The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog http://blog.aorafting.com Read up on everything related to whitewater rafting on California rivers with All-Outdoors Wed, 16 May 2012 19:05:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog http://blog.aorafting.com/feed-logo.png http://blog.aorafting.com 100 100 The All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting California River Blog - http://blog.aorafting.com Update on 2012 Goodwin Canyon Rafting Season http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/eHteLiQ8ylA/ http://blog.aorafting.com/update-on-2012-goodwin-canyon-rafting-season/#comments Tue, 15 May 2012 17:13:53 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4721 So if a tree falls in Goodwin Canyon, does it matter if no rafters were there to see it?  Turns out it does!  We were all set for a great little spring season on Goodwin Canyon but as soon as our bags were packed we had to re-rack because there is literally a tree blocking our path!  Nothing to do but look forward to the fall when the tree will be removed and we’ll have smooth sailing.  What can you do — rivers and conditions change all the time!  So, if you were psyched about a Class IV rafting trip on Goodwin this year, we’ll see you in a few months!  In the meantime, there’s always the Middle Fork of the American……or the Tuolumne!

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/update-on-2012-goodwin-canyon-rafting-season/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/update-on-2012-goodwin-canyon-rafting-season/ Goodwin Canyon Season Looks Great for 2012 http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/HHOhwTSdPkE/ http://blog.aorafting.com/goodwin-canyon-season-looks-great-for-2012/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 17:00:31 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4692 One of the “silver linings” of the snowpack/flow situation here in California this year is the opportunity to do spring raft trips on Goodwin Canyon.  As with last year, we’ll host our popular “Goodwin Canyon Days” in the Fall (more info on that later!), but we also have the chance to raft this unusual class IV run from now until May 24 as well.

Why so unusual?  Well, Goodwin Canyon is an isolated section of the Stanislaus River that offers a crazy combo of a steep volcanic gorge, a lush riparian environment (that’s fancy talk for “lots of greenery along the riverbank”), and a couple intense rapids punctuated by long mellow class III sections.  Sometimes there are even waterfalls along the river banks.  Goodwin Canyon is also super close to the Bay Area making it a quick getaway for you denizens of The City and surrounding areas.  Go to the Ferry Building or visit the de Young another weekend–check out Goodwin Canyon this spring instead!

Don’t take my word for it–read Goodwin Canyon rafting reviews from other rafters.

(Above: Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, class 4+ rapid on Goodwin Canyon)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/goodwin-canyon-season-looks-great-for-2012/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/goodwin-canyon-season-looks-great-for-2012/ Paint the Town ORANGE http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/GZlIjirgiUo/ http://blog.aorafting.com/paint-the-town-orange/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:46 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4688 It’s California Poppy time in the Coloma-Lotus Valley. Whether you’re a wildflower fan or a committed city-dweller who LOVES concrete, I can’t imagine you not being impressed with the show displayed on the sides of Mount Murphy right now. It’s a vibrant sea of golden-orange poppies, and the spectacle will be over soon so book a trip on the Upper “Chili Bar” section of the South Fork of the American River SOON! (You’ll certainly see some poppies and other wildflowers on the Lower “Gorge” section, but by far the best display for poppies is from the vantage point you get on the Chili Bar run).

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/paint-the-town-orange/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/paint-the-town-orange/ Last Chance to Jump on Cal Salmon Trip http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/SwlutXC566U/ http://blog.aorafting.com/last-chance-to-jump-on-cal-salmon-trip/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:00:21 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4606 If you’re looking ahead a dismal weekend of spring cleaning, a trip to Costco for a giant tub of potato salad, 40 rolls of paper towels, and a marathon of Soprano’s re-runs,  it’s time for an intervention!  Put away the mop and the membership card and join us for some rafting on the California Salmon this weekend instead.  Since it’s a fair drive from our headquarters, and rather off the beaten track, opportunities to see this class IV-V river typically come once or twice a year.  Give us a call and we can answer any questions you have about this challenging spring rafting trip.  (FYI: It qualifies for our Spring Rafting Sale too!)

(Above: real men DO wear pink shorts in class V rapids)

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/last-chance-to-jump-on-cal-salmon-trip/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/last-chance-to-jump-on-cal-salmon-trip/ 2012 Rafting Season Flow Prediction http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/tolaJ_MtFPI/ http://blog.aorafting.com/2012-rafting-season-flow-prediction-2/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:18:34 +0000 Gregg Armstrong http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4633 We have finally arrived at a time when we can better predict flows on California rivers for 2012.

It has been a crazy winter and a wild last four weeks, but it looks like we are about to land in a good place in regard to the rafting season.

The storms from late March and early April have made a big difference. I was skiing at Kirkwood on March 19 and the mountainous terrain reminded me of a worn out pair of Levi’s, the way the Sierra usually looks at the end of May in a normal year…thread barren snow with large chunks of earth showing through.

This past weekend I had the pleasure and joy of skiing at Kirkwood again, one month later with my brothers and nephews and it was a whole different place. It looked and felt like the middle of winter with deep, thick snow and only a few visible pieces of earth (see picture). These last eight storms brought nearly 20 feet of snow to the high Sierra! We are talking a new pair of Levi’s and enough clothing to get us through this season without showing too much skin.

California Snowpack and Water Content as of April 17, 2012:

In Northern California we are 101% of normal, which means any river in the upper part of the State will have a regular rafting season.

In Central California we are at 60% of normal which does not sound like a lot, but coupled with the surplus water from this past year (200+% of normal), we are in fairly good shape, especially on our dam-controlled rivers which will have full reservoirs and regular releases all summer long.

Southern California is another story. Most of the storms missed the lower part of the State, and left it at 40%. Our local hero in Southern California, the Kaweah River, does not have any reservoirs above the run and depends only on snowmelt. The low snowpack in that part of the State is not enough to produce sustainable flows after April, so we will not have a 2012 season there unless mega storms head south and pound the mountains there with another 3-6 feet of snow.

General Summary of Water Flows:

Dam-controlled rivers (South & Middle Fork of the American, Tuolumne) will run steady all season, but will not have high water flows in the spring time as they usually do. Cherry Creek season should start in early June.

Non Dam-controlled rivers (North Fork American, Merced, North Fork Stanislaus) will run well but for a shorter period of time.

The two exceptions this season are the Cal-Salmon in Northern California which will have a normal season and the Kaweah in Southern California which will not have a season.

See our flows page for the latest updates and details on all of our runs. Of course you can always call our office and talk to one of us about specifics for each river and the season.

You can also view our flow prediction chart for more details (click to enlarge):

Hope this info is helpful. We look forward to seeing you on a California river trip this season!

Gregg Armstrong

Co-owner, All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting
(800) 247-2387

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/2012-rafting-season-flow-prediction-2/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/2012-rafting-season-flow-prediction-2/ Where in the World is AO? Dublin, Ireland! http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/DrCQ_IBWd3o/ http://blog.aorafting.com/where-in-the-world-is-ao-dublin-ireland/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:00:16 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4611 Raise a pint for AO rafting reservationist Emily who, as we see, is taking in the sights in fair Dublin in style!  St. Paddy’s Day in the heartland of everything Shamrock–talk about luck o’ the Irish–and AO was there to see it all.   Apparently this lovely tee was literally the only scrap of Green Miss Emily had, so AO was there to save the day.  If your AO recently kept you out of trouble send me the proof at malina @ aorafting.com. Slainte!

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/where-in-the-world-is-ao-dublin-ireland/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/where-in-the-world-is-ao-dublin-ireland/ Fun in the Foothills: Endless Wine Tasting in April http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/2CbaiOsUhZE/ http://blog.aorafting.com/fun-in-the-foothills-endless-wine-tasting-in-april/#comments Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:00:24 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4534 Hire a DD folks, it’s time for Passport weekend.  That means a weekend of serious wine tasting from one corner of El Dorado county to the next.  Barbera, Mourvedre, Syrah, Viognier, trusty Chard, Cab, and Merlot, and a million wines named after the American River, someone’s rooster, truck, or maybe even a cowboy or two.  If you have the stomach to try them all, you’re stouter than I–and you will definitely need a sober driver.  But if you’ve rafted in El Dorado County, and wanted to see what we have outside our beautiful river canyons, this is a great way to do it.  Of course, will you remember what you saw?  Good question.  Well who cares! Come back in June for a rafting trip and we can fill you in on the details. (Don’t forget, book by April 30th, raft by June 30th, and save 20% with our Spring Sale! Just ask for it when you call.)

Get more info on the gazillion wineries hosting Passport events at the El Dorado Winery website.

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/fun-in-the-foothills-endless-wine-tasting-in-april/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/fun-in-the-foothills-endless-wine-tasting-in-april/ California Salmon Rafting Weekend 2012 http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/LmLIrGyi70Y/ http://blog.aorafting.com/california-salmon-rafting-weekend-2012/#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:00:08 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4513 AO Rafting’s annual spring Cal Salmon rafting trip is back!  Now, I do realize of course that after this amazing skiing year we’ve had (heh heh) that you’re all a little burnt out on high adventure, but if you can pull it together for a moment  and gather your energy, think about this:

The Cal Salmon usually comes but once a year for us–this is a fleeting opportunity! You’re probably going to have to wait for Cherry Creek for water this challenging again this season.  Our guides love this river so much–and get the chance to see it so rarely–this trip turns into a “welcome back, holy-cow-it’s-a-new-season, here we go” reunion smash up.  So if you love AO, and love AO guides, this is your chance to see a LOT of them in one place and looking great in wetsuits.  Wetsuits?  Oh yes, you’ll be wearing one too….this is not a trip for the faint-of heart.  But so worth the fashion sacrifice.

Hooked yet?  Want the details? Of course you do.  The California Salmon rafting weekend starts April 28th in Northern California at Somes Bar.  A day of class IV-V rafting awaits you–or two, if you are really hard-core. 

Still not convinced? Check out the 5-star  Cal Salmon rafting reviews people wrote up last year: http://www.aorafting.com/river/cal-salmon/reviews.htm

Above: Scouting a rapid on the California Salmon River

 

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/california-salmon-rafting-weekend-2012/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/california-salmon-rafting-weekend-2012/ 2012 California Rafting Season is OPEN http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/DIESD7HBxHk/ http://blog.aorafting.com/2012-california-rafting-season-is-open/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:00:15 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4538 After a long winter…………..it’s here.  We are O-P-E-N for biznass.  And how!  Multiple rivers are or will soon be running, with us on them.   South Fork American! Tuolumne! Merced! Cal Salmon! Did I miss anything? Probably–if you want to run it chances are we do too so give us a call and start planning.

]]> http://blog.aorafting.com/2012-california-rafting-season-is-open/feed/ 0 http://blog.aorafting.com/2012-california-rafting-season-is-open/ California Rafting Guide School 2012 http://feed.aorafting.com/~r/aoblog/~3/9esa2N7bQsI/ http://blog.aorafting.com/california-rafting-guide-school-2012/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:00:25 +0000 Malina http://blog.aorafting.com/?p=4546 Are you ready to bail on Google, Tesla, or whatever other boring ol’ job you have and come get a taste of the real cutting edge?  Sign up for our professionial whitewater guide school and learn all kinds of new skills that every Fortune 500 company will be looking for! 

People skills!  Yes! Things like saying hello, please and thank you, getting to know people, laughing, and learning new ideas.  Organization!  We will teach you sorting skills, like putting vegetables on one plate and meats on a different plate for the Deli lunch spread.  We will also work with you on critical thinking skills.  For instance, do you want to get to take-out on time? Ok, then you must follow the plan and forward paddle.  Do you want to avoid sunburn?  Good. Wear sunscreen.  Everytime you are out in the sun.  With skills like these, success is virtually guarenteed when you want to get back into a “real job.”  But until then, you’ll have incredible adventures with pretty awesome people, you’ll learn new skills, challenge your limits, and impress  your city friends with your ability to cook brownies using cast iron, charcoal, a butterfinger bar.  Whether or not you become a professional river guide after school depends on your ability, work ethic, and our hiring needs, but I can say with confidence you will have a ball during the week you spend with us, and we hope you’ll fall as in love with the river as we are.

Learn more and find a guide school application at our website.  Dates for our 2012 professional rafting guide school are April 19-22, and April 27-29 (split school) and June 19-25 for the summer session.

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