{"id":8833,"date":"2020-07-01T16:51:27","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T23:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/?p=8833"},"modified":"2026-01-09T16:18:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T00:18:28","slug":"covid-19-update-rafting-returns-july-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/covid-19-update-rafting-returns-july-1\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Update: Rafting in 2020!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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To the All-Outdoors extended rafting family (those we know and those we have yet to meet):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting ready for this season has already been a wild ride, and we sincerely thank you for sticking with us. We\u2019ve been working with our state and local agencies to decide when and how we can resume rafting. Unfortunately, we were unable to raft during the spring and early summer because of COVID-19 and the related restrictions. We have some good news on that front, though. We now have the green light to run trips again!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following are season updates on what our trips look like this year and what we expect out of our guests:<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \r\n Before the 2020 season our guides got tested for COVID-19 and did mandatory training on our mitigation procedures. Guides passed a daily health screening before they were able to work.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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    \r\n In 2020 lunches were made-to-order by our food prep staff. We maintain clean surfaces and sanitation protocols, so you can be sure your food was made in a clean environment. \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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    \r\n Guests were greeted by their own guide upon arrival and were taken care of by this same guide all day long. He or she would take the guests\u2019 temperature and ask a few screening questions before the trip could start. \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\t
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    \r\n We added additional hand sanitizer stations at our property. We also limited bathroom capacity and arranged things on our property so people in different groups could gather in different places. \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\t
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    \r\n There were three things guests were asked to bring to their rafting trip: a face covering that goes around the neck (not just behind the ears), a water bottle, and hand sanitizer (all available for purchase on site as well).\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\t
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    \r\n Instead of being fitted with gear by a guide, guests fitted themselves with guide instructions. \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\t
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    \r\n Guests received a private pre-river orientation talk from their guide to prep them for the adventure.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n\t
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    \r\n Different social groups on a trip did not mix but had their own guide and raft. To create more spacing, each raft also had less people and maintained a distance between other rafts on the same trip.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\t
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    \r\n Made-to-order lunches were packed on individual rafts, and at lunch time groups were eating separately. On multi-day trips meals at camp were served by each group\u2019s guide.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n\t
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    \r\n At least one thing was not any different; cruising along gentle currents or smashing through exciting rapids was still a whole lot of fun!\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\t
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    \r\n We reduced the number of people on shuttles to give each group their own space on the bus. We also asked everyone to apply hand sanitizer before getting on and to wear their face coverings during the ride.\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n\t
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    \r\n Back at the meet place guests sanitized their own gear by giving their life jacket a thorough dunking in a tub before hanging it up. Paddles were dropped into a barrel filled with sanitizing solution.\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n\t
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    \r\n After a great day on the river, last goodbyes were said and guests were on their way. \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n\t
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    \r\n Between each trip (and periodically throughout the day) we cleaned all our facilities. Bathrooms got cleaned and restocked and shuttle vehicles got sanitized so they were ready for the next groups\u2019 arrivals. \r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/span>\r\n Previous<\/span>\r\n <\/a>\r\n \r\n <\/span>\r\n Next<\/span>\r\n <\/a>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    When And Where We\u2019re Rafting In 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    We are currently running trips<\/strong> on the South Fork American River<\/a> (including the Tom Sawyer Float Trips<\/a>) and the Middle Fork American River<\/a>. Both rivers have plenty of water this year and will run into the fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The sad news is that we won\u2019t have a season on the Tuolumne River, Cherry Creek and Goodwin Canyon this year. For a variety of reasons, we simply aren\u2019t able to put on a remote operation in these areas. We\u2019re as bummed as you are to not be out there, but at the same time we\u2019re excited for the trips we are able to run elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What A Rafting Trip Looks Like In 2020<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Private Rafts With Fewer People.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Following state and county guidelines, we are NOT mixing groups of guests unless they are from the same household or within the same \u201csocial bubble\u201d. What does that mean? It means you bring your own group* and get your own private raft(s). Each \u201cprivate\u201d raft on a trip will not mix with other \u201cprivate\u201d rafts on the same trip. To minimize the risk of COVID spread, we have also lowered the number of guests we are taking per raft. With all these changes, rafting this year feels more like a private, intimate experience than ever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    * Please note, private rafts require a minimum number of paid spaces per reservation. (All Middle Fork itineraries: 4 spaces; all South Fork itineraries: 4 spaces midweek \/ 6 spaces weekend departures.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What You Can Expect On Your Trip<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    To help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, we are taking guidance from our state and local agencies. While we can\u2019t eliminate the possibility of any guest contracting COVID during a trip, we have made several adjustments to lower the chances of spread. Here are some things you can expect this season:<\/p>\n\n\n\n