New Years Day Rafting 2008

Our 2008 New Years Day trip had to be moved from the traditional and actual New Years Day to the Sunday before because of guaranteed flows in the River.  This year's trip was the Gorge Run on the South Fork of the American River.  The day was grey, a little rainy, and a little cold.  BUT nevertheless, a group of 12 WWE guides dressed in our DRY SUITS meet at our South Fork Base Camp and began the New Year right with a rafting trip.

The trip included Whitewater Excitement Guides(from left to Right),  Karl, Phillip, Brando, Aaron(with his new shorrrrrt haricut), Michelle, Greg, Josh, Ann and Tess sitting, Mike, Casey, and Dean. Norm was behind the camera.

The day was a very fun day.  We took out 2 paddle rafts, 1 cataraft, 1 river board, and 3 oar rafts so everyone had a chance to ride in almost any type of craft we own.   Aaron was the only one to brave the cold waters with his river board, and only a few of the rapids on the Gorge.

The flow of the river this time of year (barring any hugh rain storm or snow melt) was a nice 1450 cfs which is about the flow give or take a few cfs we usually have in the summertime. We made a quick stop above the rapid Fowlers Rock to scout (not really just to give the river a chance to catch up - we got ahead of the flow a little).  We hung out their for about 15 minutes eating cookies and pbj sands that Michelle and Ann made up.  It would have been nice to have some Hot Choc as we stood in the river for the entire time.

The Gorge was the Gorge with our floating armada of crafts, even the first day out on the new Cat was fun.  Everyone had great time in the rapids as usual and we floated out to the take out.

After loading up the gear and heading back to camp to unload, everyone' s mind was where Norm was taking us all to dinner.  After trying the new Ale House in Auburn we soon found out that it would be about an hour wait or so, we then tried our old standby of Chevy's and again found the wait to be over an hour, we settled on Chineese Food at Chang Brothers.  The Tea was hot and the food was great.  Of course too much was ordered and consumed, but it sure tasted good!  After dinner, we all said our good-byes as we will not see each other again until the spring (unless of course the rain and snow comes and the river comes up high).

Check out the Video below for a cold, wet ride.  Our youngest guide Phillip posing at Satan's Cesspool.