June 2nd, 2010 Malina
It doesn’t take a genius with a degree in meteorology or geophysics or whatever to see that this spring the weather has been WHACK! Hail, windstorms, humidity, rain, blazing sunshine, huge puffy clouds, grey haze and freezing nights. We’ve been seeing it all. And the weeds are LOVING it. Bumper crop of furry-burries, star thistle and foxtails coming your way. (Also vet bills if your animals are anything like mine and like getting pokey things in their eyeballs this time of year.)
Anyway, given all this roller-coaster action in the heavens I hesitate to say anything concrete about water flows and temperatures, but it does indeed seem to be heating up and unless things have really gone crazy and ice has a new melting temperature, that means the snowmelt is poised to begin. Soon. I’ll try to keep you up-to-date on what’s going off where, but for you highwater and adrenaline junkie types this is your moment. At least I think it is. We have lots of snow ready to melt and rush into rivers like the Kaweah (our crew is headed down early for a little extra highwater training tomorrow because we anticipate that river rising soon), the Tuolumne, and the Merced. Our staff in Walnut Creek will have all the deets so give them a ring!
Posted in California Rivers- Flows, News, and Events, Kaweah River, Merced River, Tuolumne River | No Comments »
May 27th, 2010 Malina
Lots of options for you if you’re thinking about a rafting trip this holiday weekend. The weather is supposed to be heating up so that means beautiful temperatures and possibly some higher flows if it’s hot enough to start the snowmelt. But even if it doesn’t heat up, we anticipate flows of 5-6 grand on the Tuolumne River, the South Fork is running a super fun 3-4 grand, and further down South, the Kaweah will have a great weekend. (Above: spring madness on the Kaweah River!)
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May 25th, 2010 Malina
Trailfest always comes around a little earlier than I expect. This year is no exception! Come on out and have a great time while also supporting one of the best causes in our community–the American River Conservancy.
Trailfest 2010 will be held June 7th, at Earthtrek’s camp on the South Fork of the American River. (Speaking of the SF, flows are great right now–3500-4000 CFS–and this would be the perfect add on to a Sunday trip. Check out our Rapid Deals page to see if there any discounts around the 7th!)
Tickets are 30 bucks and that gets you dinner provided by local restaurants, two drinks, live entertainment, and a silent auction. I’m personally very excited because this year I get to help the chef of my favorite restaurant, Cafe Mahjaic! I don’t think I get to wear a chef’s hat though…
For more info, go the the Trailfest 2010 page of the ARC Website.
Posted in California Rivers- Flows, News, and Events, South Fork American | No Comments »
May 18th, 2010 Malina
Locals and people visiting the Sierra Foothills! Remember that tomorrow, May 19th, local rabble-rouser Matt K is telling stories and showing slides from his Antarctic adventure with Sea Shepard this winter!
If you’re an Animal Planet fan you’ve probably heard of their popular show “Whale Wars” which is about the stand-off between illegal whaling ships and the daring souls who get in their way. The new season of the show premieres soon and this is your chance to get the REAL behind-the-scenes scoop and ask questions with someone who was actually there.
The event is May 19th at Placerville’s Cozmic Cafe. The presentation begins at 6:30. Donations welcome. For more info and directions visit the Cafe website.
Posted in AO Weekly: Company News and Entertaining Stories | No Comments »
May 17th, 2010 Malina
Stories of High Adventure on the North Fork of the American, Kaweah, and Tuolumne are flying fast and furious as our guides filter back to the Mother Ship from a weekend of spring rafting in California. I expect this weekend will be just as good even though the weather is cool, keeping the snowmelt at bay.
On the Tuolumne River for example, the water authorities are doing scheduled releases of big flows in anticipation of the snowmelt, so that means if you want a guaranteed high water trip, for once we can actually give you some pretty precise numbers. We’ve been told this weekend’s trips will have 10,000–11,000 CFS. And that, as our guests from this past weekend can tell you, is officially high. Flows like that transform the canyon–if you’ve rafted the T before expect a surprise. You won’t even recognize it–that is if you have time to tear your eyes off the massive hydraulics, swift water and swirling debris being swept downstream.
High water trips like these don’t come around very frequently so make it happen!
Posted in California Rivers- Flows, News, and Events, Tuolumne River | No Comments »
May 14th, 2010 Malina
We’re always talking about “high water,” but what does that actually mean?
11,000 CFS baby. ELEVEN THOUSAND CUBIC FEET PER SECOND.
Now that’s high. The floodgates open on the Tuolumne River this Sunday, May 16th. And seriously, it’s going to be running at 11,000. Be there, or be bummed you missed it. We still have room on this Sunday’s trip and will be out there next weekend when the Hetch Hetchy authorities will be doing another massive release. What’s unusual about this is that we actually know what the flows will be–and when. We usually have to wait for the weather to start the snow melt and that often happens midweek–or it’s so sudden we can’t plan ahead for it. The deal for the next two weekends is that the water people are actually planning on opening the gates to a) make room where they need it in reservoirs, and b) do a flood study in one of the valleys below Hetch Hetchy. After these planned releases, we’ll be dependant on Mother Nature–try planning your day off around that fickle mistress why don’t you? Or, just book this weekend or next weekend and call it good. Our guides have been out there all week doing high water training and getting ready to show you some seriously impressive rafting.
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May 13th, 2010 Malina
Holy Moly folks, we are in the midst of some serious rafting. We’ve got people rafting commercially, training for high-water, re-certing their CPR and First-Aid, packing food for trips, and lord knows what all else but what I’m sayin’ is we are busybusybusy!
From the looks of things, many of you have gotten the memo that this is one spring rafting season you don’t want to miss, but for anyone still wandering around in the land of the lost:
THIS IS ONE SPRING RAFTING SEASON YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS!!!!!!!!!
California rivers are going off right and left–from the Kaweah to the Tuolumne we’ve got great snowpack and rising temps. And you know what that means: high water comin’ your way. Or, as Gregg A likes to put it, a water bomb that’s lit and ready to blow. (Confused? Head on over to SF Gate and read the article that features our own Gregg Armstrong and trumpets the news that this is the best rafting season we’ve had in years!)
Posted in California Rivers- Flows, News, and Events | 1 Comment »
May 3rd, 2010 Malina
A couple years ago we had an Ethiopian invasion here in Lotus! We enjoyed the company of two brothers and a friend of theirs for a summer. Alas, river life couldn’t keep them here forever, but our Office Manager Claudette went and visited Josef and Dereje recently and sent me the proof! If you’re a high-roller send me a ticket to Vegas and some lucky dice (printed with AO, as always) to Malina at AOrafting.com
Posted in Where in the World is AO? | No Comments »
April 27th, 2010 Gregg Armstrong
Weather and its impact on the rafting season:
Every year is an adventure in California when it comes to weather and water. When the amount of annual precipitation for the State averages just 30 inches, you are never far from an extreme low or an extreme high. In a wet state like Florida, some areas get as much as 100 inches a year! In a place like that there is room to decrease without much impact. California water situation is a bit more tenuous. If a few large storm systems head north into Oregon and bypass our state, we could miss as much as 10 inches of precipitation. That could put us into drought conditions. If one or two such systems head our way we have an above average year for water! Read more…
Posted in California Rivers- Flows, News, and Events | No Comments »
April 26th, 2010 Malina
Our *official* California Rafting
flow report from head honcho Gregg A comes out tomorrow and let me tell you babies: you are gonna love what you hear. Can you believe we’re looking at nearly TWO TIMES the amount of water this year over last year? And correct me if I’m wrong, but 2009 was hardly a dog of a rafting year. All the details you’ve been waiting for, tomorrow. Methinks you’re gonna approve of what you hear!
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