The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog

The weather the report is looking like it’s going to feel a bit more like summer. California weather finally figured out that the summer solstice was this week and that we’re looking forward to some sunny skies and higher temperatures. Highs this weekend are supposed to get into the 90′s and we’re excited for a little heat. Those of you who have been rafting before know that getting splashed in the rapids is the best way to spend a hot summer’s day. See you on the river!

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Ok so drinking and boating officially do not mix, but a little beer tasting after a South Fork of the American rafting trip?  That sounds like good times to me.

The annual Bell Tower Brewfest is held on Placerville’s Main Street this Saturday, June 26th.  P’ville (as we locals like to call it, I guess we’re plain lazy in the vocab dept.) is just 20 minutes from our River Office in Lotus so you can easily get there in time after a fun day on the river!

Tickets are $30 and get you tastes of more than 35 beers, live music and lots of local color.  Go to the Brewfest website to get more details!

(left: Now that’s a man-sized beer there.  And yes, that’s actually on Main Street. Oh small towns.  How I heart you.)

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The end is nigh for North Stan rafting trips this year!  Based on the snowpack in the North Stan watershed and the weather forecast we think there are only two more weekends of raftable flows on this outstanding class IV run.  What I’m sayin’ is, it’s time to quit yer hemmin’ and hawin’ and make your plans before it’s too late. 

Don’t forget you can watch our fabulous North Stan rafting video to see what this river is all about.  Also check out our photo gallery from this year’s SNOWY STAN trips, too!  (Don’t you worry, no more snow to contend with for the last trips of the year)

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For those of you who like to plan ahead ( I myself am none too familiar with this activity, it’s just not my thing) for a little fun (ok , that I do like, and will even begin to work on early)…..

The dates for the 2010 American River Music Festival are set!  This is what, the third or fourth year of the festival, and I’m sure it’s back bigger and better than ever.  Tons of stages! Shuttles! Music on the river, ’round the campfire, and in the canyon!  Rafting and hiking on the South fork of the American River! Facepainting for kids!  Sunshine and love!

Learn more at the festival website and put Sept 17, 18, and 19 on your calendar!

(Above: One of the events  at last year’s festival)

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It’s almost here…………AO rafting’s summer guide school 2010……….students are on their way…….information packets are clogging the desks in the office, senior guides are convening from near and far, getting out their teacher costumes and brushing up on rules and regulations…….an inflatable lobster or two may have been dug out of storage…..

We can’t wait to meet everyone and hear all the stories (yes, we may be stuck in the office but don’t think that means we don’t know what happens.  We know what happens, oh yes, and we take notes!) and see what this class of 2010 has goin’ on!

(above: class of 2009!  Some of those faces have been quite familiar over the last year–and a couple are back for a second season with us.  We reeled ‘em in! yuh-yeah. )

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An internal AO rafting document “leaked” (read: cut and pasted from my email….)  to the press indicates that it was one heck of a wild weekend for California rafting!

Check out what owner Gregg A reported back to HQ about how the weekend looked and what we can expect for the rest of the spring:

“Hi everyone,  

  Rivers have become quite wild during the last two weeks.    The T peaked at 12k on May 14 and of course we happened to be on the river that day.   The Merced peaked 12.5k yesterday and yes, we were there then too.   The Kaweah peaked at 5k yesterday, and yes, we were there then as well.   The North Stan peaked at 2k this past Sunday, and yes, we were there.   The South Fork peaked at 5.5k this past Sunday, and yes, we (and me!) were there then too.   The Middle Fork peaked at just below 2k on Sunday, and yes, of course we were there then too.   The North Fork American peaked at 4200 this past Sunday, and no, we were not there then. Darn…we were almost 100%.

  The Department of Water Resources has confirmed that peaks melt has happened on most runs during the past few days. The water bomb we knew would go off did.  

 What we will experience from this point forward is a healthy, long drawn out melt that will last about 3 weeks longer than a “normal” year. This is largely due to the cool and wet weather we experienced in April and May which “preserved” the snowpack.     Note that the Kaweah season has been shortened to July 6 (was July 19). If weather gets very hot in June we will need to decrease again to the end of June (Danny will be able to attend his wedding on July 3).   Also note that the Merced has been pulled back to July 26 (was July 30). The end of the North Stan remains June 25 and the North Amer June 20.  

Contact me if you have any questions.   Gregg”

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Don’t forget tonight the party is happenin’ in Lotus: Trailfest 2010 is on!

Trailfest is basically a big wing-ding to raise money for the American River Conservancy, which protects hundreds of acres of land in our area for wildlife habitat and recreation–hiking, trailriding, romantic walks in the wildflowers……..you name it!

The festivities start at 5:30 in Lotus.  Tickets are $25 and get you a tasty dinner (including Cafe Mahjaic’s roasted corn served up by yours truly), a couple drink tickets (local beer and wine), live music, and general mayhem.  Hopefully the belly dancer chicks are back this year–they are always a hit.  For more info and to buy tickets check out the ARC website.  See you there!

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The Headwaters Institute and the American River Conservancy are teaming together to put on the 14th annual American River Seminar on Monday, June 7 from 9am to 4pm (followed by the popular Trailfest). The event aims at educating river guides, recreational paddlers, and community members about the American River watershed. Presentations include Native American Culture, a Geologic and Natural History Tour of the South Fork, Live Falcons, Gold Rush History, and Interpretation for Guides. The event is $15 or FREE with a Trailfest ticket (which can be purchased in advance or at the door).

When: Monday June 7, 9am-4pm
Where: Earth Trek Camp 1 (in the same complex as Hot Shots and Sierra Rizing)
Who: River Guides, Kayakers, Community Members
Cost: $15 or FREE with a Trailfest Ticket
Lunch is included in the cost

Contact Tessa Sibbet for more information: 530-391-5213 or tsibbs @ gmail.com

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AO rafting is on primetime, streaming into millions of people’s homes TONIGHT!  You can’t escape us–we are coming over for dinner and sittin’ down on your couch.

Well not really.  But Animal Planet’s series Whale Wars starts tonight and our very own Matt K is in it!  He’s even in the trailer, if you want a little preview, which you can see here.   His ship is the Bob Barker I’m sure that underneath that crazy orange suit and helmet he has something AO on………

(above left: Matt K’s ship, the Bob Barker!)

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This just in from Corporate (you know, the office down the hall, a chat with scheduler Amy and Kaweah River manager Danny):

The powers that be are telling us that the Kaweah River snowmelt is ON and this will be the highest water weekend!  Flows jumped up 700 CFS today alone. Time for you people in the Southern portion of our fair state to head north a bit and check out the Kaweah.  Flows will probably be highest Sun-Mon (4000+ CFS?!), so call the boss, get the day off, and  go check out the madness.

Wet your whistle with a sneak peak of our Kaweah River Video.

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