Last Chance for Rafting the Tuolumne & Cherry Creek

August 26th, 2008 Webmaster

The Tuolumne River and Cherry Creek rafting runs have about a week left to their season. The final day for whitewater rafting flows on these two incredible runs is Monday, September 1 (Labor Day).

If you feel yourself getting a little green with envy as you think of everyone else hiking up Clavey Falls and swimming away the afternoon, rafting the Tuolumne’s class IV rapids, or jumping in for swim practice before an epic day on Cherry Creek, there is an antidote to your pain.

The Tuolumne River is by far my favorite river in California. The sheer beauty of the land scape and magnitude of the rapids.. just stunning. There’s no question why the Tuolumne is a California classic.

Happy Rafting



Season Passes for 2008 / 2009 Ski & Snowboard Season

August 6th, 2008 Webmaster

So where has summer gone? I know it’s not over but the back to school sales are on, the college kids are heading back to campus and before you know.. winter will be here. With this in mind… it’s time to start thinking about that 2008 / 2009 Ski & Snowboard Season Pass.

Prices listed are for adult season pass rate unless otherwise noted

Mammoth Mountain

  • Adult 19 - 64: $1675
  • Youth 13 - 18: $1256
  • Child 7 - 12: $838
  • Senior 65 - 79: $838

Northstar at Tahoe & Sierra at Tahoe
- Visit Double Whammy Pass.

Double Whammy Pass (Both Mountains)

  • Value: $379
  • College: $299
  • Limited: $499
  • Unlimited: $749

Northstar at Tahoe Season Pass: $299

Sierra at Tahoe Season Pass:

  • Sun - Fri: $199
  • 7-Day: $299

Boreal

  • Night Pass: $129
  • Super Saver (Sun-Fri): $199
  • College: $129
  • Anytime: $329

Heavenly Lake Tahoe

  • Heavenly (Sun - Fri): $369
  • Epic (unlimited): $579

Squaw Valley USA

  • Night Pass: $199
  • Midweek Pass: $949 (before Sept 1)
  • Full Pass: $1549 (before Sept 1)

Bear Valley

  • Restricted: $319
  • Unlimited: $419
  • Mtn / Meadow (dh and xc): $499

Alpine Meadows

  • Midweek: $399
  • Full Pass: $899

Sugar Bowl

  • Pricing not yet available

Kirkwood

  • 6 Wood: $239
  • 7 Wood: $389
  • Unlimited: $529
  • Premium: $1,169

Bear Mountain

  • Midweek: $299
  • Midweek + Sunday: $339
  • Anytime Non Holiday: $429
  • Anytime: $499

Mountain High

  • $299 sale starts August 30.


Merced River Rafting Season Has Come to an End

June 30th, 2008 Webmaster

Sad but true, the 2008 Merced River rafting season is pretty much done. Rafters & kayakers may be able to sqeek another couple of days out of the Quarter Mile section but flows probably won’t hold out through the July 4th weekend.



Western States 100 Cancelled Due to Wildfires

June 27th, 2008 Webmaster

The Western States 100 Endurance Race, scheduled for Saturday June 28, 2008 has been cancelled because of poor air quality due to the overwhelming amount of wildfires in Northern California. For complete details on the cancellation please visit:
http://www.ws100.com/latestnews.htm



13th Annual Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza

June 26th, 2008 Webmaster

Catch Johnny Lang when he performs at the Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza - the best blues acts with over 50 microbreweries takes place August 1-2, 2008.

Packages are available starting at $105 per person for lodging and admission to the Grand Tasting and the Bluesapalooza Festival.

For complete details visit Mammoth Mountain Events.



California Rivers Update June 20

June 20th, 2008 Webmaster

Today is June 20th.. the day of the Summer Soltice in the North Hemisphere. It is officially summer and temperatures are beginning to heat up. With that said many spring rivers will be petering out in the coming weeks.

According to the All-Outdoors Blog.. this will be the last weekend for rafting and kayaking on the Kaweah River near Three Rivers, CA. We also got word that the Merced River is still holding on and is expected to flow until July 4th. It also appears the Upper Kern and the Kings River will be around for another couple of weeks.

Once our beloved California Spring rafting rivers run out it will be time to move onto the reliable dam controlled rivers like the South Fork and Middle Fork American Rivers as well as the Tuolumne, Cherry Creek and Lower Kern.

And remember even though Schwarzenegger declared a state wide drought.. California Rivers have plenty of water for rafting in 2008.



Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Opens Tomorrow

June 20th, 2008 Webmaster

Originally posted in the Mammoth Mountain Weekly Trail Report - Friday June 20

Kick off the summer season tomorrow with the opening of Mammoth Mountain Bike Park! Check out over 24 miles of trails with options for every ability level.

Mammoth had a great winter season and that means there’s still snow on the upper mountain trails. The Bike Park crew is working to get the upper trails open as soon as possible, but until then, enjoy the open lower mountain trails starting at Main Lodge with shuttle service between the Village and the Adventure Center. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes from 9am to 5:30pm.

For a limited-time, discounted Trail Pass pricing is in effect: $34 adults (13+), $17 kids (12 and under). Trail Passes are also good for Scenic Gondola Rides, however bikes are not permitted on the gondola at this time.

The Bike Park will be open from 9am to 6pm daily beginning June 21. Park passes and Kona bike rentals will be available at the Adventure Center across the street from Main Lodge or at the Mountain Center in the Village at Mammoth.

The Bike Park will offer guided tours, private lessons and two camps: Freeride Camp, August 1-3, and Women’s Camp, August 15-17. Lessons are available daily from 10am to noon and 2-4pm.

For updates on trail conditions, call our Summer Adventure Report at 888.SNOW.RPT or visit MammothMountain.com



American River Trailfest

June 8th, 2008 Webmaster

Don’t forget Monday June 9th is the fifth annual Trailfest on the South Fork American River. Always a great celebration with bbq, live music, raffle, live auction and more. All proceeds go toward the construction and maintenance of a vast system of trails stretching from the Coloma-Lotus Valley down to Salmon Falls.



Coloma Blues Fest

June 6th, 2008 Webmaster

In case you didn’t already know.. Saturday June 7th marks the Coloma Blues Fest on the South Fork American River. The music festival will be held at Henningsen Lotus Park on Lotus Rd.

Read more…



Gov. Scharzenegger Declares Statewide Drough in California

June 5th, 2008 Webmaster

According to an article posted in USA Today.. California Gov., Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought for the following reasons…

  • two years of below-average rainfall
  • low snowmelt runoff
  • largest court-ordered restriction on water transfers.

He’s gotta be out of his mind! So it’s a little dry. We had nearly a 100% snowpack and water agencies haven’t been trying to cut back on water. According to the April 1 numbers we’re looking at a “normal” season.

Turns out it has something to do with him trying to generate support for new water projects…

“Schwarzenegger is using the drought declaration to push his nearly $12 billion proposal to build more reservoirs and a canal to direct water around the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.”
~ Don Thompson, Associated Press

Hey Folks.. if you’re still reading this.. we’re not in a drought… its just a little dry. California’s dam controlled rivers like the South & Middle Fork of the American, the Tuolumne and the Lower Kern will have plenty of water to go rafting all summer long in 2008!

Photo courtesy of All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting