Also, the fact the peak melt is happening in the last half of June rather than the last half of May makes matters even better…we gain another four weeks on top of what we already gained by having a record breaking snowpack in the Sierra. It is a double whammy situation that is creating an exciting, long, whitewater season for 2011!

Here is our latest Water Content and Flow Prediction…

Flows earlier this week were the highest we have seen this year on most rivers and rising. Here’s a link to our River Flows page where you can see the impact of the melt and the flows change in real-time.

Hope to see you on this fantastic whitewater!

Gregg Armstrong
Owner, All-Outdoors

Bookmark This!

We’ve been talking a LOT about high water of late–on the phone, over email, on this blog.  Every spring we’re excited when the Sierra snowpack starts to melt and fill our rivers to the brim.  This year, with the truly epic amount of snow, there’s plenty to talk about. 

Herewith, the top 5 reasons we at AO Rafting love high water:

1.) High water is rare and special. It’s more of everything we love about rafting: faster water, bigger drops, bigger wave trains, more hair-raising turns, and more powerful hydraulics.  In other words, it’s more FUN, pure and simple.

2.) Rivers change dramatically as flows get higher–some rapids basically “fill-in” in with water and basically disappear, while others spring up out of nowhere as water surges over newly submerged obstacles.  Other rapids get much more powerful and need to be approached differently.  For newer guides, high water  trips make familiar rivers seem like brand-new experiences, and for our veteran guides, it’s more like seeing an old friend because high flows come around so rarely.

3.) The process of getting to know rivers at higher flows is very hands on–we literally get out there and raft them!  We invest in more advanced training for our guides during high water years, and run a lot of in-house “fun trips” so our newer guides are can get familiar with flows they may not have had the chance to experience before, and senior staff can continue to perfect their skills.

4.) We put more boats on the water during high water periods.  This may mean an additional “guide boat” out in front (this is standard on all of our class V Cherry Creek trips), a kayker at the ahead of the pack, or a guide in a “cat,” which is one of those crazy pontoon-type boats you may have seen on occasion.  These options–combined with simply having fewer guests per raft–create a more intimate experience, and  give us more  pro “hands on deck” for running smooth high water rafting trips.

5.) We often switch from paddle-boats to oar-paddle combos during high water trips. Oars give our guides a greater measure of power and control when navigating the powerful hydraulics of high water season.  Plus, guides love to row, pure and simple, and when the water comes down they don’t get to anymore!  Even I, the self-professed least athletic person at AO rafting like to row, if that tells you anything! 

(Above: AO rafting guides Danny W and Tessa S are having a blast!  That’s an oar-paddle combo, if you’re curious.  The bottom picture shows a “cat,” one of the ways we can use to adjust to changing high-water conditions)

Bookmark This!

Two weeks of twelve grand on the Tuolumne River.  How’s that for alliteration that would make your high school English teacher proud?  But more importantly, how’s that for some impressive whitewater adventure?

For those of you who don’t know, 12 ,000 CFS  is a monster flow.  Thrillingly amazingly awesomely challenging and fun.  And we’re going to be seeing those numbers for literally a couple weeks.  We’d usually be stoked by a couple DAYS of those flows.  Not 2011 though–this is a record-breaking year if ever there was one.  Space is quickly filling up on these trips, but never fear, you can also head to the North Stanislaus, Merced, or Kaweah (where flows are also pumping),  or check out the T in July when it will running in the 8,000 CFS range…………which ain’t too shabby at all.

We’ve got a major flotilla of river guides heading off to the T tomorrow to experience some high water action so hopefully we’ll have some great pics to share with you soon!

Bookmark This!