Which river is right for me?
Most groups
have participants with mixed abilities and experience. For a first-time trip
you might want to choose the South Fork American or the Kings River, both Class
III, beginning whitewater river, that is perfect for first-time rafters, kids
as young as 7, and experienced rafters out to have a great time with each
other. The Merced and the Middle Fork American are a step up, great as a second
trip, and for those first-time groups with adventuresome rafters in good
condition. The North Fork, Tuolumne and Cherry Creek are intermediate to
advanced. Feel free to call our office for help in selecting the right river.
Can children come?
Absolutely! We welcome
children as young as 7 on the South Fork American River and the Kings River. On
our more advanced rivers, the Middle Fork of the American River, Merced,
Tuolumne, and Kings in the spring, the minimum age is 12. On the North Fork and
Cherry Creek, the minimum age is 14. During years when we have a heavy
snowpack, the minimum ages may vary. It is always a good idea to check with the
office. What kind of boats do we ride in?
Is the trip all whitewater?
No. All of the
rivers we do include very easy rapids and calm stretches; even the Class IV
rivers such as the Middle Fork and the North Fork have these calmer areas. The
rivers we offer have side creeks, mining sites, hiking opportunities, and time
to enjoy the beauty of the wilderness. So, we offer whitewater, and a lot more
too!
What does Mariah provide?
We provide
experienced professional guides, top-of-the-line whitewater rafts and
specialized equipment, life jackets and dry bags for extra personal gear,
first-aid supplies, shuttles to and from the river, and excellent menus for the
included meals. We have camping equipment available to rent for overnight
trips.
We use high-quality professional river equipment,
Coast Guard approved life jackets, and full safety and emergency gear. On most
of our trips we use PADDLE BOATS with six to eight rafters plus your guide. We
have a 100% excellent safety record, and use oar and paddle combination rafts
on the North Fork, Merced, and Tuolumne when the water is high. We always use
the oar and paddle combination rafts on Cherry Creek. The Raft Express on the
South Fork uses OAR BOATS and PADDLE BOATS. The INFLATABLE KAYAKS that are used
on the South Fork are high quality and durable.
Who are Mariah's river guides?
We think
you'll find our guides to be some of the very best professional guides on the
river, many of whom have been with us for over 18 years! Our guides are bright,
articulate and enthusiastic as well as physically strong and knowledgeable
about the outdoors with extensive whitewater skills. In addition to our
continuous on-and off-river training emphasizing local and natural history,
conservation, first aid and CPR, we train new guides each year in our excellent
Whitewater Guide Training School, and select the very best to become part of
Mariah's guide staff. Our guides are proud to provide friendly, informative,
safety conscious rafting adventures for their guests!
What are the camping facilities like?
Our
base camp on the South Fork of the American River is one of the best on the
river. We have a permanent camp kitchen, built on a cement slab, with a large
cooking and serving area. Available are restrooms with hot-water showers, flush
toilets, sinks, mirrors, plenty of room and privacy to change clothes. We also
have a walk-in camp store, guest kiosk, wine and beverage garden, Coffee
Corner, nature trail, volleyball, ping-pong, horseshoes, lots of picnic tables,
beach front campsites right on the banks of the river, lots of shade, a fun
"swimming hole" in which you can play.
On the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers, we camp at several
different sites, remote and very beautiful. Porta-potties are provided by the
Forest Service on these trips. The Kings River has a beautiful base camp, with
a permanent kitchen, flush toilets, volleyball, horseshoes, picnic tables, and
beach front campsites.
May I bring alcohol?
We serve a moderate
amount of beer and wine with dinners. Alcohol is not allowed on the river
during the day. You may bring your own choice of additional beverage for camp.
No alcohol is allowed on the boats.
How is the food?
Great! Lunch on the river
is a delicious spread of deli meats, cheeses, salad, condiments, fruit,
cookies, and lots of punch. Two-day trips that include breakfasts offer
pancakes, omelets, meats, fruits, cereals, and lots of coffee, tea and cocoa.
Dinners start with hors d'oeuvres, and usually are wonderful barbeques with
steak, chicken, vegetables, salad and a special dessert. Our menus are designed
to take care of most vegetarian requests. Please advise your group to bring
along any special dietary requirements.
Is Mariah Wilderness Expeditions licensed to
conduct trips?
Yes, Mariah Wilderness Expeditions and all affiliate
outfitters operate under stringent permits issued by El Dorado County, the
Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the State of California
Department of Parks and Recreation.
What do we need to bring?
Usually only your
personal gear, which, depending on the season and length of trip, may be shorts
and t-shirts! Every trip has a detailed equipment list for each rafter. And our
camp store on the South Fork has many last-minute or forgotten items available
Will we need wetsuits?
In the spring, and
sometimes in high-water conditions, wetsuits are required or highly
recommended. Wetsuits are always required on the North Fork and Cherry Creek
runs. If wetsuits are necessary for safety reasons, we include them in the cost
of the trip. If you like to wear a wetsuit because you get cold easily, they
are available to rent.
May I bring a camera?
Disposable waterproof
cameras are best. Fine cameras can be carried in a waterproof bag, but are
awkward to protect and use on-river. On most rivers a professional photographer
will take your boat's picture as you negotiate a big rapid. You may review and
purchase the captured moment following the trip!
What is top weight allowed?
our lifejackets
are rated to work for persons no heavier than 280 lbs and chest size no larger
than 52 inches.
What about disabilities?
We are skilled at
working with many different disabilities. Please check with our office if you
have questions about medical or physical concerns.
Do we need travel insurance? You may want to
purchase travel insurance coverage for accident or cancellation due to illness
or medical emergency. Trip Insurance brochures are available from our office.
Please note: MARIAH WILDERNESS EXPEDITIONS safety record is excellent, but trip
guests must understand that adventure travel involves risk (that's part of the
fun!). Each participant must sign a Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk
form before rafting.
How do I reserve my Trip? And What is Mariah's
cancellation policy? How To Reserve:
You may email us at
rafting@mariahwe.com, or call our Rafting Reservation Office at 1-800-462-7424
to ask questions, check on availability of the trip, dates that interest you,
and to make reservations. Many of our trips fill up months in advance while
others may have last-minute space availability. We will send you an invoice
with detailed trip information and hold your space for several days, while
waiting for your deposit to confirm your reservation.
Deposit and Balance Due Payments:
A minimum
deposit ranging from $50 to $100 per person is due within 10 days of your
booking to confirm your space. Trip balance is due usually 60-45 days in
advance of the trip. Reservations made within 60-45 days of your trip require
full payment and may not be eligible for refunds should you have to cancel.
Cancellations and Refunds:
Due to our
limited trip sizes, we turn away others once your reservation has been
submitted. If you must cancel your trip, please notify us as soon as possible.
Upon receipt of a written notice 59-31 days or more prior to your launch date,
you will receive a full refund less your per person deposit. Any cancellation
made within 60-30 days of the trip may not be eligible for a refund. You may,
however, substitute another person with no penalty. Deposits from partial group
cancellations may not be applied to remaining participants. We highly recommend
trip cancellation insurance.
Non-Performance:
Mariah Wilderness
Expeditions reserves the right to cancel any trip due to weather, water
conditions, or other good cause beyond our control. Should this become
necessary, your unused monies will be fully credited toward another trip. If we
determine on the day of your trip that conditions exist on a particular river
to make it unsafe or unrunnable, then we reserve the right to change rivers, if
possible, rather than reschedule your trip. If we must cancel your trip due to
insufficient reservations, your money will be credited to another trip. All
credits shall be limited to the amounts actually paid to Mariah Wilderness
Expeditions and will not include any other expenses incurred by
participants.
Transfer Fee:
If you find that you must
change the original date of your trip, no transfer fee will be charged as long
as the trip you are transferring from is not full and we have not been turning
others away. If we have been turning others away, your transfer will be treated
as a cancellation and will fall under our general Cancellation Policy.
Personal Responsibility:
While most of our
trips are not strenuous, they can be a dramatic change in routine and do
involve some risk. Participants are responsible for selecting a trip
appropriate to their abilities and be of sufficient good health to undertake
the trip. Each participant, or the parent or legal guardian of a participating
minor, must sign a Waiver and Assumption of Risk form before beginning a
trip.
How strenuous are these trips?
Not too
strenuous if you are in relatively good basic health. Most of our river trips
use 5-8 person paddle boats plus your guide, with each member of the team
paddling through the rapids as a major part of the fun and excitement of a
whitewater trip. Between rapids the river offers us calm relaxing stretches
where we can enjoy the scenery and each other's company! Then it's gearing up
again for the next rapid. At the end of the day you will feel happily tired,
and refreshed. Of course for a bigger challenge and more excitement choose a
Class IV or IV+ but you must pass a river test.
Do I need to know how to swim?
No. Our Coast
Guard approved life jackets will keep you afloat, and our guides will show you
how to "swim" a rapid feet first should you pop out of the boat, as well as
offer many other safety measures. Please note: our lifejackets are rated to
work for persons no heavier than 280 lbs and chest size no larger than 52
inches. We are skilled at working with many different disabilities. Please
check with our office if you have questions about medical or physical concerns.
Will I get seasick?
Most likely not. River
motion is very different from sea action and does not seem to induce
sea-sickness.
