The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog

It’s far too early to tell what the conditions will be like for California rivers across the state this rafting season, but,  like you, we’re always wondering what the latest indicators suggest. 

So far we’re starting out the winter on a good note.  Snowpack reports are coming in at around 85%.  Our friends up at the ski resorts tell us there’s lots of snow around Tahoe, and meteorologists are talking about the el Nino weather pattern, which is usually good for us in the rafting industry.  If you’re scientifically minded you can check out this article, which explains the el Nino pattern……… : http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090709_elnino.html

We’ll keep you updated as conditions change over the winter!

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I just learned about the Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival coming up in a few weeks and it sounds awesome.  The two day festival is an incredible hodge-podge of mini-films that range from five minutes long on plastic bags and growing asparagus, to half-hour presentations from the guys that made “King Corn,”  to full, feature-length giants like Food Inc.  The topics are wide ranging too, from sustainable seafood, to river conservation, to  families living off the grid and growing their own produce.  There are local issues and activists in the mix but the line-up is global in scope.  Wonder what people in Africa and the Pacific Islands are doing about environmental problems?  You’ll find answers in Nevada City this January!

When: Jan 15, 16 and 17

Where: various locations in Nevada City, Ca.

Tickets and more information:  visit the festival website at http://www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/

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Oh how the time flies…….another set of baby-photo Christmas cards on the wall (we have some seriously cute future guides out there!), updates from guides near and far (starry-eyed and otherwise), candy wrappers pilin’ up in the corners of the office, and of course lots of talk about the season past and the one about to start. I’m not ready–I don’t even have a new calendar yet!

We don’t have an official early snowpack or flow report for you  (look for that soon though) but we’re excited about rumors of el Nino…….which gets visions of a high water spring and whitewater madness swirling in everyone’s minds…..

So happy new year everyone–from our 500 (yay!) fans on FB, to our twitter followers, blog-readers, frequent floaters, friends, family and beloved guides off on winter adventures!  We’ll be toasting to a great year of rafting from Cafe Mahjaic tonight!  wooooo-hooooooooooooooo!

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This time of year is no moment for launching last-minute deals on a rafting trip.   I mean, we’ll take you on the water if you really want to go, but we realize winter rafting is only for the insane seriously obsessed sooooo……..we’re doing a 180 and offering the opposite: the plan-way-way-ahead-deal! 

Until January 29th, we’re offering a 25% discount on all of our rafting trips in 2010.  Any trip, any day.  No restrictions, black-out dates, or hidden costs.  This is just a good deal no matter how you slice it.  Scrape together your pennies, get on the horn, and get a good deal.  Prices go up on the 30th!

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What a week for us here in the snowy alps of California–uh, I mean the sierra foothills!  We got slammed Monday with the largest snowfall I think this valley has ever seen.   We got over 6 inches and there is STILL snow out there.  Many people had to chainsaw their way out of their driveways and even the major roads still have trees down and partly blocking the way.  Some folks just got power back yesterday!  Luckily we at AO are hardy types who can rustle up campstoves and melt snow for showers in chickie pails out in the front yard……

I’ll get some photos posted just as soon as I remember to bring my camera to work with me, but for now I’ll give you the update that while most everything manmade around here is still standing a LOT –and I mean A LOT– of trees are not.  As the snow piled up higher and higher it was too much for many of our live oaks and they snapped like toothpicks–you could hear them cracking and breaking on the hillsides–and sometimes right next door.  Or on top of the garage, or two inches away from your truck, or right on top of your trailer……..yikes, alas.   A couple of us walked down to the River Office to see how things were going on Monday and moved some AO buses away from the trees.  I think we lost a windshield and a tree fell on a bunch of boats (they’re ok!) but we’re grateful to have emerged all but unscathed.  Lots of trees down everwhere you look, but it could have been worse.  The gold-rush barn across the street is still standing which is a relief!  And Cafe Mahjaic is ok, too.

Does this mean we’re headed for a spectacular snowpack this winter??  We certainly hope so.

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This is one day we are happy to be off the water and surrounded by mountains of mashed potatoes, drowning in a river of gravy, and paddling through a goblet or two of wine….ok ok, jeez,  enough with the horrible  food/rafting metaphors already.   Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at AO Rafting!

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Just heard a report that we should be getting something like a foot of snow in the Sierra over the weekend!  Let  ‘er rip Mother Nature!  We can use all the snow we can get for doing things like brushing our teeth and filling the cats’ bowl, but also of course for California Rafting in 2010!!!

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Congratulations to the good folks over at American Whitewater.org, who won the New Belgium Brewery’s Skinny Dip Contest this fall!  They won a generous 10 grand from the brewery to help support the good work they do.  Sweet!   And, if you needed an excuse to buy a six-pack, make it from New Belgium to say thanks for supporting our rivers!  (I know, I know, like you needed an excuse–I’m just saying….)

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If you missed the new documentary on the Klamath River a few weeks back you  have another chance–the film is playing on PBS again this Sunday, November 15th . The film is called River of Renewal and explores issues like dam removal and Salmon habitat restoration.

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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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