River Dancers Blog

New website and Blog

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:48:00 +0000

Follow us on our new blog on our new website riverdancers.com

Now taking reservations for spring and summer 2010
800.926.3517

Thanks,
Chantal McDermott

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:10:00 +0000

We wish you a healthy, happy and adventurous new year.

To all of you who joined us in 2009, thank you.

At 15,000 feet, the Tibetan plateau literally and figuratively takes one's breath away.

What a fine job we have! After playing all spring and summer on our home rivers we get to take off and see how the rest of the world lives. My wanderings brought me all the way to China and Tibet. Waterways, as all else there, are of colossal proportions and power.

Sichuan's Minjiang river

Grand canyon of the Yangtze

Fast and furious

River Dancers 800.926.5002

Chantal McDermott

Top of the morning to you

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 01:20:00 +0000

Sweet morning on the Klamath River

What could be better than waking up right on river's edge?

Good morning coffee and great conversation!

Mark, the pancake meister at work

Yum!

Check out our multi-day Klamath River adventures.

Call us, 800.926.5002

Chantal McDermott

summer's almost over...

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:06:00 +0000

Beauty and grace

Hold on!

Family time

How sweet it is!

The height of fashion

Chantal McDermott

Trinity River

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:36:00 +0000

On a hot summer day what could be better than the cool, clear waters of the Trinity River? A day of rafting and kayaking is the perfect complement to exploring the Trinity Alps Wilderness or visiting laid-back historical Weaverville.

Mark and crew plunging into Hell Hole

Is this fun, or what?

Paj is performing some fancy footwork as she navigates some churning water...

Paul discovered the thrill of whitewater after retiring from a teaching career. Kayaking the Trinity River is no small feat. Bravo!

The spectacular Trinity Alps Wilderness is laced with trails, lakes, forests and peaks.

Chantal McDermott

dog days of summer

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:38:00 +0000

While spring rafting is all big water and big thrills, summer boating is about tuning out and laze around.

Catching some rays

All in a day's work...

Even teens succomb to afternoon indolence

Pretty comfortable...

Chantal McDermott

Tree of Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:42:00 +0000

The Tree of Heaven campground is the starting point of our easy Klamath River trips and our Kids' trips. Back in the gold rush of the mid-19th century Chinese farmed this flat and sold vegetables to the miners. They brought back a Tree of Heaven to remind them of their faraway homeland. A large specimen at the far end of the campground is worth the visit.

Scenic and relaxing

Sweet rapids

Happy kids make for a great day!

Young Travis, guide-in-training, knows that staying hydrated is the secret of comfort and health on a hot summer day.

Call us,
800.926.5002

Chantal McDermott

oh what fun!

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:02:00 +0000

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Spring run on the Upper Sacramento River

Trinity River...How fun was that?

Family trip on the Lower Klamath River

Kids' trips on the Middle Klamath River

Inflatable kayaking...it's easy and so much fun!

Chantal McDermott

storytelling...

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:26:00 +0000

River Dancers' guide Tom Tuttle has perfected the art of river travel and is highly regarded as a master snowboarder and skier. Less known is his genuine talent for storytelling.

He finds inspiration in the wealth of tales once told by the northern California Indian tribes, Shasta, Karok, Yurok, Hupa and others who lived along the Klamath River corridor.

Many of the traditional narratives feature the character Coyote, both greedy and a hero, doing mischievous things as well as good ones.

Rosemary Holsinger has compiled a collection of old myths and she brings them vividly to life in her book "Shasta Indian Tales".

John Mc Dermott, too, knows how to captivate an audience.

This young rafter hails from England and is utterly fascinated...

Chantal McDermott

Happy Camp

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:34:00 +0000

Happy Camp, midway between I-5 and the Pacific Coast, is a rustic, sleepy community on the banks of the wild and scenic Klamath River. It is surrounded by the Siskiyou Mountains and Marble Mountain Wilderness.

It was so named in 1851 by a group of gold miners after they found what they were looking for.

It is the ancestral home of the Karuk tribe. Karuk means "upriver people". Their cousins the Yuroks are the "downriver people".

Bigfoot legends abound around the world. Native Americans call him Sasquatch. To this day, the area along Hwy 96, between Happy Camp and Willow Creek reports more sightings of Bigfoot than anywhere else in the world. Cryptozoologists, people who investigate unknown animal species, have compiled huge amounts of evidence proving Sasquatch's actual existence.

An 18 foot rendition of the elusive wild creature greets visitors to Happy Camp. It was created as a community project out of scrap metal.

Happy Camp is the starting point of most our Klamath overnight trips that have been rated in the top 20 bright new "09 California vacations by SanFrancisco Magazine.

Chantal McDermott

lunch on the river

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:56:00 +0000

Floating down the Klamath River on a warm summer day is all play and little work.... There is nothing like the great outdoors, however, to aliven the senses and awaken the appetite.

An casual buffet lunch in the shade is welcome and gets us ready for the lazy afternoon ahead.

On water's edge, oblivious of our presence nearby, a deer is enjoying his own organic lunch al fresco...

Read about our relaxing Tree of Heaven floats.

To book a trip, call us, 800.926.5002

Chantal McDermott

Wilderness experience

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:52:00 +0000

These happy 8th graders traveled all the way from Monterrey, California to experience wilderness living on a voyage down the Klamath River in the far northern state.

Multi-talented Aaron Beverly is showing off his wilderness survival skills.

And there was fire!!

River Dancers' school trips offer high adventure and life long memories.
Give us a call 800.926.5002

Chantal McDermott

Graduate and Go Rafting

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 01:49:00 +0000

These 8th graders are styling!

The Dunsmuir Elementary 8th grade graduates celebrated the end of the school year and their graduation by floating down the Klamath River last week-end. By choosing an adventure close to home and by spending their bucks locally they proved to be smart shoppers and savvy consumers.

" It was probably the best 8th grade trip ever. Thanks so much for a great day." Shelly Springer

Aaron, on hiatus from his career as an electrical engineer, is an accomplished river guide and mountaineer and a very resourceful outdoorsman. Here he is demonstrating rope making using some milkweed that grows in great abundance along the river corridor.

Now, how cool is that?

Read what Sunset Magazine has to say about floating the Klamath River.
Klamath Trip Information

Chantal McDermott

Outdoor education

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Sun, 24 May 2009 14:55:00 +0000

School is coming to an end and some wise teachers and lucky kids are taking a break from the classroom and moving the educational experience to the great outdoors.
While the fun of a rafting trip is obvious, teamwork, leadership and community spirit are longer lasting rewards.
River conservation and stewardship rest on the shoulders of our children. There is nothing like a river trip to infuse them with reverence for the natural world.

River Dancers' class trips on the Klamath River offer high adventure and life long memories. Give us a call 800.926.5002

Above: Montague Delphic Elementary on a 4 day Klamath adventure

Top photo: Jenna and Mariah of Mt Shasta Golden Eagle Charter school

Chantal McDermott

Community Service

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:51:00 +0000

Scotch broom, so pretty and so abundant along the Upper Sacramento River corridor is, in fact, a noxious weed, very aggressive and highly invasive.
It was used to pack whiskey bottles shipped to California during the Gold Rush, the bubble wrap of the 19th century if you will. Seedpods attached to the package material could sprout during the winter rains or lay dormant for up to 50 years. So there you have it, drinking's bad, not just for you...but for the environment as well.

River Dancers, the River Exchange and the US Forest Service led a weed eradication trip Saturday, May 9th. Rafting the clear and lively waters of the Upper Sacramento River was great fun, pulling and digging the tenacious Scotch broom was hard work. 13 spirited volunteers heeded the call for service.

Coming up this summer, River Dancers' mustard and knapweed eradication trip along the Klamath River.

For more information about noxious weeds: California Invasive Plant Counci l, California Weed Science Society, Siskiyou County Department of Agriculture 530.841.4025

Chantal McDermott

Rolling on the river

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:31:00 +0000

John McDermott, River Dancers' founder and river head honcho gets recognition in the Redding Record Searchlight.

Not only is he a river guide extraordinaire, he has also mastered the art of one-hand al fresco cooking...

May is prime season for running the Upper Sacramento River. 12 river miles with consistent class 3 rapids and outstanding scenery. This river deserves Wild and Scenic designation.

On your way, stop by Dunsmuir...dogwoods are blooming there in a riot of pinks and whites.
Chantal McDermott

A bright new California adventure

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:37:00 +0000

River Dancers' Klamath River rafting adventure has been selected by the online San Francisco Magazine as one of 20 bright new California vacations that have it all.

Times are hard and money is tight...but a California vacation is not only affordable but still is the stuff of every traveler's dream. Far northern California is a fabulous undiscovered country with stunning landscapes, old time charm and friendly folks.

Take your friends and the kids and head north to the Klamath River for a fantastic rafting adventure. Camping, kayaking, swimming, exploring, great food are all part of the package. You'll remember this vacation long after you return home.

On the way, stop by Mt Shasta City nestled at the foot of majestic Mt Shasta, 14,162' high. A small town with great spirit and charm!
Chantal McDermott

Au Revoir Sage

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:59:00 +0000

Sage has moved on!

He's left his California nest and relocated in the Pacific Northwest. He'll spend the next boating season rafting and kayaking the Skykomish River.

He's been River Dancers' shining light for many years, kept us on our toes and made us proud.

We'll miss you, kiddo!

We've tested all our theories on the benefits of the great outdoors on Sage. He rafted with us since he was but a few months old, rain or shine...and he's shown great courage, patience and fortitude, always.

"Nature and wilderness bring out the best in people. It is especially true for families. An extended river trip in the middle of nowhere, away from the constraints and routines of daily life, brings parents and children together and strengthens family bonds".
Check out River Dancers' Family Trips and tips about Rafting with Kids
Chantal McDermott

Klamath Basin Myth & History

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:04:00 +0000

In his book "River of Renewal" Stephen Most illustrates
how "different modes of living on Earth collide, differences between forms of knowledge and belief with regard to nature can vary greatly".

Such a place is the Klamath bioregion, rich in water and fish. The dispute over overallocation of the waters of the Klamath Basin has pitted farmers and ranchers against the native american tribes whose cultures and livelihoods dependant upon fishing.

The controversy reveals the interdependance of economic recovery with ecological restoration and the urgency for the Klamath communities to find common ground.

Chantal McDermott

Scenic Klamath River

Nature Conservancy buys Siskiyou Ranch

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:43:00 +0000

The Nature Conservancy announced the purchase of 4,136 acre Shasta Big Springs Ranch. Running through the ranch are the Shasta River and Big Springs Creek, two important Klamath tributaries that provide cool water for salmon and steelhead spawning.

This is a giant step in protecting and restoring the health of the lower Klamath River and it’s endangered coho salmon population. “Whereas most other rivers in the state are warming and becoming less suitable for salmon, the Shasta River likely will remain cold and thus provides a unique opportunity for us to bring this species back from the brink.”said Henry Little, project director for The Nature Conservancy in California.

Other struggling species that will benefit from the Big Springs Ranch restoration work include the Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, Pacific and Klamath River lamprey, Western pond turtles, greater sandhill cranes, bank swallows, neo-tropical migratory birds and bald eagles.

Chantal McDermott

Snowpack promises good spring rafting

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Mt Shasta..."lonely as God and white as a winter moon" - Joaquin Miller

This winter started warm and dry. According to the US Forest Service, by the end of January, the snow pack was 28% of normal. At the end of February, we are at 82% of normal. Precipitations so far this season are 96% of normal.

Though the skiing's been great when March comes around we start fantazising about whitewater and spring rafting and it's looking mighty good for all the rivers we run, the Upper Sacramento, Trinity, Cal Salmon and Klamath.
Check out Spring Rafting and Thrilling Whitewater Trips

Chantal McDermott

The natural world

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:34:00 +0000

Check out Newsweek as it takes a look at "our primal connection to the natural world and nature as free therapy."
http://www.newsweek.com/id/184361

The pursuit of adventure and a deeper connection with the natural world continues to be the inspiration behind River Dancers.
Still in therapy!

Chantal McDermott

Spirit of Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:18:00 +0000

After a long dry spell snow and winter have finally returned to the north state inspiring dreams of spring whitewater...
Chantal McDermott

Look Ma, no hands!
Sage, navigating the rough waters of Cascade Rapid on the California Salmon River,
one of the best class 5 spring runs in the state.

Giddy up!
Trying a new approach down Hell Hole, Trinity River

Sage, finding the pot of gold... McCloud River

The color of water

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:21:00 +0000

In all my years of running rivers I have never ceased to be fascinated by the play of water and light. Here are some of my favorite magic moments...
Chantal McDermott

Ferry Point, Klamath River

Rock Creek, Klamath River

Virgin River, Zion National Park

Upper Sacramento River

Colorado River, Grand Canyon

Welcome to the new River Dancers Blog

noreply@blogger.com (riverdancersblog) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:20:00 +0000

Join us here for news and updates about rafting and kayaking in California and beyond.

For information on booking a whitewater rafting trip with River Dancers, please visit our website www.riverdancers.com.

The 2009 rafting season begins in late April...check out our trips and reserve your adventure today.
New this year, a swiftwater and rescue class by our friends, the pros of Norcal Training. April 29, 30 & May 1 at Sims Campground, by the Upper Sacramento River, near Mt Shasta.
To register: register@norcal-training.com
Phone: 916-474-5962 ~ Fax: 916-474-5962

We spend our off season exploring other places and dimensions.
Rivers, naturally are never far from our hearts.

The fast and turbulent waters of the Colorado river's Westwater Canyon.

Far less turbulent but oh so romantic, the smooth waters of the Paris Seine River.