The AO Blog

We are excited and delighted to say that this will be the third year that AO will be privileged to provide post 911 and Persian Gulf veterans with a special rafting and camping experience sponsored by the organization, Honoring the […]

One of the most well-known rapids on the South Fork of the American River…the fan-favorite Hospital Bar. What is it really like? Read the play-by-play and watch the video here.

Trips with family and friends are fun. There’s a boat (or maybe two) of you floating down the river, splashing around, laughing through rapids. But what happens when you get the whole clan together? This past weekend a group of […]

I think that adults remember their grandparents in snapshots. When I think of my dad’s father, I see him after his stroke; thin, frail, confined to a wheelchair. I see my dad’s mom, graying, stressed, a bit short tempered. I […]

Monday, I was one of the 20 some odd guides who assembled in Groveland, CA to take on the Cherry Creek for the first run of the season. The experience felt one part business, one part reunion,  and one big […]

So literally a few days ago water experts were looking at Folsom Lake, shaking their heads, and pretty much throwing up their hands–the lake was literally at 31% of normal for this time of year.  That’s not cool by anyone’s […]

Let me start this with a qualifying statement: if you have yet to raft the Middle Fork American at all…you’ve got a problem that needs fixing. The Middle Fork is one of our most popular runs for a reason. Awesome […]

After the long stretch of calm whitewater on the Middle Fork of the American River,  and a delicious, freshly-prepared lunch, you will finally get to some more big rapids. And the first one you get to won’t let you off easy. […]

Don’t worry. After Tunnel Chute, the fun is definitely not over on the Middle Fork American. After another Class III stretch and one small class IV, you come to the last rapid before a lengthy calm section in the middle […]

It all started in 1973 when a group of friends came together to try and stop a dam that would drown the Stanislaus River.  Ten years later, as the water of the New Melones Reservoir rose, their worst fears came true. Nearly 40 years later,  that […]