Welcome to Action Whitewater Adventures of California Summer Camps and Rafting...
Well, here it is, take a look around, kick off your Tevas and Chacos, cop a squat and check us out for all the latest happenings on the South and Middle Forks of the American River.
May 06, 2009
Many updates completed today on the website! New navigation on the left, new
button installed for summer camps. Looking toward two new articles. The benefits of mentors and an adult camp coming your way. Look for the new, soon!
April 30, 2009
7-Green Tips When Whitewater Rafting
I'm sure there are people out there completely fed up with the "Green" movement. Probably more of them every day due to the great bombarding of "green" ads we find on TV, in magazines, online, etc. I'm sure the ultra geeky green heads are just reveling in the coverage and still more of us are somewhere between the two fronts watching and learning. I happen to like the ads and am fascinated by the large corporations moving more "green". I like the ads, the ways they act like they've been "green" all along. I don't mind though, whatever it takes to move us to a cleaner and safer environment.
Alas, I digress for this isn't about the politics, about corporate greed or a call to any specific action. This is a quick little guide to help those that want to be more green on their outdoor vacation, be a little more green!
1. The quickest way to make a smaller carbon footprint is traveling together. Large groups can save significant money as well as reduce their carbon production. Bus lines have special rates for some rafting companies. Bus trips from Southern California or the Bay Area are common, inquire at time of booking your raft trip. For smaller groups, meet centrally and drive up together for day trips. This can save carbon output as well as save you money: share on gas as well as parking fees.
2. Cook with propane. If you have the ability to use a propane barbecue rather than charcoal, do so. Propane burns cleaner. This is a tough one, the taste of charred cooking is so good... There's talk of the stuff coming off the charcoal not being good for your health either, so, you now have two reasons to reconsidered charcoal.
3. Since you must wear sunblock, look for all natural, organic sunblocks that avoid: PABA, octinoxate, oxybenzone, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and the preservative butylparaben. Studies are showing the sunblock we wear is killing coral reefs in the ocean. While there's no coral in the river, it can't be bad to avoid using the stuff, bad is bad, right? One recent study claimed some 6-million gallons of sunblock are washed into our oceans annually!
4. If you're really into watersports that require a personal flotation device, then you might wish to look to Astral. They use a more environmentally friendly foam in their vests. They're one of the top vests made as well. So, you get to be environmentally cutting edge and cutting edge in your outdoor equipment as well.
5. Look for locally grown, organic fruits, vegetables and meats. Generally these products travel less distance to the store and thus have a smaller "carbon footprint" than foods shipped around the globe. There are standards to being certified organic, if you look for free range the animals are supposed to be allowed to graze and not be kept in cages. So, you're eating happier products, leading to better tasting and kinder foods!
6. Just by whitewater rafting you're Greener! Getting down a river requires human power, not electric or fuel run engines.
7. Employ reusable water containers. It's important to get your hydration on, very important. For shear convenience and hygiene many companies switched to individual, throw away water bottles. Man, it was convenient too! But, this creates a lot of waste in both the number of bottles lost overboard and in the empties that get thrown away after each trip. Switching to metal or even glass bottles can be a great compromise. For me, nothing tastes as good as coming out of glass. Here's a link from Rachel McAdams' website, Green Is Sexy, that sells semi-designer glass bottles, Love Bottle.
Well, that's it. I hope these quick point were of benefit to you, gave you something to consider. There are many new sites and older sites gaining exposure as this Green explosion is underway. It's impossible to be carbon neutral all the time but if enough of us make doable strides towards mitigating our negative impact we can make a significant difference. So, while it's here, don't hate, try to enjoy the Green race and do what's comfortable for you.
Don't forget to give a shout when you're on the river!
Christopher Pyle, owner of Action Whitewater, long a river lover, Christopher has been commercially guiding for 24-years and has grown up in El Dorado County. Since 1989 Action Whitewater Adventures has offered quality rafting on the on the South and Middle Forks of the American River. Curious, want to see rafting video, then please, click on over to our home on the web.
April 29, 2009
Vacation: Yeah, This Is How You Roll
Many people disqualify themselves needlessly from a whitewater rafting vacation because they don't know what it's all about. When you're educated about the adventure, the quality of the equipment and what you get for your money you'll see why this is a favorite yearly vacation for so many.
Let's start at the very beginning, what is whitewater rafting? This is the maneuvering of a vessel down a river. Rafting implies the vessel is a coast guard approved raft, more on equipment in a bit. This raft can be maneuvered in a variety of ways, by one person with large oars rigged to the raft, with a group of people holding individual paddles and led by a guide calling paddle instructions (most common) or in a combination referred to as an oar-paddle combination with the oarsman in the rear compartment of the raft acting as both the major power and the guide calling instructions.
Rivers are exactly that, flowing water from some elevation working its way towards some body of water. Most rivers are given a class-rating for rafting. This helps folks determine the intensity of the ride. Most rivers are graded on a scale of I to VI. A I is near flat water with little current and class VI is un-runnable in a raft. While this can mean Niagara Falls, it also means the stream running alongside a road. This classification is specific to rafts, as different watercraft such as kayaks can run incredibly intense areas. For the average rafter, class II to IV is doable with class III being the sweet spot. This is why the South Fork of the American River in Northern California is such a popular river. It's a class III offering fun pop for most everyone, it's great for families, youth groups, the young (about 7 years of age (give or take depending on the child's psyche)) to the active elderly (80+ depending on activity level).
The typical raft trip includes: a professional whitewater guide. These people, male and female alike, are quality boatmen who make their living whitewater rafting. Some follow summer around the globe, literally. Don't be surprised if you meet your guide and hear a New Zealand accent or the aboot of a Canadian, ay. They are used to the river you're rafting, they're used to folks of all fitness and competency levels. They know how to read water and navigate the river you're rafting. You can have complete comfort in the professional in the back of your boat. Don't forget, if you enjoyed your trip, tip your guide. It's very appreciated and completely acceptable on a raft trip. The average guide earns about $65 dollars a day and their average day runs some 10 - 14 hours. It's a lifestyle choice, not a retirement option.
You'll be relieved to know your trip will include a whitewater raft! Either made of Hypalon, a rubber product or Urethane/PVC a plastic of sorts, your raft is specifically made to handle the rigors of whitewater rafting. So relax, and enjoy the ride. These boats are commercial tough, sliding over rocks, smashing rapids, carrying hundreds of people, if not thousands of people a year down the river. There is one little grain found on the rivers that can wreak havoc on a raft, SAND! So please, climbing in and out, rinse your feet before placing them in the raft. For curiosity sake, rafts are nearly $5000.00 USD a piece.
To help get the raft down the river you'll be responsible for a paddle that's about six feet long, plastic over aluminum: excellent for its defined task.
You'll be fit in a class V coast guard approved personal flotation device (PFD). These vests will float the small to the quite large. They're the most buoyant, top of the line PFDs in use today.
When you're on the river, there's a good chance you will see some outfitters who have their guests in helmets and some who do not. On the South Fork of the American River, this is a personal choice. More and more companies are leaning to the side of safety and handing out helmets. The foreign guides are the leader of this safety movement for in their countries helmets are the norm. Since they wear helmets, always, the outfitters have begun to provide helmets for their guests. We applaud the movement but there are still some outfitters, the majority in fact, that do not employ this safety feature. As one guide said, the rock on land is just as hard on the water! Great point...
It depends on the river but speaking about the American River and the outfitters that run that river, you will receive a gourmet deli-style lunch, often right on the banks of the river. There are small variances between companies but a typical lunch will look like this: 2 - 3 bread choices, sprouts, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, onions, 2 cheeses, 2 meats, mayo, mustard, pb&j, chips, fruit, cookies and water.
If you're on an overnight trip, your camping is paid, your dinner is made and served by staff, breakfast the same another day rafting and another lunch.
The typical price for whitewater rafting is near $100 per day, per person. When you consider all you get, professional guide, professional equipment, the unique opportunity to see the beauty of a river canyon in a way you couldn't see otherwise, the opportunity to travel through whitewater rapids, an excellent lunch and stories to tell over and over.
If you considered going to Disneyland on vacation, you pay your admission, which runs more than rafting per person, and you're turned loose on the theme park. My family loves Disneyland and thus this is not a Disneyland bashing moment; however, if you're comparing what you get for your money, you'll find rafting wins hands down. On the river, you get admission, a personal guide, you're fed an outstanding meal and you get to tackle the majesty of a river canyon. I hope this brief article has demystified what rafting is, has enlightened with regard to what you get and has encouraged you to visit a river and explore the majesty of outside.
Christopher Pyle is the owner of Action Whitewater, long a river lover, Christopher has been commercially guiding for 24-years and has grown up in El Dorado County. Action Whitewater has offered California whitewater rafting trips for the past 20-years on the South and Middle Forks of the American River. Curious, want to see rafting video, then please, click on over to our home on the web.
April 27, 2009
Just Do It - Rafting: being prepared so you can have fun
by Christopher Pyle
Right on! You're going rafting. Huh?
You want to go but you have a list of worries: age, strength, what to wear, how to wear it, what shoes, you're not a great swimmer, is it dangerous, etc.
No need to worry. Things will be alright. More than 60,000 people a year raft the South Fork of the American river alone annually. This is a great idea for a vacation. I applaud your caution, here are some thoughts to help you enjoy that trip!
Here are 14 easy steps to make your trip a breeze:
1. TRUST in the people running your trip. If you're rafting with a professional company, you're rafting with people who have many years of training and a reputation on the line.
1. Be POSITIVE. Nerves are normal, this is something new, something exciting but don't be a whiny baby. Breathe, listen and enjoy.
3. Rafting has two distinct seasons, what to WEAR is largely dictated by the season:
* SPRING rafting ~ is cooler, consult the company you're rafting, a thin wetsuit may be appropriate. More commonly, wetsuit booties or wool socks with your STRAP on sandals or old tennis shoes (more on foot ware below), shorts, wool sweater, splash jacket or dry top, possible wool cap. (this is all for cooler weather rafting).
* SUMMER rafting ~ A good strap on sandal or your trusty tennis shoes, shorts (you can wear a bathing suit but trunks/shorts are recommended for you're sitting on rubber and bathing suits tend to get moved off the bottom and you end up flashing the people behind you. Hey, we're not judging, this may be your intention but we just wanted to let you know), t-shirt, hat and sunglasses. Some companies wear helmets and you may or may not be able to wear a hat while rafting.
4. SUNBLOCK! You might want to think about an natural / biodegradable sunblock as research ties damaged ocean reefs to the more conventional chemical ones, so we might as well keep the river clean, if possible. Some ingredients to avoid: PABA, octinoxate, oxybenzone, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor and the preservative butylparaben.
5. Proper SHOES are a must. These shoes need to strap to the foot. Flip-flops, Crocs, etc., are not acceptable. If you don't have specific water shoes, old tennis shoes are just fine for they tie to the foot. If you love shoes and any excuse is a good time to shop, you can check out these manufacturers: Teva, Chaco, & Keen all make sandals that bind to the foot. Water booties with a sole are fine. No one wants you swimming without your consent but if you do swim you want something on your feet.
6. RELAX, the GEAR you'll be wearing rocks! The flotation devices are Class V coast guard approved flotation devices, the highest rating. The rafts are some of the toughest boats on the water, they're made to commercial standards with commercial quality materials.
7. COMMIT fully to the experience. If you're offered the opportunity to swim a rapid, do it! This is an incredible place to be (the river canyon), you ought to experience everything it has to offer.
8. NO - NOs ~ Do not carry a towel to the river! This is not a day at the pool. There's no place on the raft for a towel. One in your car, for a shower after your trip, sure, but not to the trip itself. Don't wear suntan oil. Oil + Skin + Rubber = whoopsie daisy! Don't consume drugs or alcohol prior to your trip. Your participation is required to get the raft down the river, this can prove difficult if you're under the influence. Alcohol and rafting don't mix. The water is cold, alcohol lowers body temperature, long swims while inebriated are dangerous. Don't bring cigarettes down the river.
9. Most all professional rafting companies will provide a quality trip but there are different attitudes and energies to each company.There are plenty of rafting companies to choose. On the South Fork of the American, 33. Pick someone you feel comfortable. Most all prices are going to be within $10 of each other, so the importance for you, is comfort.
10. You will not be going off WATERFALLS!
11. If you've chosen an extreme trip, like the Cherry Creek run in California, you're fit enough. If you're concerned, ask the company you're rafting with. This is not an Olympic paddle crew time trial. You'll be pulling your weight along with 5 or 6 other people.
12. The trips are professionally GUIDED. You'll have a professional, competent guide in the back of the raft controlling the action.
13. Concerned with AGE limits, check with the company you're rafting before you book the trip.
14. Finally, don't disqualify yourself based on unfounded PRECONCEPTIONS. You're going to love this adventure. We raft young kids to grandparents, you can do this!
For quality teen adventures and youth trips, it's been Action Whitewater for the past 20-years Rafting Adventure Camps are the genuine byproduct of this focus as they strive to provide the most comprehensive youth programs on the river. For information, video and photos of what you can expect at an adventure camp, cruise our website.
April 26, 2009
Biggest Bang For The Buck: Vacations
Here are the basics you need to know to have the confidence to book a whitewater rafting trip for your next vacation. There are a lot of misconceptions and unknowns about this vacation option. When you know what to expect, what's protecting you, what you get for each dollar spent, you'll quickly conclude this is one of the most memorable, doable and valuable vacations you'll experience.
Let's start at the very beginning, what is whitewater rafting? This is the maneuvering of a vessel down a river. Rafting implies the vessel is a coast guard approved raft, more on equipment in a bit. This raft can be maneuvered in a variety of ways, by one person with large oars rigged to the raft, with a group of people holding individual paddles and led by a guide calling paddle instructions (most common) or in a combination referred to as an oar-paddle combination with the oarsman in the rear compartment of the raft acting as both the major power and the guide calling instructions.
Rivers are exactly that, flowing water from some elevation working its way towards some body of water. Most rivers are given a class-rating for rafting. This helps folks determine the intensity of the ride. Most rivers are graded on a scale of I to VI. A I is near flat water with little current and class VI is un-runnable in a raft. While this can mean Niagara Falls, it also means the stream running alongside a road. This classification is specific to rafts, as different watercraft such as kayaks can run incredibly intense areas. For the average rafter, class II to IV is doable with class III being the sweet spot. This is why the South Fork of the American River in Northern California is such a popular river. It's a class III offering fun pop for most everyone, it's great for families, youth groups, the young (about 7 years of age (give or take depending on the child's psyche)) to the active elderly (80+ depending on activity level).
The typical raft trip includes: a professional whitewater guide. These people, male and female alike, are quality boatmen who make their living whitewater rafting. Some follow summer around the globe, literally. Don't be surprised if you meet your guide and hear a New Zealand accent or the aboot of a Canadian, ay. They are used to the river you're rafting, they're used to folks of all fitness and competency levels. They know how to read water and navigate the river you're rafting. You can have complete comfort in the professional in the back of your boat. Don't forget, if you enjoyed your trip, tip your guide. It's very appreciated and completely acceptable on a raft trip. The average guide earns about $65 dollars a day and their average day runs some 10 - 14 hours. It's a lifestyle choice, not a retirement option.
Your trip also includes a whitewater raft. These boats are specifically designed for the use of whitewater rafting, they're incredibly tough. There are two materials commonly used in crafting a raft: Hypalon a rubber based material and Urethane/PVC a plastic based product. These boats can smash rocks, pound waves and take people climbing in and out of them for quite a few years. Please do make sure you rinse your feet before climbing into the raft however, sand is the worst enemy of a raft, it wears holes in the seams and causes leaks. The average whitewater raft costs nearly $5000.00.
You'll most probably be handed a paddle so you can do your part to get down the river. The paddle will be near 6' in length, an aluminum shaft coated in a colored plastic with a durable plastic blade.
You'll be fit in a class V coast guard approved personal flotation device (PFD). These vests will float the small to the quite large. They're the most buoyant, top of the line PFDs in use today.
More and more outfitters are providing their guests with helmets. The helmets will vary in design but they're made for getting wet, are light weight and a smart thing to wear. In many other countries wearing a helmet is not an option, everyone dons a helmet. Outfitters exposed to foreign guides are adopting, by choice these safer rafting practices and providing their guests with helmets.
It depends on the river but speaking about the American River and the outfitters that run that river, you will receive a gourmet deli-style lunch, often right on the banks of the river. There are small variances between companies but a typical lunch will look like this: 2 - 3 bread choices, sprouts, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, onions, 2 cheeses, 2 meats, mayo, mustard, pb&j, chips, fruit, cookies and water.
If you're on an overnight trip, your camping is paid, your dinner is made and served by staff, breakfast the same another day rafting and another lunch.
The typical price for whitewater rafting is near $100 per day, per person. When you consider all you get, professional guide, professional equipment, the unique opportunity to see the beauty of a river canyon in a way you couldn't see otherwise, the opportunity to travel through whitewater rapids, an excellent lunch and stories to tell over and over.
I often compare the cost of whitewater rafting to the cost to visit Disneyland. My whole family loves Disneyland. When you go to Disneyland you're not provided a personal guide, you're not fed, you're not experiencing something natural and majestic and most often you're paying more than you will for whitewater rafting. Value is in perception and knowledge. It's our hope this brief article on basic whitewater rafting knowledge will help you to overcome some fears you may had with regard to the unknown and has encouraged you to try this incredible and affordable vacation.
Living Where We Work and Loving It, We're Action Whitewater Adventures!
