{"id":9266,"date":"2021-05-26T14:41:56","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T21:41:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/?p=9266"},"modified":"2026-01-09T15:56:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T23:56:41","slug":"george-armstrongs-first-rafting-trip-1962","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/george-armstrongs-first-rafting-trip-1962\/","title":{"rendered":"George Armstrong\u2019s First Rafting Trip in 1962 \u2013 In His Own Words"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><i class=\"fa-regular fa-clock\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i> View time: 2 mins<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When George, now 94 years old, stepped off shore and into his little raft on the Stanislaus River, he had no idea what he was getting into. George and his group spent more time in the river than in the raft that day. That infamous trip eventually led him to begin All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting and share the wonders of California rivers with the public. Hear him tell the story:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-youtube su-u-responsive-media-yes\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DciHEFXsX9E?\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" title=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-george-armstrong-tells-the-story-of-his-first-rafting-trip-in-1962\">George Armstrong tells the story of his first rafting trip in 1962<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the beginning, way back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/history-of-whitewater-rafting\/\">in the early 60&#8217;s<\/a>, there was very little activity on rivers. My first rafting trip on a river was with my brother and a nephew Pete, who was 17 at the time. We went on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/the-last-lost-river\/\">Stanislaus River<\/a>, a river that we were familiar with but had never been on it in a raft. We used my Montgomery Wards raft, a little small one, designed mainly for people to get out on the lake&nbsp;and maybe go fishing. But we got out on the river, not knowing what we were doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, the first big rapid we spilled over, again not knowing what we were doing. The lunch went floating past us on down the stream. All the way down the river, half of the time we were in the water and half of the time back on to the raft trying to make it go the right way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We really didn&#8217;t know anything and realized that we had to learn more. That continued to the next trip and the next one and for every experience we had since then till now.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:40px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"calls-2-action-cpt\">\n    <div class=\"container-fluid\"> \n            \n                <div class=\"row\">   \n            <div class=\"col-sm-8\">\n                <h2>Raft the American River!<\/h2>\n                <p><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>This could be you!<\/strong> Paddle through fun, splashy rapids on the South Fork or take on the exciting wilderness of the Middle Fork. With options for first-timers and thrill-seekers alike, there\u2019s an American River rafting trip for everyone!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:shortcode -->\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:shortcode --><\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-4\"> \n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/american-river-rafting-cta-2025-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"aligncenter img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"Raft the American River!\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/american-river-rafting-cta-2025-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/american-river-rafting-cta-2025-1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"col-sm-12\">\n                <div class=\"text-center\">\n                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/river\/american-river-rafting.htm\" class=\"btn btn-primary\">\n                            American River Rafting                        <\/a>\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                            <\/div> \n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:40px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"related-posts\">\n   \n<h3>\nKeep Reading &#8211; There Is More to Explore:\n<\/h3> \n <div class=\"container-fluid\">     \n     <div class=\"row\">  \n     \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/george-trip-2-feature-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/george-trip-2-feature-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/george-trip-2-feature-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/george-trip-2-feature.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/george-armstrongs-2nd-rafting-trip-1963\/\">George Armstrong\u2019s 2nd Rafting Trip (1963) \u2013 In His Own Words<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/family-founded-feature-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"Family Founded, Family Operated, Family Values\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/family-founded-feature-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/family-founded-feature-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/family-founded-feature.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/family-founded-family-operated-family-values\/\">Watch the Story: Family Founded, Family Operated, Family Values<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/What-Ive-Learned-1b-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"Recent Blog Posts from All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/What-Ive-Learned-1b-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/What-Ive-Learned-1b-1024x587.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/What-Ive-Learned-1b-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/What-Ive-Learned-1b-1536x880.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/What-Ive-Learned-1b.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/what-california-rivers-taught-me-in-59-years\/\">What California Rivers Taught Me in 59 Years \u2013 Watch &#038; Learn<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n       \n        <div class=\"col-sm-6\">\n         \n        <div class=\"rp-wrapper\">\n                <div class=\"col-sm-5\"> <div class=\"row\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"172\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/last-lost-river-feature-300x172.jpg\" class=\"alignleft img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/last-lost-river-feature-300x172.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/last-lost-river-feature-768x440.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/last-lost-river-feature.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div><\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-sm-7\">\n                 <h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/the-last-lost-river\/\">The Last Lost River<\/a><\/h4>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n         <\/div>\n        <\/div> \n                  <\/div>\n<\/div> \n    <hr \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:20px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-author\">\n      <div class=\"container-fluid\">\r\n    <em><small>Posted on May 26, 2021 by<\/small><\/em>\r\n    <div class=\"author-bio\">\r\n\t    <div class=\"col-sm-3\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jack-armstrong-grandson-of-founder-george-armstrong_avatar-192x192-1.jpg\" class=\"author-avatar img-responsive\" alt=\"Jack Armstrong Bio\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t    <div class=\"col-sm-9\">\r\n        <h3>Jack Armstrong<\/h3>\r\n\t\t<p>Jack grew up 35 minutes from AO headquarters, and is the grandson of our founder, George. His education includes a film degree and art studies from Biola University, as well as lots of experience breaking camera gear outside. After graduating college, he started an outdoors\/action sports focused production company and is largely responsible for our video, photo, and social media content. Jack\u2019s favorite trip is the Cal-Salmon, because of the river\u2019s awe-inspiring beauty and the sweet rapids. When he\u2019s not rafting or playing with cameras, Jack can be found skiing, surfing, visiting art galleries, or eating tacos.<\/p>\r\n\t    <\/div>\r\n        <div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>  \n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>George\u2019s first rafting trip was more swim than float\u2014but it sparked a lifelong adventure. Hear how that wild day led to All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":704,"featured_media":9274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,16],"tags":[137],"class_list":["post-9266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rafting-tales","category-video","tag-ao-family"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>George Armstrong\u2019s First Rafting Trip in 1962 \u2013 In His Own Words<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/george-armstrongs-first-rafting-trip-1962\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"George Armstrong\u2019s First Rafting Trip in 1962 \u2013 In His Own Words\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"George\u2019s first rafting trip was more swim than float\u2014but it sparked a lifelong adventure. 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His education includes a film degree and art studies from Biola University, as well as lots of experience breaking camera gear outside. After graduating college, he started an outdoors\\\/action sports focused production company and is largely responsible for our video, photo, and social media content. Jack\u2019s favorite trip is the Cal-Salmon, because of the river\u2019s awe-inspiring beauty and the sweet rapids. When he\u2019s not rafting or playing with cameras, Jack can be found skiing, surfing, visiting art galleries, or eating tacos.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.aorafting.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/jackarmstrong\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<meta property=\"og:video\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DciHEFXsX9E\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video:type\" content=\"text\/html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video:duration\" content=\"131\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video:width\" content=\"480\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:video:height\" content=\"270\" \/>\n<meta property=\"ya:ovs:adult\" content=\"false\" \/>\n<meta property=\"ya:ovs:upload_date\" content=\"2021-05-26T21:41:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"ya:ovs:allow_embed\" content=\"true\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"George Armstrong\u2019s First Rafting Trip in 1962 \u2013 In His Own Words","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.aorafting.com\/blog\/george-armstrongs-first-rafting-trip-1962\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"George Armstrong\u2019s First Rafting Trip in 1962 \u2013 In His Own Words","og_description":"George\u2019s first rafting trip was more swim than float\u2014but it sparked a lifelong adventure. 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