KLAMATH RIVER - The Long Strange Trip

The Klamath River is the longest no dammed, navigable whitewater river in California stretching over 200 miles from I-5 to the Pacific Ocean.

The Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nevada is arguably the longest running, biggest festival of Art, Music, and Culture in the Western Hemisphere.

Let's put them together shall we?

Since 1979, in our second year of operation, W.E.T. River Trips started to run various sections of the Northern California's  Klamath River with a focus on the Happy Camp to Presidio Bar run that we usual would configure as a 3 or 4-day trip.

About 15 years ago, we started to extend our trips upstream to Saeid Valley to incorporate more class 3 rapids and to experience the more remote portions of the river with trips up to 6 days in duration...as we did so, we started to think of some other additions....hence, the concept of "Long Strange Trip" (yes, the LST was born out of long van rides, warm nights on river beaches, and the creativity of river guides).

Yes, the reference to the Grateful Dead song is clear; however, the concept of the trip is more than a jam-band bit of noodling. Long Strange Trip (LST) incorporates self reliance (no rafts... Inflatable and sit-on-top kayaks only with a gear boat for supplies), Art (every day would have options for self expression through body movement, photography, sculpture, and 'crafts'), Music (the trip's guides would all be musicians of a variety of disciplines and clients would be encouraged to bring instruments and to use instruments provided by guides) daily and nightly. The LST would also explore the surrounding riparian eco-system and the surrounding geology and geography with a continual thread of Human History presented by guides and guests.

The Long Strange Trip (LST) Recap
DURATION 6-days; July 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6th
TRANSPORT using kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks, gear raft w/ all your gear
DRY BAG 30lbs/person for personal gear
ART everyday; body movement, photography, sculpture, crafts
MUSIC every night; bring your instruments, guides will also!
GEOLOGY of California & Pacific Northwest
GEOGRAPHY local, regional
HUMAN HISTORY native american lore, gold rush history, and us!
MENU vegetarian and/or vegan, California produce advocating farm to fork
THEMES group selection, committment
NO TRACE camping, impact on land

The LST would be a slower paced and free-form schedule with a simple beginning and an end filled in-between with natural magic and the energy and contributions of the environment and our guests. Meals or food will be simple, nutritious, filling and mostly vegetarian and/or vegan constructed of high quality California-produced ingredients. Besides the musical entertainment, dance, art, movement, games, interaction, and learning... every day will be themed though group selection and commitment.

As with Burning Man, the rules will be few: safety gear will be worn on-river, and no-trace camping and floating will be strictly adhered to. And as with Burning Man, participants will be encouraged to contribute to the trip in ways that shows a giving, sharing spirit to contribute to the LST community.

The trip will be small (limited to 12 participants) and will be staffed by carefully selected guides that will bring all the 'magic' and expertise the LST requires.

The inaugural LST will be presented to operate July 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6th ....so, not only would we celebrate the LST, we would also celebrate Independence Day by floating and traveling through the State Of Jefferson (our Nation's only Ad-Hoc 51st State established in 1941).

links:

http://www.jeffersonstate.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_(Pacific_state)

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/104445714950587017401/albums/5241691352157972321

http://www.burningman.com/whatisburningman/

http://www.raftwet.com/Klamath.html

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/104445714950587017401/albums/5499035911904821009
more rivers in northern california:
http://c-w-r.com/rivers/lower-klamath.html
http://raftwet.com/california-salmon.html
http://c-w-r.com/rivers/upper-sac.html

Ahhhh... the influences of hippies, Burning Man, Grateful Dead, Farm to Food and loving life!
This post was written by Big Poppah Jah! and posted by me.
~ el
WET River Trips
RAFTWET.com 

X - California Los Angeles Band

Exene of X

Funny how time stands still in moments like this. I saw "X" on Thursday night at Harlow's on J Street in Midtown, Sacramento. Time came to a screeching halt as the band came out and grabbed their guitars and mikes. Los Angeles is where X comes from and their sound is uniquely theirs.

When I first saw them way back in the 80's, punk rock music was their calling. But, their punk was not the punk from Great Britain. There was more of a rockabilly stance then with Exene, Billy and John dressing so casual that one always felt that we were in their living room enjoying a wild night of music. X always respected their fans, and we always respected X.

Breathless by X

Three bands for the cool price of $32 beckoned us. First, we stopped for pizza and started counting our funds. Hmm... we needed two more tickets. The pizza parlor was near Harlow's venue, so we sauntered over hoping to score a couple of tickets.

The guy in the black truck... he had tickets and he was selling them cheaper then he bought them. Why? Because he scored X tickets for New Year's in San Francisco. Cool. Even cooler as I got to purchase those 2 ticktes for less than $50 bucks. Now, we were all set to listen and watch this sold out show.

We ran into Marcus and Chas on the way in and learned that it was Marcus' Birthday. They hung out with all of us as we found a view site from the bar. We could see the entire stage!

Billy Zoom of X - Mr Cool

First up was "Scott Wheeler and Zander Schloss" a twosome who wielded a big folk sound. I was taken to the isle of dreams as I sat their absorbing their noise. The music was tinged with a melancholy sound and had me drifting away in a silent revelry of my own place.

Second band was "The Black Tribetans" and they kicked their sound out to a roar of fan approval. They had a faster pace with rockabilly, psycobilly sound. I want to hear this band again... I think I might buy a CD of their music... listening to a youtube video of them right now.

Then "X" lit the stage. And I mean they lit it up with their charm and music. Gawd, I love this band so much! They are the best band that has ever come out of California! Every song was a power based riff of music and X-olator noise.

X - Los Angeles

A great time was had by all!

... wondering if I can get into the San Fran show tonight at Slims...

UPDATE: Yep, Los Angeles video was pulled! Yikes, we just replaced it with a "Los Angeles" live video... let's see if it survives.

This post and this blog belong to WET River Trips in California.

Photos by Big PoppahJah and video by youtube.com.

Music, Rafting and More! James Israel Band Releases New CD!

Good friends over at "James Israel Band" just finished their latest CD. A lot of work went into the project and WET River Trips would like to share their tunes with you. Check them out!
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The James Israel Band releases new CD, "Good Enough"

Hello music lovers! We finally finished our CD, which is available for streaming on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JamesIsraelBand. (Please "like" us there, if you haven't already.)

If you like what you hear, individual songs (just 99 cents) and/or the whole CD are available on our CD Baby page at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jamesisraelband.

A few of the songs featured on the album are:

• Codependent Blues: A raucous and fun romp, about a subject most -- if not all -- of us are quite familiar with!
• Good Enough: Ok, it's only "white man's" reggae, but still a fun song!
• Just a Little (Can Do a Lot): A yin-yang kind of tune, all about love.
• Sweet Dark Princess: This tune features a beautiful piano opening by our wonderful Carrie McNabb and a very tasty guitar solo by our other wonderful lead instrumentalist, Sue Kasper. A love song many tell us is their favorite tune on the album.
• Deal With It: You know you must.
• The Kin of Ata: A spiritual tune inspired by the book The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You by Dorothy Bryant.
• Aliens On Ice: Tongue-in-cheek song about the Roswell Incident.

Thank you!

James

(Sonicbids EPK: http://www.sonicbids.com/JamesIsraelBand)

Notes from WET River Trips: August is rolling in along with many musical festivals throughout California and the entire West coast. River rafting, whitewater rafting and more on the American River coming up next!

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More music on the West Coast:

AUGUST 2011
July 31-Aug 7 Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation - Seattle, WA; http://www.sfadi.org
July 31- Aug. 7 Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival - Port Townsend, WA; http://www.centrum.org/blues/bl-festival.html
Aug. 5-7 The Gaia Festival - Laytonville, CA;http://www.thegaiafestival.com
Aug. 5-7 Reggae Rising - Garberville, CA; http://www.facebook.com/ReggaeRisingFestival
Aug. 5-7 Pickathon - Happy Valley, OR; http://www.pickathon.com
Aug. 6 - Petaluma Music Festival - Petaluma, CA; http://www.petalumamusicfestival.org/
Aug. 11-15 Beloved Festival - Tidewater Falls, OR; http://www.belovedfestival.com
Aug. 12-14 Northwest World Reggae Festival - Marcola, OR; http://www.nwworldreggae.com
Aug. 12-14 Indijinus - west of Eugene, OR; http://bhumsiva.com/indidjinus-gathering
Aug. 12-14 Summer Meltdown - Darrington, WA; http://www.summermeltdown.com
Aug. 12-14 San Jose Jazz Festival - San Jose, CA; http://jazzfest.sanjosejazz.org/
Aug. 12-14 Outside Lands - San Francisco, CA; http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/
Aug. 17-21 Sierra Contact Festival - Sierraville, CA; http://www.bodyresearch.org/contactfestival
Aug. 19-21 Northwest Herbal Fair - Mt. Vernon, WA; http://www.nwherbalfair.com/
Aug. 20-21 Art and Soul - Oakland, CA; http://www.artandsouloakland.com/
Aug. 26-28 The Eugene Celebration - Eugene, OR; http://www.eugenecelebration.com
Aug 29- - Sept. 5 Burning Man - Black Rock Desert, NV; http://www.burningman.com

SEPTEMBER 2011
Sept. 2-5 Singing Alive - Cosmopolis, WA; http://www.tribesofcreation.com/events.html
Sept. 2-5 Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium - Laytonville, CA; http://www.womensherbalsymposium.org/pages/symposium.html
Sept.3-6 Strawberry Fall Music Festival - Yosemite, CA; http://www.strawberrymusic.com
Sept. 3-5 Bumbershoot - Seattle, WA; http://bumbershoot.org/
Sept. 4-5 Scottish Highland Games - Pleasanton, CA; http://www.caledonian.org/games.html
Sept. 8-11 Bhakti Fest - Joshua Tree, CA; http://www.bhaktifest.com/
Sept. 9-11 Newport Music Festival - Newport, WA; http://www.pvbluegrass.com/
Sept. 9-11 Sisters Folk Festival - Sisters, OR; http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org/sff.php
Sept. 13-18 Somafest Somatic Movement Arts Festival - LA, CA; http://www.somafest.org
Sept. 16-18 Monterey Jazz Festival - Monterey, CA; http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org
Sept 16-18 American River Music Festival - Coloma, CA; http://www.americanrivermusic.org/musicians.php
Sept. 17-18 Mendocino Rejuvenation Festival - Mendocino, CA; www.RejuvenationFestival.com
Sept. 23-25 Earthdance - Vallejo, CA; http://earthdancelive.com/
Sept. 23-25 Art of Community - Occidental, CA; http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2011/03/18/art-of-community-pr-jan-2011.pdf
Sept. 24-25 Adams Ave. Street Fair - San Diego, CA; http://adamsaveonline.com/StreetFair/


Content created by James Israel, W.E.T. River Trips, and WestCoastFest.com for this rafting blog.
Photos by : WET River Trips on Flickr

NorCal Music News from the Indie Crowd

Here's a music blog for ya!

The start of summer has finally arrived with sun shining into your bedroom window. While sitting with a nice, cold Hefeiwzen in your hand, do you start to worry... " What record do I put on to keep me in this effen awesome mood?"

No worries! Here's a mini list I've compiled of the best bands to listen to in the blow-up pool in the backyard! (Note: or on the way to that rafting trip you just organized....)

Lizzzzzzen:

Thee Oh Sees - "I was Denied" off Warm Slime on In the Red Records released May 11th

Fresh and Onlys - "No Second Guessing" off Grey-Eyed Girls

Gories - "Yaya Baby" off Complete Bandin' Sessions

Lightning Bolt - "Assassins" off Wonderful Rainbow

Ariel Pink - "Alisa" off House Arrest

Gun Club - " Sex Beat" off Fire of Love

Eat Skull - "Heaven's Stranger" off Wild and Inside

Music RagNag!

Last month, The German Measles, The Beets, and Ganglians played at Sol Collective in Sacramento. This show was the last Ganglians show in Northern California until they got back from their Europe tour starting in md-May. The bands all played and after crashed out after the show at the Funcastle.

The next morning local filmer, Sean of TerrorEyes showed up to try and get the bands to allow him to film them. We set up their gear and recording equiptment in the backyard and had the band play two songs as sean filmed them.

Right after the second song, the cops showed up, but luckily we got all the sound and footage! Make sure to check on terroreyes.tv to see the video.

Also, last month, Zach Hill, drummer for Hella and a million other bands, left for the ATP festival in England. Headliners of the show were: Iggy Pop and the Stooges, The Residents, Joanna Newsom, James Chance and the Contortions, etc. Zach did not play solo this time, but with the highly acclaimed Japanese noise band BOREDOMS.

Update: check Zach's latest video story, Green Bricks; released a few weeks ago.

Word,

~~ picketfence

Written and Submitted to RAFTWETblog.com

Ganglians Top Bands & Music

Here's some year end lists we made, we really put a lot of thought into these, you should really check some of this music out. .... Anyways, here's some things for now while i get some other stuff together.

Ryan (Ganglians)

Ganglians Top 10 albums of 2009 (In no order)

1. Mayyors: Deads EP
2. Eat Skull: Wild and Inside
3. Grass Widow: S/T
4. The Hospitals: Hairdryer Peace

5. John Maus: Love is Real (2007, but felt like it materialized now)

6. Nite Jewel: Good Evening
7. The Beets: Spit on the Face of People Who Don't Want to Be Cool.
8. Kurt Vile: Constant Hitmaker
9. The Intelligence: Fake Surfers
10. The Mayfair Set: Young One

The Intelligence Video - Dating Cops

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Ryan of Ganglians Top 10 Songs Listened to in 2009. (not necessarily from this year)

1. "The Bublight"- Joe Meek
I've been listening to this song at least weekly for years. I'm an
extreme sucker for slide guitar and when its doubled then tripled
towards the end with a Hawaiian slide guitar it's too much, the dams
break in my head and my soul overflows, lapping up on the dark shores
of islands across the sea of time.

2, "The Samba"- Vichy Water
I live with these guys and girls, they also have another great band
they're all in called Ggreen who i would have included on here to if
their record had been released yet. Vichy water has some of the
catchiest guitar/bass ensloughts and they churn em out like it aint no
thing. And everyone can sing/shout along. "Rip a strip!"

3. "Lulu's Lips"- Grass Widow
Some of the best girl group harmonies to come out in years. Very nice
people to and a very concise, tight group of musicians.

4. "Look At Merri" - Rain Parade
This song MUST be listened to on vinyl over loud speakers. Very
pyschedelic, warm, and encompossing; like an ethereal down comforter.

5. "Iceblink Luck"- Cocteau Twins
Coooo~cooo~ softly in my ear.

6. "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"- The Walker Brothers
"Emptiness is a cloak you wear" Scott Walker croons before said cloak
opens and dispells all the sadness with a chorus so heartbreakingly
genuine and questionably hopeful that you're reminded of every time you saw the
light at the end of the tunnel.

7. "Scan the Floor for Food"- The Hospitals
The whole Hairdryer Peace album is one big razor edged nightmare of a
dream (psychotic, paranoid, in a constant state of confusion, things
flying at you from every angle) but when it all slows down to a
simmering boil towards the end this song reminds you of all the good
times you had getting there, thinking you're insane all the way trying
to hold on to what reality once was. We're lucky enough to have Adam
recording the next Ganglians 7", he's a true mastermind with tape
machines and we couldn't be more terrified.

8. "Tonight Again"- Twinkeyz
When I first heard this band not too long ago I couldn't believe they
weren't an early influence of ours. They have all the same aesthetics;
aliens, mystery, cartoons, space, outcasts; only 30 years earlier.
Donnie Jupiter is now a comic book artist and animator after some
really tragic events. And the kicker is they're also from Sacramento!
It may be too late but it's time this band gets the attention it
deserves.

9. "We Are Too Young"- Reading Rainbow
This band makes there own amazing art to match their amazing anthemic
songs, and they have a beautiful home with antique furniture, where as
all my friends can't remember to take out their garbage and pizza
boxes.

10. "Tenebrae"- John Maus
An epic, masonic masterpiece that manages to erect the massive
hallowed halls of the intergalactic gods of space and time right in
the mind's eye. Best listened to barreling down a country road on a
starry night clutching Aliester Crowley's Book Of Lies.

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5 Things remembered off the top of our heads from 2009

1. Toronto, and Treasure Cove in Montreal: Oh, Canada: You were so
cool, even after we ended up having to come back from the border and
get an hour of sleep in the entry way of the venue before being woken
by an irate landlord after an hour of sleep. Gravy fries and sleeping
in the amanita woods was something else to.
2. SMMR BMMR and Woodsist/ Captured Tracks Festivals: It was kinda
like summer camp for bands.
3. Peaking on the peak of Bell Rock in Sedona, AZ: We made sure to
find the strongest vortex point in this new age town in the red rock
canyons of Arizona for our trip and the whole process of climbing up
this steeply sloped spiral mountain with twisted trees, alien
monuments, and epic views was resplendent with metaphors and strange
things i still can't manage to explain.

4. Kyle Ganglian getting lost in San Francisco while our friends in
the Hospitals drove around in a taxi and blew on whistles trying to
find him. We found him the next morning at a hotel after getting
mugged at 7 a.m. just in time for him to go to work.

5. Recording with Andy Morin: I don't know if Monster Head Room would
have been finished without him. He put up with every one of our idiot
ideas and helped us make something we were really proud of.

Thank you Ryan for this Post!

Special thanks to Ryan Grubbs from the Ganglians for this A-List of bands and music!
(got the tunes in my head now... rafting down the river...smiles at the club kids...)

Boston Ballet Auditions

She was a whirling dirvish at three years old. Never out of a big twirly skirt; always in the mirror playing dress-up. My little girl, my baby... her energy was always at full speed; running through the house crashing into things, falling down the stairs and tumbling. My little girl had so much energy that it scared me as a young mother.

I put her in gymnastics so that she could just run and tumble as hard as she wanted in a safe environment. She was a star of her class at 3 years old. The gymnastic teacher asked me to put her into an advanced class because my little girl was so adept at each move. I remember grinning from ear to ear as I watched my child graduate with top honors in the program.
One day while my child waited her turn for a short gymnastic routine, she started twirling madly in place and hopping up and down. The mother next to me declared, "That's a dancer if ever I saw one!"
I looked and watched with new eyes and saw my child with not only the coordination of moves but also a graceful execution of her body. Her arms and hands were so beautifully placed... like a ballerina. I started talking to the other mom, and she told me that she was involved with a local ballet school in town. The woman gave me the name of the school and said that we should try it out.

I had never seen a live performance of ballet. I had only seen the Nutcracker on PBS where I enjoyed the music and the graceful moves of the dancers. So, I thought, "...why not?"

At the time, I didn't know that this dance program was the best ballet school in our region. I just thought my little girl would have a blast in a tutu! When we arrived to register, one of the teachers took her hand and led her into a windowed room full of little girls and boys. All of the kids were jumping around with no direction at all until the teacher walked into the room.

And this is where it began. And this is how my little girl became a dancer, a ballerina.

I love the ballet. The power of the dancers is something hard to explain to a person who has never watched a live performance. The sinewy muscles and sweat and the execution of the moves will make you understand that these ballet dancers are pure athletes.

My little girl grew up and auditioned for the Boston Ballet's summer program where she went away from home for the first time and lived her dream. She still twirls madly and still runs through the house at top speed. And, as I watch her on stage, her beauty and grace brings me to tears of joy for the ballet, for the performance and all things artful.

BOSTON BALLET SDP AUDITIONS:
from Jan 16 - 17th (see ballet website for details)

Montclair, CA - Inland Pacific Ballet
Winston-Salem, NC - UNC School of the Arts
Hartford, CT - The Hartt School
Calgary, Canada - Alberta Ballet
Santa Moncia, CA - Westside School of Ballet
Mobile, AL - Mobile Ballet School
Philadelphia, PA - The Rock School
Toronto, Canada - Canada's National Ballet School
Tokyo, Japan - Shinjukumura Live

Contact: Patrick Schneider, Summer Programs Manager
Boston Ballet School at summerprograms@bostonballet.org
http://bostonballet.org
or call 617.456.6269



Note from WET River Trips: The arts across the country are in trouble because of dwindling revenue and lack of support from the government. Support the arts in your community and give a monetary gift to your local ballet, symphony, opera and more.

Photos: Boston Ballet & Kickstep.com

Life Decisions : Family

Recently, I was speaking to one of the younger members of the blogging team. He writes about the foibles of his youth and how he resolves the pending issues of the day. I gather that his life is full of adventure as each day unfolds to bring either good tidings or sorrow. He is young and full of spirit. The decisions he makes daily are hard. There are so many temptations, so many wrong things that can happen. The one constant in his life is his family, his good friends, his music, his art and rafting on rivers.

From North Fork American HIgh Water

Was life this hard when I approached it as a young adult? Yes, it was. Sometimes, I didn't think I would survive. I was always worried about money. There never seemed enough funds to cover the daily living cost. I can remember eating top ramen noodles because it was dirt cheap and satisfying. I wonder if "they" eat that, too...

From Buff Castle 2nd Saturday with White Fang & Religious Girls

He said to me that sometimes he wished that he could just go back to the warm embrace of his family... have mom do his laundry again... have dad slip him a twenty for gas... and waking up in a bed with clean sheets. He said he never imagined how much he would appreciate all the little things that mom and dad would do for him. He missed it very much, but he knew that he couldn't go back. He knew that he was an adult in a sometimes, childlike mind.

From Buff Castle 2nd Saturday with White Fang & Religious Girls

From Buff Castle 2nd Saturday with White Fang & Religious Girls

I imagine how difficult it is to ward off the temptations, the bad friends, and to make critical decisions to launch himself into full adulthood. He told me that his music and being outdoors on river trips was his greatest joy. He will be on our rafting trips this weekend enjoying himself with his friends. There, he can forget for a while, the seriousness of life and just enjoy what Mother Nature brings.

SPRING RAFTING TRIPS for 2012

Spring turns it up a notch: BAM! (This post is from 2009)

From Spring 2009 Whitewater Rafting photos

Sun, Rain, Snow, and Flowing California Whitewater Rivers!
Day One of Spring... travel time!

From Spring 2009 Whitewater Rafting photos

Day Two of Spring, we hit the South Fork and North Fork American Rivers. Some adventurous couples ran the Chili Bar section of the South Fork American with Drew and Booty, and a bachelor party ran the North Fork with Justin, Alex H. and Greg D.

From Spring 2009 Whitewater Rafting photos

The flows were perfect and the weather cooperated. That night in camp at Camp Lotus we had students from UC San Diego that came up early for the NoFo on Sunday.

From Spring 2009 Whitewater Rafting photos

Day Three of Spring, we picked up the UCSD students at Camp Lotus and drove to the North Fork American...then the rain started... and by the time we reached Weimar and Colfax, it was snowing BIG FAT FLAKES of Spring snow!!!!! The North Fork American was 1,700 CFS (cubic feet per second) ...perfect... and the snow turned to rain. (UC Berkeley wha 'sup?)

From Spring 2009 Whitewater Rafting photos

By the time Justin and Alex hit the takeout at Ponderosa Way, the sun was out and the golden California Poppies were open and blazing orange: a beautiful California Spring on amazing California Whitewater!

From Spring 2009 Whitewater Rafting photos

We're now 18 days into our season and we've been on the river 15 of those days, and we've run the North Fork American and South Fork American repeatedly. What's next? Who's next? Back to it!

From Spring 2009 Whitewater Rafting photos

So far... Country Mike, Drew, Booty, Robin, Nick, Duff, Greg D., Chad, Bird, Alex H., Chris Z., RoBo, and Justin have answered the call... so where are you Saul, Jonny, Jason, Meg, Mag, K-Dawg, Rob, Wolf, D-Rex, Mac, Theo, Tom, Kyle, Ninja Mike, Disco E, Cool J, and Heffe?

From Spring 2009 Whitewater Rafting photos

Hehehe ... bring it.

... stay tuned... shhhhhh Triple Crown on American River next week!

GO WITH THE FLOW CALIFORNIA!

California is amazing. Go with the flow....and "flow" happens.

The rest of the US is locked in ice, flood, and freezing wind. This past week California weather has enjoyed high temperatures in the mid-to high sixties and even the Sierra Nevada have seen highs in the 50's. The skiing and snowboarding is great. Rafting trips and kayaking adventures are happening everyday. 2009 rafting season is starting up! We have more rain and snow is coming our way.

In the meantime, we're loving the weather and sipping the lemonade that the planet has produced for our geographic corner of the world. Even the ski resorts have gone with the flow with sundecks and "beach-style" recreation like volleyball added to the lodge activities, skiing and snowboarding.

The whitewater season will be big fun in the " Warm California Sun" (the Ramones version)! Hey Ho, Let's go!

Lyrics:: Ramones - California Sun
Well I'm going out west where I belong
Where the days are short and the nights are long

When I walk and They walk I Twist and They Twist
I Shimmy and They Shimmy I fly and They fly
We're out there having fun in the warm California sun

Well, I'm going out west out on the coast
Where the California girls are really the most

When I walk and They walk I Twist and They Twist
I shimmy and They shimmy I fly and They fly
We're out there having fun in the warm California sun

Well, the girls are frisky in old 'Frisco
A pretty little chick wherever you go

And I walk and They walk i twist and They twist
I shimmy and they shimmy I fly and They fly
We're out there having fun in the warm California sun

We're out there having fun in the warm California sun

HALLOWEEN International

The sunlight is fading, and the darkness grows as we prepare for the Winter Solstice and the longest night and shortest day…but first Halloween!

Halloween has officially (I'm calling it) the biggest celebration in the World. Yes… true. Christmas is big, but it's still a secular holiday. New Years is big as well if you don't count the Lunar New Year celebrated by China and many of its neighbors (except the Hmong and Lo Mien that celebrate the New Year in late Fall). Carnival is huge; however, it too is secular and limited. Halloween is everywhere! East to West and in-between, we as a World now celebrate and participate in the rituals of Halloween (dressing-up, sweets, food, drink, parties)…. what's not to like?

Yes, there are those remnants of Druid rituals, All Hallows Night, All Saint's Day etc. brought to us in America by Irish immigrants after the Potato Famine; however, the Melting Pot that is America distilled the World's rituals into the unique celebration of Halloween that has spread to the middle, near, and far east and expanded the pre-existing celebrations of Europe.

We all love Halloween for what it is: an opportunity to be something/someone different and to celebrate with our children, family and friends.

So get your mask on, touch up your make-up, stock-up on candy, buy some eggs to chuck and don't forget to vote!

Psst….this year's secret, best-ever costume: a River Guide! Think of the possibilities: dreadlocks, spandex, poly-pro, big shorts, helmets, facial hair, thrift-store shirts, knives, PFD's, sandals, bad hair, tattoos, hemp chokers, and chipped teeth (or no-teeth!).

I'll be at Java Lounge to see two hot bands: Sucks (check out SacBee Sucks review) and Fatty Acid!

I'll leave you with this:
"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth."
Oscar Wilde

Fall Rafting and End of Summer

We've had an amazing rafting season of California rivers that included the Rafting Triple Crown, all kinds of guide and rafting parties, Music, P.O.W. event, and river travel!

All the rafting activity wraps up now as we head into deep Autumn and Winter. Fall rafting will continue on the American River white water. Here's some pictures of rivers I took during some current rafting trips this past week.

Fall photos

We've had our first rain and a dusting of snow on top off the Sierra's as the rivers calm down and the preparations begin for the 2009 rafting season and a season of snowboarding and travel. 2009 is expected to be even better than ever with some new additions to the W.E.T. River Trips menu of trip itineraries and activities and the prognosticators are predicting an above-normal winter of rain and snow ...nice!

Some of the W.E.T. crew are headed out to new adventures with Mac going to Brazil, Chris Z. to Panama, Booty & Justin to Chile after a stop in Costa Rica, D-Rex (Ryan) will be ice-climbing and back-country skiing in Colorado, K-Dawg is expected to make the patrol roster at Sierra at Tahoe, Nate is remaining King of Patrol at Kirkwood, Jon is headed to the Caribbean after finishing up college in Maine and Utah, Kyle is getting married, Maggie is surfing a desk while stalking Mt. Rose daily, Greg D. is headed to the Canyon, Country Mike is having a baby, Saul is becoming an urban (Newport) farmer by establishing sustainable agriculture on his patio, Wolf and A2 are headed to Mexico after prepping for the GRE, Alex is finishing up at UC Berkeley, Jason is deep into fatherhood, Jonny is plotting a come-back, Meg is missing Cali, Mike S. and Mogli are honing their respective Ninja skills, Big Job Rob will be patrolling Sierra at Tahoe, Andrew will be blazing new trails in the entertainment media, Bird flew to Ashland, and Heffe is in love!

Fall brings changes and challenges...the rivers, the mountains, the oceans, and the guides of W.E.T. River Trips are out there soaking it up and prepping for the next big season of California Rafting beginning in just 4 short months.

It's beautiful outside... enjoy and think of that sweet cold, clear spring run-off and all that it brings to the rivers!

Burning Man or "I Got the Golden Ticket"

I haven't written anything for California Whitewater Rafting blog in a long time. Why? Well, the business of white water rafting and outdoor adventures is one that keeps me... well, rather busy. We are networking with so many new partners and ventures that just keeping up with it is more than anyone can handle. So, I don't write much anymore, and leave that to the younger blogging team and Big Poppa ... their writing is much more interesting and more timely than my musings or rants.

Several events are happening around American River trips. There was the P.O.W. show. I heard that the company did the first Punks on Water shows waaaaay back in the 80's. Big Poppa is an unusual boss. He is an old guy with a very young heart... and all of us that work for this company know it is a special relationship between employer and employee. He ain't like a regular boss... but I guess you all figured that out already.

Big Poppa and one of the senior crew members, Mizz Maggie hopped on the Burner's Psy bus and headed to the great vast Black Rock Desert for music, performance art and the party event of the year! Burning Man was calling and Big Poppa answered the call enthusiastically. Check his personal blog for a blow by blow pre-party contest and how Mizz Maggie won her "Golden Ticket".

He promised to write part 2 of the Burning Man episode to fill in the rest of the story... I want to see the video and the pictures, peeps... I heard Kev was there hanging out along with several other Burners that we all know and love... hahaha... you know who you are. Oh, yeah... and Mack sent this video to the office from the last group rafting trip on the South Fork American... Big Poppa sure talks up rafting and food!



More party events are happening this weekend with the American River Festival, several day hikes around the rivers and even a kayak sale brought to you by The River Store in the Lotus Coloma Valley. Summer is gone, but WET trips continue for Fall rafting and Winter boating.

One thing Big Poppa said when he got back to the office... he said, "For 50K people that were there, it sure was calm... no riots, no fighting... just love and more love..." And that is what makes the world go round and round and round and round... PEACE OUT!

PUNKS ON WATER ... P.O.W.

W.E.T. River Trips has had an alter-ego for the past 27 of our 30 years in business as a whitewater outfitter....
P.O.W. Punks on Water!

P.O.W. re-emerges this coming weekend on Sunday August 3rd to host a benefit for the American River Conservancy with a concert/party on the banks of the South Fork of the American River at the Nugget Campground.

In the interest of creating opportunities for meaningful cultural exchanges and in the spirit of celebrating diversity.... P.O.W. is importing bands from Davis, Sacramento and the surrounding area with DJ zAc from HexLove maintaining the groove!

Buffoonery, Hijinks, and swell times will be had by all.....

And in the interest of fostering diversity and cultural exchanges... Hippies are now very welcome at all P.O.W. events!!!!

$5 cover 6:00pm - 9:30pm on 8.3.8

When's the next event?

Note from W.E.T. River Trips::: for more info on California whitewater rafting see the C-W-R.com website peeps!

SPEEDO SUNDAY and P.O.W. Event!

This season W.E.T. River Trips has been joined by a new seasoned rafting guide from Colorado: Ky. Ky is a high school math teacher and head varsity swim coach in Northern California ... oh, sure he sounds good; however, there is a very dark side to Mr. Ky. Before delving into Ky's deviate and shocking behavior, I'm compelled to mention that Heffe is simultaneously an instigator and cohort to Mr. Ky's debauchery (we need to also note now that Heffe is also a swimmer).

As soon as Ky arrived, there was an strong bond between the two swimmers. There was certainly an easy conversational rapport between Heffe and Ky. Again ... they are both swimmers, and Heffe formerly swam at the high school where Ky is now head coach. Ky and Heffe simply became fast friends and although Ky and Heffe certainly got along with our other guides as well ... there was (and is) most clearly a palpable "bond" between them.

Two Sundays ago (yes, on a sabbath), Ky and Heffe conspired to create SPEEDO SUNDAY on the formerly pristine and unmolested Middle Fork American River that at one time was known primarily for great Class 4 rapids and the legendary Tunnel Chute rapid that drops over 15 vertical feet, and sends whitewater rafters through a tunnel in the side of a rocky ridge deep in a pristine canyon filled with cool, clear water .... at least until SPEEDO SUNDAY.

Everything has changed since Ky and Heffe tugged on their tiny garments of Lycra and sashayed their way down a defenseless river filled with other adventurers and innocent woodland creatures. No longer do the deer stare blankly as rafts slide quietly by. Now, they furtively glance and skittishly shift their tiny hooves back and forth not knowing to look or to simply look away for fear of the sight of Ky and Heffe in the bold projections of their alleged manhood coyly disguised in their tiny speedo suits. Even the local population of Rainbow and German Brown trout appear to be very agitated and nervous.

Other river clients and guides have been seen shielding their eyes at the take-out below Rucka-Chucky Falls at Greenwood Bridge and some brazen guys and gals were heard to crudely project cat-calls in mocked enjoyment (or was it disgust?) of "Speedo Sunday". (Note from W.E.T. River Trips: now, now peeps; the Europeans, Brasilians, etc wear speedos, so what's the big deal... ahh these crazy Americans!)

Sadly, last Sunday ... charismatic Ky enlisted a young and impressionable J Tsunami into his conspiracy to corrupt OUR river environment even further! Yes, J Tsunami donned a tiny black Speedo along with Mr. Ky for another "Speedo Sunday" participant!

I have now received photos of the "official" SPEEDO SUNDAY suits (Purple with chartreuse flowers and a bold raftwet.com emblazoned across the rump of each tiny suit ... who's next?

Sorry to report that the debauchery has now expanded to Saturdays. Mizz Maggie declared last Saturday SHIRTLESS SATURDAY as she guided the entire river and traveled back to our meeting spot behind Raley's in Auburn without a shirt or undergarment ... instead she simply wore her PFD (lifejacket) the entire time. No slips or mishaps were reported; however, the truth is surely out there. All will be revealed (and hopefully not on SPEEDO SUNDAY or SHIRTLESS SATURDAY). I can only cringe as to what Wolf has up his sleeve to "enhance" the whitewater rafting trips on other days and on other rivers such as the South Fork American River. Whitewater river trips are changed forever...

Note from W.E.T. River Trips: we do not condone this hella behavior! For a more ... ahem... dressed affair, our first event for the late summer season is coming this Sunday on August 3, 2008 ::: Returning after 30 years, Punks on Water reigns supreme again! P.O.W. comes back with a vengeance at the Nugget on the South Fork American River... be there or be very square or not be at all... but you will be missing out on the party of year! Check Big Poppa's post on his personal W.E.T. River Trips events calendar! ... and, oh yeah, hippies are welcome!

MOD MUSIC for RAFTING PARTY

Events, parties and everything California, the sun is shining here! Our rafting trips are going full bore now with daily trips available from now until the end of September. Group rafting trips are being organized everywhere, and they are coming to go rafting with W.E.T. River Trips. Woot people for bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, anniversaries, reunions... you name it. Cap that party or event with a whitewater rafting trip with us... make it truely memorable.

Our young blogging staff sent up this cool list of places on the net to check out bands, music, up-coming shows around Northern California. Organize your group, load up on music, come check out the shows and head up to the river. California love... it's our lifestye.

Yet another amazing Sacramento House Show the other night featuring a very special guest percussionist hailing from Pennsylvania. Taysuya Nakatani was creating some of the most amazing sounds I have ever heard. All by himself, he creates music with a drum kit that you could carry in a large backpack aside from the 3' gong.

The nights other performances included Kevin Corcoran who is also a solo improv drummer worth checking out. Kevin and Chad Stockdale have a seven-inch that they recorded together on clear yellow vinyl that is definitely worth the loot. And my buddies from Hexlove winding up the night with an amazing loop pedal, keys and drums... fun fun. It was a good night... woot!

I went to an amazing party the other night at the Horse Cow Gallery to check out my girlfriend in a fashion show featuring local designer Amy Hemmens among others. There was also live music from Night Nurse, the beautifully noisy brainchild of Sacramento's own Hailey Chase featuring one of my favorite Sacramento saxaphone dogs Chad Stockdale.


Now, everybody must get blown away by Animal Collective's newest release, the Water Curses EP which is being released by Domino Records on vinyl and cd.

If you are living near Sacramento, you should also be very excited about all the awesome shows coming up in the next couple of months. We are soooo lucky that bands such as Mutators, Shearing Pinx, Modern Creatures, Mae Shi, Pre, Uneasy, and Magick Daggers are going to be passing through our city.

Also be expecting a new EP from Prints out soon... I think it's going to have a DFA remix on it.

MORE MUSIC RESOURCES FOR RAFTING TRIPS:

white rainbow

http://www.myspace.com/whiterainbowwhiterainbow

yume bitsu

http://www.myspace.com/goldenvessyl

dirty projectors

http://www.myspace.com/dirtyprojectors

aids wolf

http://www.myspace.com/aidswolf

XBXRX

http://www.myspace.com/xbxrx

yacht

http://www.myspace.com/yacht

lucky dragons

http://www.myspace.com/luckydragons

night wounds

http://www.myspace.com/nightwounds

twin crystals

http://www.myspace.com/twincrystals

shearing pinx

http://www.myspace.com/shearingpinx

mutators

http://myspace.com/mutators

modern creatures

http://myspace.com/moderncreatures

Oh yeh, WhiteLite, our fav music blogger has a cool announcement: Mutators and Modern Creatures are playing with WhiteLite's band at Funcastle on the May 4th! Congrats, dude... I'll be there.

California Rafting and Music

Yo! On my way to rafting trips, I have to listen to my tunes. Especially if you are heading for the Class 4 stuff like the North Fork American... so close to home! If you live in California's great valley around state capitol Sacramento, then I'm sure you know how hard it is to purchase good music around here without having to order from online distros and such.

For me it's really annoying, 'cause I love to buy new music fairly regularly. So to get my fix, it usually requires making a trip to the Bay Area to dig around in the bins at Amoeba Records store in San Francisco and Berkeley. I recently found some great albums for super cheap. Titles such as CARIBOU's new album "Andorra" is out now on Merge Records and DAN DEACON's "Spider Man of the Rings" on Carpark Records. Both albums are totally amazing if you are into electronic music or trance.

Another outstanding release from last year is the MAGIK MARKERS album "Boss" on Ecstatic Peace. This is a band that I can't get enough of and is highly recommended especially to fans of SONIC YOUTH. Some other albums to check out are BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW's "Dandeloin Gum", Japanese band OOIOO's "Taiga", and for the noisier side of life, check out anything and everything on Load Records; especially KITES.

RESOURCES FOR WHITE WATER RAFTING MUSIC from W.E.T. River Trips:

California Whitewater Rafting Blog

Myspace Music Friends

Dan Deacon

Ecstatic Peace

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Load Records

Caribou

OOIOO

Peace
WhiteLite:::: more rafting music coming from my homies at W.E.T. River Trips!

ps! WhiteLite just introduced us to Zach Nelson from albums Who's Your Favorite Son God, HexLove and Prints! He is sooo ridiculously cute! Yoko Tuttle from Fatal Insomia says of his music "This sounds like right now!" Woot!

California Transplant: NYC Subway Arts

Theo is in New York City. I can not imagine a more misplaced guy. He's a kayaker, guide and whitewater instructor, and he has worked for W.E.T. River Trips for a long time. He and his significant other are in NYC experiencing the world class city together. He sent this post to let us know how he was doing. We miss you Theo. Season starts in a couple more weeks. He promises to get back to California for the rafting trips. Here are his words and observations...

The opportunity to live and work in New York City was one that my love and myself could not pass up. Coming from California to the East Coast provided great change. There are many things that we find ourselves still taking in and will be, I am sure, for some time. One of those changes, however, makes itself more noticeable on a day-to-day basis; that is transportation. For me, walking to get to and from where I need to go has replaced driving. Thus, the daily commute is partially done on foot, walking to the next train, bus or taxi, which will take you to your destination of choice. More commonly than not, I find myself using the subway system to get from place to place. This is where a unique world makes itself apparent, where every man and woman seemingly regards one another as equal, and where performing arts create the mood.

My main point in this blog is to reflect on what happens in the New York City Subway, specifically relating to the people, for whatever motive, who are performing, educating, making a buck or perhaps just passing the time.

As a newcomer to New York City, it is a challenge to be another expressionless New Yorker when I hear the powerful sound of a group of musicians creating music. Certainly, the energy provided makes the transit more exciting. Some of the performances that I have witnessed are as follows:

Two mime interpretations; one of a ballet dancer and the other of a clown

A one-man band; playing a guitar, with a harmonica in the mouth, and still having the rhythm to use his feet on a contraption that adds value to his musical sound

Man with a guitar and microphone singing

Man singing; not a great voice, but consistent, as I saw him more than once in the same spot

Asian man playing what I believe to be a Chinese instrument

Several guitar players

Poetry and songs on the S or Shuttle Train; a train that goes back and forth between Grand Central Station and 42^nd Street/ Port Authority

Group on foreign instruments (to me) playing beautiful seasonal music

Mariachi on the moving train; really.

A large group of Quakers (I believe) singing

Thank you Theo for the great NYC post. We look forward to hearing more about your new world... and, get yourself back to California for the whitewater trips, bro!