feeler thread: Who's Up for a Weekend of River-Rafting???

[puti]

I have a friend that is a pro-style river-rafter. She is VERY cool, laid back and I have talked to her about setting up a weekend to do this as a guide and lead in the near future :cool


before i commit to a certain date, i thought i'd throw this out to anyone who would be interested in joining for a few days of another type of adrenaline rush:thumbup

post up if youre interested in a few days of good fun and hilarity away from the madness!:thumbup

[Eisernkreuz]

River rafting is something I've always wanted to do so yeah, I would be very interested!

Oh, and I'd like to name our craft Graf Spee II :p

[spdt509]

i nearly drowned that last time i went.......
















im in.......:teeth:teeth

[LuckyStar387]

I've only been up to class 4...is there going to be white water involved?

[racerXgirl]

I'd go :) How much?

[Psychochik]

:wave Hello !!

Is beer involved ??? :teeth

[auntiebling]

Very Interested

[Desmodromic]

Very interested!!!!

[ex911]

Wow, this brings back memories. For a couple of summers after college I worked as a certified Class III river guide, running clients up and down the South Fork of the American River for a couple of whitewater outfitters (both in oars and paddle boats). Ahh, good times :)

As another point to consider, maybe do just a day trip to start? Say the Upper South Fork of the American: Chili Bar to Camp Lotus. You can do this in four hours (not counting spills and wrapped rafts / whitewater rescue :p) and put in and take out spots are easily accessible within a couple hours drive from Sacramento, which makes for a one day total and more accessible to folks who can't take an entire weekend to go rafting.

For a weekend rafting trip you'll also need to plan for overnight camping permits and the meal logistics get a bit more complex. You'll probably want to keep this option to a smaller group to make it more manageable.

I've only been up to class 4...is there going to be white water involved?lol Kristi, class 4 is more difficult than class 3 (the "base" whitewater run) so yes, there'll be "quite a bit" of whitewater involved :p

Note that in California class 4 rivers require helmets and recommended self-bailing rafts with foot cups. Not really geared at beginner rafters.

[BigMeanBull]

depends on the class.

[postcholo]

y'all better learn to squeel like a pig :oink

[Psychochik]

y'all better learn to squeel like a pig :oink

:cry :cry :cry

[racerXgirl]

:cry :cry :cry


+1 :cry

[postcholo]

:cry :cry :cry

+1 :cry

well, maybe someone in the group will have bowhunting skills :cool

[Psychochik]

Max, *ignore*

:x

[postcholo]

Max, *ignore*

:x
that's "maximiliano," missy. now that that upstart frozennuts has stolen "max" :x

[Psychochik]

that's "maximiliano," missy. now that that upstart frozennuts has stolen "max" :x

But youre Max to me !! That other is too many letters. :laughing :p

[ex911]

For the folks who haven't been ww rafting, here are some pics from my last trip so you get a sense of what to expect. This was from a Class III river in Costa Rica this January.

Getting ready to go (note size of raft to truck)
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x95/ex_911/Costa%20Rica%202008/JOSUE110108SA105x640.jpg

Typical Class III fun!
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x95/ex_911/Costa%20Rica%202008/JOSUE110108SA034x640.jpg

Looks like man AND boy are both going in :p
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x95/ex_911/Costa%20Rica%202008/JOSUE110108SA036x640.jpg

Nope, I caught boy and man surprisingly got back in.
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x95/ex_911/Costa%20Rica%202008/JOSUE110108SA037x640.jpg

[ex911]

Last group of pics...

Beginning another typical Class III rapid:
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x95/ex_911/Costa%20Rica%202008/JOSUE110108SA093x640.jpg

Next frame, same rapid, expect to get really wet!
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x95/ex_911/Costa%20Rica%202008/JOSUE110108SA094x640.jpg

Last frame, you'll often pop out OK, most of the time :p
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x95/ex_911/Costa%20Rica%202008/JOSUE110108SA095x640.jpg

Eddy-ing out to dry off (note the "paddle discipline" of everyone, you more experienced WW rafters :teeth)
http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x95/ex_911/Costa%20Rica%202008/JOSUE110108SA078x640.jpg

[HeavenzJai]

I'm guessing you have to know how to swim....? =(
I'm interested!

[khl]

I'm game. Tried it once at a work sponsored outing, and it was a lot of fun.

[Bzwrthy]

I'm interested. :thumbup
I've done the south fork and a lovely jaunt down the Merced.

[hawkgirl]

:thumbup

Let me know when you settle on a date!

[1sicR6]

Set up a date and I’m there! O and I have access to a truck to help with any gear (or beer) that we might need to bring with us.

[scootiePuff]

i'd be down, as i have been thinking about something like this for some time now. but as long as it doesn't conflict with any pre-planned rides! :teeth

[Mortifer]

moved to correct section.:)

have fun out there!

[atoyf]

never ever done it, curious to try, post up more details :D

i can swim :p

[AbeezieSoNeezie]

one of the fun'est things i've ever done.
i think we hit one class 5.
it was funny cause while we were getting ready, we were flexing the guns, showing off tats and thinking we were manly men.
fuck, after our first class one we thought we were all going to die :laughing

you should have seen the looks on our faces.
the guy was yelling at us like we were scared little girls :rofl
he was even hitting my boy who is like 6'4" 225lbs on the life vest telling him to paddle for his life and yelling at all of us saying we were all going to die :cry:laughing

it was fun and in retrospect we were all much humbler because of it.
ahh, good times.
looking at the pics right now.

[puti]

ok everyone, if you are really interested, please consider a couple of things. One, this wont be a calm and quiet trip down a river. Two, we will CAMP at least 1 night. That means, travel LIGHT and you will have to CONTRIBUTE in some way. ie if you cant cook, clean the dishes, etc! no exceptions and no complaining! this is about getting away from any drama and having alot of fun for a few days :Port

in response to a couple of questions

*not sure on the price

*tina: of course we'll have alcohol, but haulin all those beers around might be difficult ;) ...ill find out if we can arrange something tho



I will post more details as i get them.....

[slydrite]

Last group of pics...



excellent pics!

[FJ1100 turbo]

is beer involved of course it is
how else are you going to do the stupid stuff and get yourself almost killed but to live to tell a story about it to your young ones
signed grandpa

[Psychochik]

ok everyone, if you are really interested, please consider a couple of things. One, this wont be a calm and quiet trip down a river. Two, we will CAMP at least 1 night. That means, travel LIGHT and you will have to CONTRIBUTE in some way. ie if you cant cook, clean the dishes, etc! no exceptions and no complaining! this is about getting away from any drama and having alot of fun for a few days :Port

in response to a couple of questions

*not sure on the price

*tina: of course we'll have alcohol, but haulin all those beers around might be difficult ;) ...ill find out if we can arrange something tho



I will post more details as i get them.....

So, this is probably not a trip for someone that has never been river rafting ???

[JakesKTM]

I've got a 13' Hyside. I'll take 6 in my boat. Ex911...do you have a boat ? We can rent from Guy Cables up at the confluence if not.

We need to start talking about a date. July or later. I won't do June with newbies on a private trip, water temps still pretty cold.

PRICE.....my boat is free, my guide service is free..... you rent the vests and paddles from Mr. Cables up at the Confluence in Auburn. I'll arrange it.

PM for details

[JakesKTM]

So, this is probably not a trip for someone that has never been river rafting ???


The South Fork American is tame. Newbies should stay on the South Fork to start.... you could get helmets on and come out to the North Fork or Middle Fork in the spring if you want, but it's not for the faint of heart if you fear swimming in turbulent rapids.

We are rafting Sunday on the North Fork...

[JakesKTM]

is beer involved of course it is
how else are you going to do the stupid stuff and get yourself almost killed but to live to tell a story about it to your young ones
signed grandpa

We don't drink on the river or before the trip.....

When we get to the take out....no prob. or back to camp definately.......

[Psychochik]

PRICE.....my boat is free, my guide service is free.....

O please guide me !! I am sooooooooo lost right now !!! :cry


:p

[Hooli]

Hmmm...

*subscribed*

[JakesKTM]

Puti.... PM me

[puti]

Puti.... PM me

pm'd! :)

[hawkgirl]

let me know when you pick a date and i will add to the BARF calendar :thumbup

[JakesKTM]

These are from last season when i took my ex-wife's extended family down the South Fork Gorge. This is Satan's Cesspool.

One of the pictures is a close up of Jake.... guide in training ;)

Notice everyone in the boat having a great time!

:ride

[kaihonu82]

well, i'm way behind the ball here, just noticed this post

I've never been, but I've always wanted to try! and I love camping!

keep us updated with dates/prices rich!

[MtnRacer]

If too many BARFers want to go, I can guide south fork American river. It's been a while, so the adventurous should ride with Cap'n Steve. :toothless

Steve

[Baptistro]

I'm down :thumbup

[JakesKTM]

It is officially May tomorrow and I will be out on the North Fork for a couple weekends getting the cobwebs out of me and my boat for the season. We need to get crackin on this folks.

Campground space/availablity in and around Coloma is generally booked for the entire summer by Mermorial Day. I would highly recommend we set a date immediately, set a cutoff date for people to make a decision, and reserve the campground according to the numbers and people who have paid a deposit for the trip by the cutoff date.

To be honest it is pretty late in the game to organize the camping aspect of it but if someone volunteers to get the money/commitment from everyone and send it to me, I will get the campground. Should be a minimum of $25 deposit from each person.

No trailers/rv's/or camping out of your car due to limited space in the campground itself. Tent camping only. We can talk about food and cookery later.

I propose July 9/10 as your go weekend and May 23 as your cutoff for getting a deposit to me, or whoever makes the reservation.

We need some volunteers.

[JakesKTM]

A BARF day trip sans the camping is also an option. However it still requires a deposit to get a commitment so we can reserve extra boat/s if needed

[2nsane]

The Coastie and his wife are in for a fun weekend.:thumbup

Note I talk in my sleep.

[puti]

I think I'm honestly over my head in organizing this trip....I really do want to do it tho


Any thoughts?