Friday, February 20, 2009
Extreme Travel, Pop Culture Travel Guide
Jaunted contributing editor, kjb has researched the winter rafting phenomenon started by W.E.T. River Trips during the heyday of the early 80's. Whitewater rafting guides started off from the snowy mountains of Donner Ski Resort and the rafting company actually hiked a raft, a kayak and a mountain bike up the hill to "raft", "kayak" and "ride" the snow downhill.
Now, several rafting and whitewater enthusiasts have taken to the snowy slopes and do just that as a precursor of what's to come for the whitewater rafting season in their own regions. In California, the paddling enthusiasts are already out on the rivers and mountains riding the snow and the water in the rivers.
kjb, Jaunted Contributing editor just posted a story about winter rafting and featured WET River Trips and Blue Heron Whitewater. These two companies have a reputation of early season boating on rivers in their regions. WET, rafting in California, navigates the South Fork American, Middle Fork American and North Fork American whitewater trips. Blue Heron Whitewater offers a similar chilly start in North Carolina on the French Broad River.
River rafting in the winter is highlighted with less crowds, beautiful scenery and a chance to see the river before the summer crowds. Most outfitters that operate in the winter and spring provide wetsuit packages to keep you safe from hypothermia. Look up these two outfitters during your spring break for a chance to ride the rapids!
Thank you to kbj, Jaunted, The Pop Culture Travel Guide & your great post for winter rafting!
Now, several rafting and whitewater enthusiasts have taken to the snowy slopes and do just that as a precursor of what's to come for the whitewater rafting season in their own regions. In California, the paddling enthusiasts are already out on the rivers and mountains riding the snow and the water in the rivers.
kjb, Jaunted Contributing editor just posted a story about winter rafting and featured WET River Trips and Blue Heron Whitewater. These two companies have a reputation of early season boating on rivers in their regions. WET, rafting in California, navigates the South Fork American, Middle Fork American and North Fork American whitewater trips. Blue Heron Whitewater offers a similar chilly start in North Carolina on the French Broad River.
River rafting in the winter is highlighted with less crowds, beautiful scenery and a chance to see the river before the summer crowds. Most outfitters that operate in the winter and spring provide wetsuit packages to keep you safe from hypothermia. Look up these two outfitters during your spring break for a chance to ride the rapids!
Thank you to kbj, Jaunted, The Pop Culture Travel Guide & your great post for winter rafting!
For more information on California whitewater rafting or North Carolina rafting see RAFTINFO.com for more American whitewater.
Labels: american river, california, french broad, north fork, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, spring break, trips, wet river trips, white water
Monday, January 05, 2009
Australia : Forth River, Tasmania
Rob Shaw from the Examiner reports the news about the organisers of the Australian whitewater championship held on the Forth River yesterday. The National schools championship concluded on this river. An overwhelming number of visitors from the interstate and New Zealand were reported there by Andrea McQuitty. Competitors and supporters number in the hundreds each day on the course itself.
Brilliant performances by the youthful group show promise for the future. The Australian slalom kayaking championships will run on Thursday and Friday on the Upper Mersey.
The national whitewater titles will be staged this Saturday and Sunday with the finals for the Australian team to compete in the World Cup in October on the Launceston's Cataract Gorge.
Support from Forestry Tasmania, Peter Rowlands who is currently the North-West manager, provided safety and rescue assistance.
Thanks to The Examiner and Rob Shaw for this story. Read the entire story and view the pictures.
Brilliant performances by the youthful group show promise for the future. The Australian slalom kayaking championships will run on Thursday and Friday on the Upper Mersey.
The national whitewater titles will be staged this Saturday and Sunday with the finals for the Australian team to compete in the World Cup in October on the Launceston's Cataract Gorge.
Support from Forestry Tasmania, Peter Rowlands who is currently the North-West manager, provided safety and rescue assistance.
Thanks to The Examiner and Rob Shaw for this story. Read the entire story and view the pictures.
Labels: california, north fork, outdoors, paddling, recreation, rivers, surfing, teens, trips, wet river trips, white water
Thursday, May 08, 2008
California American River Whitewater Trips
California's whitewater rafting season has begun. The Sacramento Bee in Northern California recently partnered with the well-known whitewater rafting company, W.E.T. River Trips in a historical event on the three forks of the American River. They called it the Rafting Triple Crown or Rapid Fire.
Rare is the day when all three whitewater sections of the American River are runnable. Due to spring runoff and dam schedules, North Fork American, South Fork American and Middle Fork American are rarely flowing at the same time. This past week, The Sacramento Bee, Good Blood Productions and W.E.T. River Trips accomplished a record setting time on running all three whitewater sections in less than 12 hours in one day.
Ryan MacPherson, who works for W.E.T. River Trips as a safety kayaker on the class 4+ North Fork American owns his own video production company, Good Blood Productions. Ryan recently finished working with the documentary, "The Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel. W.E.T. River Trips has given Sacbee.com permission to post the video for their readers.
Congratulations to this California rafting company and the great publicity for all the whitewater companies in the west.
Rare is the day when all three whitewater sections of the American River are runnable. Due to spring runoff and dam schedules, North Fork American, South Fork American and Middle Fork American are rarely flowing at the same time. This past week, The Sacramento Bee, Good Blood Productions and W.E.T. River Trips accomplished a record setting time on running all three whitewater sections in less than 12 hours in one day.
Ryan MacPherson, who works for W.E.T. River Trips as a safety kayaker on the class 4+ North Fork American owns his own video production company, Good Blood Productions. Ryan recently finished working with the documentary, "The Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel. W.E.T. River Trips has given Sacbee.com permission to post the video for their readers.
Congratulations to this California rafting company and the great publicity for all the whitewater companies in the west.
Labels: american river, california, flows, north fork, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, wet river trips, white water
Friday, March 02, 2007
California Rafting Trips - 2007
Late winter storms have changed the landscape for California rafting trips. A series of storms blanketed the Sierra Nevada with fresh snow that assures the whitewater paddling public that the 2007 rafting season will be normal to above normal in places.
In Northern California, the rivers are already running as die-hard paddlers and kayakers challenge Class 4, Class 5 runs. The Smith, Cal Salmon and Trinity have already started their whitewater season due to precipitation.
On the most popular white water rafting river, the three forks of the American River, paddlers have never stopped rafting throughout the fall and winter months. Kirkwood Meadows received a large snow pack this past week which guarantees great flows on the South Fork American. North Fork American, one of the best Class 4 runs start this month just in time for spring break, while the Middle Fork American should flow from now through September.
Down south, the Kern and the Kaweah will have normal flows according to the rafting outfitters. The recent storms have boosted their river flow expectations to around 60% of normal with more storms coming.
In Northern California, the rivers are already running as die-hard paddlers and kayakers challenge Class 4, Class 5 runs. The Smith, Cal Salmon and Trinity have already started their whitewater season due to precipitation.
On the most popular white water rafting river, the three forks of the American River, paddlers have never stopped rafting throughout the fall and winter months. Kirkwood Meadows received a large snow pack this past week which guarantees great flows on the South Fork American. North Fork American, one of the best Class 4 runs start this month just in time for spring break, while the Middle Fork American should flow from now through September.
Down south, the Kern and the Kaweah will have normal flows according to the rafting outfitters. The recent storms have boosted their river flow expectations to around 60% of normal with more storms coming.
Labels: american river, california, flows, north fork, outdoors, paddling, rafting, recreation, rivers, spring break, trips, wet river trips
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Epic Broadband Channel
The Weather Channel has launched a new interactive web site called Epic. The new site will highlight how outdoor sports is directly affected by weather conditions. Epic Conditions is the parent company which will debut the new program on March 4th, Sunday at 9PM on the weather channel. The Epic site is available now.
Exclusive video by Warren Miller productions will show the incredible dynamics of weather and high-risk sports. "Epic is designed to showcase the power and importance of weather and its impact on outdoor activities," said Tom Flournoy, VP of advanced media for The Weather Channel. He also goes on to say that the site will encourage the positive impact that weather brings to people's lives and outdoor passion.
Imagine how that interaction will work after a major storm on rivers. Epic will surely impact the whitewater industry by allowing users to view rivers rising at their peak and the paddlers challenging those rapids. We can watch rivers like the North Fork American at its prime flow!
Exclusive video by Warren Miller productions will show the incredible dynamics of weather and high-risk sports. "Epic is designed to showcase the power and importance of weather and its impact on outdoor activities," said Tom Flournoy, VP of advanced media for The Weather Channel. He also goes on to say that the site will encourage the positive impact that weather brings to people's lives and outdoor passion.
Imagine how that interaction will work after a major storm on rivers. Epic will surely impact the whitewater industry by allowing users to view rivers rising at their peak and the paddlers challenging those rapids. We can watch rivers like the North Fork American at its prime flow!
Labels: california, flows, north fork, outdoors, recreation, trips
Friday, January 12, 2007
Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival
This weekend, celebrate "green" by attending one of the many film events in Nevada City, California. The South Yuba River Citizens League is presenting its 5th Annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival. This is the largest environmental film festival in the country. Presented by Patagonia, the outdoor clothing manufacturer with a reputation for promoting conservation and environmental causes, the festival was originally founded in 2003 by the SYRCL.
The SYRCL has long been a champion for the Yuba River and its watershed. It has become the largest, most successful and effective single watershed organization in California. The Yuba River is located in Northern California on the Western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. There are three forks, the South Fork, Middle Fork and North Fork that make up the Yuba River. A beautiful area, the watershed is bordered by the Feather River, the Truckee River, the Bear River and the American River.
A great companion river to the early spring rafting runs on the North Fork American, the Yuba also highlights difficult Class 4 & 5 whitewater sections. As development and populations encroach on these areas, the SYRCL and other organizations have found much support in the conservation community to preserve these areas and the water quality.
Several film events will be scattered throughout the weekend in Nevada City. 110 films will be presented along with local community support at art galleries, restaurants and retail stores. Film makers and reknown environmentalists will be on-hand to give talks and answer questions throughout the different venues. Here is the information for tickets and locations for the SYRCL film festival.
The SYRCL has long been a champion for the Yuba River and its watershed. It has become the largest, most successful and effective single watershed organization in California. The Yuba River is located in Northern California on the Western slopes of the Sierra Nevada. There are three forks, the South Fork, Middle Fork and North Fork that make up the Yuba River. A beautiful area, the watershed is bordered by the Feather River, the Truckee River, the Bear River and the American River.
A great companion river to the early spring rafting runs on the North Fork American, the Yuba also highlights difficult Class 4 & 5 whitewater sections. As development and populations encroach on these areas, the SYRCL and other organizations have found much support in the conservation community to preserve these areas and the water quality.
Several film events will be scattered throughout the weekend in Nevada City. 110 films will be presented along with local community support at art galleries, restaurants and retail stores. Film makers and reknown environmentalists will be on-hand to give talks and answer questions throughout the different venues. Here is the information for tickets and locations for the SYRCL film festival.
- DATE: Friday – Sunday, January 12-14, 2007
- LOCATION: multiple venues in downtown Nevada City
- COST: $5 - $210, Tickets available at the SYRCL office or by phone (online demand for tickets has overwhelmed the availability; for purchase go directly to the Festival Ticket Office at 317 Spring St, Nevada City, CA 95959.)
- CONTACT: South Yuba River Citizens League, 216 Main Street, Nevada City
(530) 265-5961, www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org
Labels: american river, california, conservation, north fork, outdoors, rafting
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
North Fork American NOAA Project
Temporary weather stations were installed on the North Fork American as part of a greater project on the American River. The research project is headed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration. Tim Schneider, manager of the project said, "There's really nowhere else in the U.S. that has this collection of instrumentation." The American River flows will be the proving ground for the Sacramento area since flooding is a major concern.
More than 30 stations were set up along the North Fork American River. The stations will measure a slew of data including a portable Doppler radar that will help to track storms throughout the watershed. Rob Hartman, hydrologist for the National Weather Service River Forecast Center in Sacramento says, "We can pin down which portion of the watershed that's being rained on v.s. snowed on, which has a big impact on flow conditions."
NOAA placed these gauges in an attempt to provide analysis for predicting "Pineapple Express" path of storms that regularly hit the Sacramento Region. These warm storms that hit large snowpacks in the varying watersheds of the Sierras causes a torrent of water to flow from these rivers and towards the metropolitan areas of Sacramento. The warnings could provide better response for dam releases based on these predictions.
Though the stations are temporary, they will eventually replace the current standards as funding is made available.
Thanks to Matt Weiser of the Sacramento Bee
More than 30 stations were set up along the North Fork American River. The stations will measure a slew of data including a portable Doppler radar that will help to track storms throughout the watershed. Rob Hartman, hydrologist for the National Weather Service River Forecast Center in Sacramento says, "We can pin down which portion of the watershed that's being rained on v.s. snowed on, which has a big impact on flow conditions."
NOAA placed these gauges in an attempt to provide analysis for predicting "Pineapple Express" path of storms that regularly hit the Sacramento Region. These warm storms that hit large snowpacks in the varying watersheds of the Sierras causes a torrent of water to flow from these rivers and towards the metropolitan areas of Sacramento. The warnings could provide better response for dam releases based on these predictions.
Though the stations are temporary, they will eventually replace the current standards as funding is made available.
Thanks to Matt Weiser of the Sacramento Bee
Labels: american river, flows, north fork, rafting, trips
