LATE GUESTS...Late Arrivals

Sun is streaming through the trees, bathing the sidewalk in a bright light that is almost painful to view after months of dark clouds and gray fog. The neighbors are having their annual spring sidewalk sale. Cars zipping up to park and people milling around as I could hear their voices this early morning. Peaceful day, and I was drinking my tea and peering through the window glass at the shoppers.

Brring, brring... the phone. And, for me, the early morning ring can only mean one thing. A guest is lost or late. Every single day. Someone is late.

Thanks to markedlines.com for this pic

When the guest calls, they usually say, "Hi, I am so-and-so... and we will be there in 10 more minutes. Please wait for us."

I am instructed to ask the caller where they are, so I can get an accurate timing on what to tell the head guides and our greeter on the guest's arrival time. Sounds simple, right? Wrong! The guest does not know the route!

Guests are coming here to Lotus Coloma from all locations of the universe. Some people are neighbors in the local area. Others are from Sacramento, just about 45 minutes away and other valley towns like Lodi, Modesto, etc. While most may come from the Bay Area such as San Francisco, San Jose, and all other bay area locations approximately 3 hours away. And, of course, all our Southern California friends who drive all night or fly-in to Sacramento International Airport, and then drive-in on the morning or the night before.

So, how do we expect ANYONE to arrive on time?

Here is what we suggest:

1. Read confirmation as soon as you receive it; be prepared, check your links, and plan ahead.
2. Trial drive; for those who are nearby and can take a day to "practice" that drive (lots to do and see up here! pack a lunch and picnic at one of the locations in the area near the river)
3. Google maps; no excuses, peeps! Maps galore on the internet and we give you the address in your confirmation.
4. Plan your timing; if you know the kids/friends/group procrastinate, plan for that.
5. Japan time; ok, but that is what my mom called it (Japanese mother who always claimed that she was late due to "Japan time" so everyone at my house had to get up 1 hour earlier than necessary).
6. Consideration; for your fellow human beings, and it's called good manners.

Do what it takes to arrive on time. Why? Because the other guests do not like waiting for you, and neither does the river. Relax and enjoy your day by planning ahead and being on time. I guarantee you will be more light-hearted when you arrive... and that is where we want the river to take us, if you allow your heart and soul to receive that precious gift.

Ok, now I ragged on you all... but, keep in mind. Once you get on that beautiful river, nothing will matter. That harried morning, the crazy drive... the morning will fade away as you will slow down to river time. And the rush of whitewater? Oh, what a thrill! Nothing matters anymore... except your loved ones... and spending this time on the river with them is pure joy!

W.E.T. paddler on North Fork American River

God bless, Namaste
I'm on the phones!
Blogging from the office...
Thanks to markedlines.com for their photo
Thanks to W.E.T. River Trips for their photo

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 

California COMBO River Trips!

2011 has been an incredible year for California whitewater rafting... true; but, did you get on a river? If you did, are you ready to get back out there?



Summer is winding down and soon the rivers will too. Don't be caught with "rapid-remorse"....AKA: "I should have gone rafting!"



The South Fork American River will flow through October and the Middle Fork of the American will flow through the first weekend in October with the good flows that we are used to seeing in July!



Late summer and early Fall is the prime-time 'shoulder-season" of California whitewater and W.E.T. River Trips is ready with 1-2 day trips on the South Fork and Middle Fork American River as well as the mighty "American River Combination" 2-day trip: both the South and Middle Fork rivers in 2 days while based in our camp at Camp Lotus.



Don't be caught with rapid remorse and get out there while you can!



da Boss : Steve Liles

NOTES from the office staff:
American River Combo is South Fork American the first day; Middle Fork American the next day! $269/person Buy it here http://raftwet-store.com/sofoamcotr.html Place the date of your trip in the comment box at the bottom of the billing page. We will confirm you within 24 hours! Also, note; we wear helmets on every rafting trip!

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Our California Whitewater Rafting blog was uploaded by WET River Trips office Staff using da Boss, Steve's photos.
All content was created for W.E.T. River Trips blogs and other content related sites.

group rafting trips

group rafting trips
Originally uploaded by W.E.T. River Trips

The weather is changing in Caifornia and today the sky is gray and ominous with the impending storm. Yes! Outdoor enthusiasts look at this weather and we start thinking about skiing, whitewater, rafting and anything on the water.

California's outdoor recreation depends on storms for optimum fun during the respective seasons.

We love the weather!

Start planning your group rafting trips now because it looks like Mother Nature is about to bring us our wishes come true.... just in time for ski season during the Christmas holidays!

And that white stuff? The frozen crystals of water laying its mass over the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains will turn into that whitewater rafting that all of us river runners will enjoy the most!

During this holiday season, grab some gift certificates, plan your bachelor party or just grab your friends and plan a group trip for 2010 on California's finest whitewater rivers! Woot!

California Rafting Trips : Fall Update

Mid- September is here and most of you are settling into the early fall season. This is my favorite time of the year in California. Mild weather (only 80 degrees!) and beautiful sunny skies remind us of how lucky we are out here on the west coast.

California... the Spanish name resonates with the history of gold rush towns and the wild, wild west. Yes, it is an expensive place to live. The trade-offs are many. Crowded cities with lots of traffic, homes that cost a half a million for just a basic 3-bedroom, 2-car garage house. For a newcomer, California can be overwhelming with multiple cultures and languages. The diversity here is rich.

We have every food from every place on the planet. Celebrations mark the calendar from every country. There is not a weekend that goes by that somewhere in California, someone is celebrating their own culture or national pride.

We celebrate daily on the river with our international guests. Predominately Asian, Eastern Indian, Middle Eastern, European, Mexican, Australian and South American, the guests come to play on the river with us.







We share the same love of the natural settings on the river. Some of their cultures love the river with a status of god-like reverance. We share that with them as we paddle whitewater rivers. We all love rafting! And that's a unifier no matter where you come from. Come share the river with us on the South Fork American or Middle Fork American... we will be American River rafting in California until Oct 4th.

Middle Fork American Labor Day Weekend!

Here we gooooooo! It's Labor Day Weekend and what are ya gonna do?



It's not too late to grab a Middle Fork American Tunnel Chute run this Sat or Sun. A few spaces left folks for one of the deepest canyons in the state and an awesome whitewater rafting. Wait until you see Tunnel Chute rapid... double wow!



And for those who have families with younger children, we recommend South Fork American. SoFo is a fun splashy whitewater trip suited for beginners, novices and intermediates. Lots of fun on the water will cool you down.

We'll see you on the river!
WET River Trips
RAFTWET.com