Planning Spring Rafting Trips

Christmas is done... and along with the turmoil of trying to create that special holiday atmosphere of loving, giving, peaceful co-existence with all members of the family. Arguing over the minutea of past slights and silly ancient family history, we still all sit down at dinner and praise the All Mighty. We stuff our faces with familiar family recipes and we honor and respect each other's idiosyncracies. Talk around the table this year was about the weirdo weather we are experiencing in Northern California. Lots of rain! And the rivers came screaming back up to high water springtime conditions. Weird. The North Fork American was flowing above 3,000 cfs while the South Fork American River stayed at an unreal December level above 5,000 cfs. Up North, the Cal Salmon rose to 6,000+ cfs!

Snow started falling again on Monday and some of us headed up to Kirkwood for a day of skiing and snowboarding today. With all the rain and ground saturation, we should be in very good shape for all dam controlled rivers such as South Fork American, Middle Fork American and Tuolumne River this spring and summer. Reservoirs will be healthy; especially in Northern California! Just remember that the majority of storms seem to come in January and February. We definitely need more snowpack for a longer spring runoff!

Our families and friends are planning several rafting trips this season. In the spring, we are looking to do a private river trip on the Illinois River in Oregon, then commercial river trips on the North Fork American in California, the California Salmon River near the California/Oregon border and then we will do a family and friends re-union on a two day South Fork and Middle Fork American in late July. This should satisfy all the die-hard paddlers in our family, but also it will allow us to include the younger kids and some grandparents over on the American River. This should be a great river rafting season for everyone!

Adventure Gift Certificates for Teens

Yikes, it's almost Christmas! Shopping for loved ones is getting more and more difficult every year. I'm racking my brains to get that perfect something for my teenager. What do you get a teen who has everything?

You know what I mean... they have a computer, they have an X-Box, they have the iPod, they have the snowboard, skateboard, skis, blah blah blah... they have tons of clothes; they have every flippin' thing that every kid wants already... so what does a parent get for their special teen?

I'm getting adventure gifts for mine. Lift tickets at their favorite ski resort, gift certificates for rafting trips, campsite reservations near favorite outdoor programs, rock climbing walls, gift certs for outdoor sports equipment and memberships to the local gym! I want my teen off the couch and in the outdoors enjoying life to it's fullest. Sooooo, hey parents; give the gift of adventure. The teens will really enjoy it!

High Water on South Fork American River

Brrrrrr! It's hella cold. Good for a great base on the ski slopes. Storms are happening and the North Fork American came screaming up in flows. I'm not sure who or what went down the other day when the rains sent the gauge up to 15,000 cfs. Imagine that narrow corridor in that rocky canyon.

Where does the water go when it's that high? Upwards! I heard there were some kayakers attempting it... not sure which portion or if it's just a rumor... that's the thing about river rumors... there's always an element of truth. Did so-and-so really do that descent? Did that company really raft at those flows?

... went over to the South Fork American this past weekend to check out the flows and the beautiful winter scenery. Oh, yeeehhhh... the kayakers were out in the chilly air enjoying the river to themselves. This is such a great time for 'yakers... no commercial activity; just paddle in hand enjoying the river. Calls are coming into the office for early spring trips on the North Fork American and Cal Salmon trips. Weather is starting to promise a great river rafting season for 2006... oh, and by the way, Ryan Mac made it down to Brazil safe and sound. Logistics will be set and the first trips will start on Christmas day. Good luck to the "Chasing 50" Team!