Story and Photos by Mark Heninger

When I was young, anytime someone mentioned California I always thought of my 6th grade teacher telling us about the gold rush and how people flooded into California from all over the world in search of the elusive "Mother Lode." Later in life as a transplant from the corn state of Iowa, I moved to Southern California and my viewpoint quickly changed from the Gold Rush to big city lights, bikinis, actors trapped in waiters bodies, and the understanding that out here if something doesn't seem right, well, there's nothing a doctor can't fix with a scalpel, hair weave, or silicone.

However, Last month I had the chance to revive that childhood perception with a top-notch whitewater rafting company called O.A.R.S. (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists).

My adventure began in Coloma on the South Fork of the American River. This charming town was once the heart of the Gold Rush and one of the most populous towns in California during the 1800's. Sutter's Mill... panning for gold... tent cities... this is where it all happened.

At present day, Coloma is a sleepy little town about 60 miles outside of Sacramento, that has been frozen in time. The rustic feel from the early days has been preserves and it's now as rich in history as it still is in gold.

If you have never gone river rafting, it is definitely the most fun per dollar anyone could imagine. A full day of excitement can be had for about the same cost as dinner at a nice restaurant. On top of that you also get a gourmet lunch and if you take an O.A.R.S. trip, a fascinating history lesson on the surrounding area.

There are many rafting companies out there and it is very important that you select a company that is well respected and has experienced guides that know the rapids. O.A.R.S. is one of the oldest and most respected rafting companies with trips that span the globe. Because of their tenure and great track record, O.A.R.S. has the highest quality boats, lifejackets, and guides. These are very important factors because inferior equipment and talent creates nothing but the potential for problems and disappointment.

The Guide School Trip

This particular trip was unique because I received the chance to see how a whitewater rafting company operates from the inside out. This 8 day excursion is definitely for the adventurous individual who isn't content just floating down the river like a dog sticking its head out the car window. This course is designed to pit you against the forces of Mother Nature and help you understand that a river is not Disneyland.

Accidents can and will happen if you are not properly trained. The O.A.R.S. class objective is to learn the techniques and proper foresight to safely take a raft down a whitewater rapid. Many of you might say, "Oh, that sounds easy!" and it can be as long as you know where to go and understand the dynamics of the river. There are many pitfalls that could land you and your passengers in the water or worse. You could also be delayed a few hours because of a tear in the boat.

The O.A..R.S. River Guide School teaches you how to "read" water (or pick out the best route through the rapids), tie about a dozen knots that will come in handy in everyday life, and learn how to cook and clean while in the wilderness.

This particular course is not designed for those who want be catered to at all times. (Those of you who find the catered route more palatable, or perhaps for you first-time whitewater rafters, check out the O.A.R.S. home page and peruse the information on many of their quality rafting excursions. Most of these qualify as "luxury camping" with all the chores being taken care of for you).

In my class there were 8 students and 3 guides. Each day we were assigned into groups that would cover cooking or safety. Everyone had a turn at being "team leader" for a day. Duties were to make sure all the boats were properly secured, pumped up, on the on the trailer properly, and that we had the necessary equipment for the day's journey.

There were three boats, one paddle boat and two oar boats. Each of which had it's own idiosyncrasies. When you paddle, you have a team of four paddlers to help you navigate through the river. This can be to your advantage if you get a group of people who are good paddlers (like mine!). The oar boats are a little different because you don't have to rely on the paddlers since the oars give you much more control over where you want to go.

In an effort to develop some sort of standardization, the government, in conjunction with commercial rafting companies, developed a system in which to rank each rapid according to its difficulty level. Class One (smooth water) to Class Six (not navigable) are the two extremes.

We typically did rapids in the one to to four + category. At any time throughout the rafting season conditions can vary daily depending on rainfall, especially in the spring when there can be considerable snow melt. Oftentimes it is necessary to get out of the river before the next rapid and "scope" out your plan of attack.

All three of our guides, Butch Carber, Keith Jardin, & Aileen Warda were the best available. Their expertise and ability to help us identify areas of good passage was an invaluable lesson on exciting and safe river rafting.

When I first learned I was going to go on this trip I knew I was going to be going on a pretty great experience. What I did not realize is how much knowledge and respect I gained for this sport. I can hope that if you only read one sentence of this article, it would be this: "Go on a river rafting trip!" It is definitely one of the best experiences in the world.

Since your eyes are already this far... click here for the O.A.R.S. homepage, or call 800-3-GO-OARS. Make sure you ask for Keith, Aileen, or Butch. I guarantee they will show you an experience you will treasure for the rest of your life.

Be Sure to Read

• Whitewater Rafting on Idaho's River of No Return