Rafting Rapture June/July 2015 65 YOUR RAFT IS bobbing left and right, pitching forward and backward. The constant motion of the seemingly flimsy vessel is downright unnerving. And thanks to the unrelenting waves, you’re soaked. But, oh, what fun! If you’ve never taken the kids whitewater rafting, a trip on the American River should be your next great outing. American Whitewater Expeditions in Coloma brings families on halfday, one- and two-day adventures that run from easy Class II to the intermediate Class IV levels. Lifejackets and helmets are mandatory. After 250,000 customers and 34 years in business, owner Arne Chandola knows rafting. According to Chandola, of the three river trips—South Fork, Middle, and North—the South Fork route is ideal for beginners. This section of the river features enough rapids to hold excitement but offers mostly calm waters. Kids at least 6 years old will have a blast. When families want more adventure, and the children turn 12, the Middle Fork is a good step up. This ride gives teenagers the thrill of splashy waves, more intense rapids and more obstacles. The North Fork is reserved for pros, so it is not recommended for families. Guides for American River rafting come from all over the world and are professionally certified. They keep things lively and fun for family members, often instigating water fights between rafts. At the same time, the guides are sensitive to the makeup of each group. “Some kids are shy and others are boisterous; guides can judge that,” Chandola says. Guides who work with special needs kids are also available. A two-night excursion with tents and campfire meals is highly recommended. Rafters can bed down near Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, where gold was discovered in 1848. For those not so excited about roughing it, there are flushing toilets, hot showers and gourmet meals available, making the experience more of a “glamping” activity than a Boy Scout survival camp. There’s even Wi-Fi on the premises. “We have a healthy mix of everything,” says Chandola. “Sometimes Grandma stays with infants at the campsite, and that’s OK, too.” Rock ’n’ Roll THIS TIME, SEE Yosemite from a different perspective. Instead of simply looking at the mountain, become part of it. In short, go climb that rock. Operating since 1969, the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service will teach your family how to scale the park’s epic granite boulders with confidence. If your kids are at least 12, they can begin this year. Those 10 and 11 must have an adult present. Children even younger can get private lessons with a guardian in tow. If you are nervous about this activity, it helps to know that the mountaineering school is the only one that Yosemite National Park allows and trusts to teach guests. Every guide must have Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness EMT certification. Guides offer daily lessons from April through October for all levels. In the Go Climb a Rock program, the beginners class operates at 8:30 a.m. in Curry Village or in Tuolumne Meadows. Classes last at least seven hours, so be prepared for a full day of sun and activity. Maximum class size is six students per instructor, and each class can be taken in sequence to build upon skill levels. A separate women’s rock-climbing package called Girls on Granite is also offered. This one features a two-night stay with accommodations and rock-climbing lessons in a supportive, non-intimidating atmosphere. Private lessons are also available, and guided climbs are one-on-one or one instructor with two students. Before you know it, family discussions will be all about chocks, copperheads, haul bags, pendulums and bivouacs. COURTESY OF DNC PARKS & RESORTS AT YOSEMITE, INC.
South Bay Accent - Jun/Jul 2015
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