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Whitewater Rafting
Sep. 15th, 2003 06:13 pmA group of us went white water rafting down the South Fork of the American River last Saturday. We did the upper portion, from Chili Bar to Camp Lotus. I was "timing" on the front left side, the first time I've ever felt brave enough to be in the front of the boat. It was a blast! I loved digging in the water and forward or back paddling, and got into usually being the first person hit with a blast of white water when we hit a rapid. On this 4th or 5th time rafting, I was relaxed enough to start paying attention and getting what it was that the guide was doing, well sort of. He talked a bit about the green vs. white water, about what it means when water looks a certain way, and it made sense. Before, all I'd hear was, "blah blah blah white water blah blah we're going to die!," not that that ever stopped me.
The Friends of the River party afterwards was fabulous. The band was acoustic, so people could listen, dance, AND talk. People drove in from all over for this event and to raft Sat. or Sunday. Everyone was so outgoing and nice! I had a really good time and met people over dinner who are heavily involved in the FOR organization and gave me good info about events next year. Oh, and one woman was wearing a tiara for the fun of it.
Some neat things: little rock islands with blooming wildflowers on them. In the afternoon, the sun hitting the water so you can see the rounded green, rust, brown river rocks shining under the green water. A parrot flying around, stumping us for awhile on our bird ID. Daggers and other river kayaks doing tricks in the whitewater. How refreshing the cold water felt in the heat of the early afternoon. A dog accompanying its people wearing its own red doggy lifevest, complete with lift-loop on the top. A house on the banks of the river with an outdoor bed: a storybook, giant toy-looking but very real bed, on stilts in the trees overlooking the river. (It gets so hot there, the residents sleep outside.) Mars and the moon through the trees from our campsite.
This is going to be one of my annual outings, I can see. More than annual, if I can make it work. Also, our guide is a really good contact for other trips. It would be fun to do the East Carson again, and try some rivers I haven't been on before, too.
The Friends of the River party afterwards was fabulous. The band was acoustic, so people could listen, dance, AND talk. People drove in from all over for this event and to raft Sat. or Sunday. Everyone was so outgoing and nice! I had a really good time and met people over dinner who are heavily involved in the FOR organization and gave me good info about events next year. Oh, and one woman was wearing a tiara for the fun of it.
Some neat things: little rock islands with blooming wildflowers on them. In the afternoon, the sun hitting the water so you can see the rounded green, rust, brown river rocks shining under the green water. A parrot flying around, stumping us for awhile on our bird ID. Daggers and other river kayaks doing tricks in the whitewater. How refreshing the cold water felt in the heat of the early afternoon. A dog accompanying its people wearing its own red doggy lifevest, complete with lift-loop on the top. A house on the banks of the river with an outdoor bed: a storybook, giant toy-looking but very real bed, on stilts in the trees overlooking the river. (It gets so hot there, the residents sleep outside.) Mars and the moon through the trees from our campsite.
This is going to be one of my annual outings, I can see. More than annual, if I can make it work. Also, our guide is a really good contact for other trips. It would be fun to do the East Carson again, and try some rivers I haven't been on before, too.