River Rafting the “T” with Sierra Mac

When I find a shirt that I like it’s not uncommon for me to buy it in a few different colors. Afterall, I’ve already done the work to pre-qualify the shirt as awesome because of factors important to me like being easy to clean, good looking, wears nicely, matches clothes I already have and the price is agreeable. I’m the same way when it comes to food, fitness training and vacations among other things. I just can’t seem to get enough of things like Acai bowls in my stomach, TRX workouts under my belt or Hawaiian sun on my skin…and for the last few years, river rafting the “T” with Sierra Mac.

As someone who enjoyes having a good quality of life and going on outdoor adventures, river rafting down class IV and V rapids on the Tuolumne River with Sierra Mac is about as good as it gets. There is nothing like being with an awesome group of experts that guide, cook and entertain throughout the entire 2-day excursion. This year, our 4th in a row, we’ve invited some friends and family to join us and share in the good times.

We have a total of 10 people going on the 2-day trip that includes overnight camping next to the river. All we need to do as guests is pitch a tent, lay a pad and roll out a sleeping bag. Sierra Mac takes care of the rest…from cooking, cleaning and hauling food/gear to facilitating fun, sharing stories and caring for everyone’s safety. Not too bad being a guest with Sierra Mac!

The first thing you’ll come to understand on this trip is that safety is the first priority. A comprehensive pre-trip safety course is administered before anyone is allowed to step onto a raft. Don’t worry though, it’s waaaaaaay more fascinating than your run-of-the-mill pre-flight airline safety schpiel and your adrenaline will start pumping a little bit as you come to the realization that things can and do go wrong on the river. For example, they explain what a “strainer” is and why you want to avoid getting caught in one. Also, the biggest and not-so-obvious threat to people on the river is people themselves who are on the raft with “T-bar” paddles that have been known to knock out teeth, crack skulls, and cause huge welts and bruising all over the body – so be a good student right off the bat and follow the guides advice to ensure a safe and good time for all. OK, now more info about the fun stuff!

With a renewed sense of respect for the river and mother nature we get into the raft and practice our paddling strokes and listen to commands in a nice calm pool of water. It’s cold-to-really-cold water but that balances out nicely with hot temperatures and the mid-summer sun overhead. On that note, stay hydrated my friends! Once everyone is dialed in and in synch with the guide we begin down the river. The first few hundred feet of travel across the water gives a feeling like when you’re riding a motorcyle for the first time and getting used to the feeling of steering, propulsion and timing (mostly to avoid obstacles)…it’s a cool, anxious feeling that let’s you know you’re alive. First thoughts include “this trip was worth it”…and it’s only just begun.

The best way for everyone to enjoy the day is to abide the guide. They will let you know when it’s ok to talk, and when to be quiet in order to listen and respond to commands. In short, this is a working trip and when you’ve got a call to action it’s for a reason so just abide the guide and all will be right as rain. The guides do a great job of telling you what’s coming up next, what to expect, how we’ll navigate it and perhaps a funny story about the pending rapids to make it that much more interesting of an experience…worste-case-scenario stories however are usually reserved for after they’ve been successfully passed (i.e. getting stuck, wrapped around a rock, or flipping).

One of the commands the guides use is “All In!” which means you must leave your seated position ASAP for a low and stable position near the center of the raft. You’ll typically only hear this command once or twice during a trip such as down Clavey Falls on the morning of day 2. I want to advise you to keep your head up and enjoy the view during the All In command because it’s a great thrill. I have to stress this because the first two years we did this trip I completely ducked into the raft with my head down and missed the action and beautiful scenery. What the hell was I thinking?!? On the third year, last year, I kep my head up and it was spectacular! A wise person learns from the mistakes of others….just saying.

Going over Clavey Falls

Another mistake I made was wearing a baseball cap under my helmet that had what our guide called a “pain button”. It was indeed a pain button because that little knobbie on the top of my hat drove into my head and caused some serious smarting on my dome. The macho guide helped me out by taking my hat and biting off the pain button with his teeth! He handed it back saying, “it doesn’t do anything for the hat anyways”. I can only imagine how resourceful these guides are as they seem to have a river-fix for everything…and they love what they do. By the way, don’t try biting off your pain buttons at home, it’s freaking hard to do and not worth the dental bill should your teeth not be made of granite.

If you’ve wondered or been worried about potty breaks while on the river, let me break it down for you. For number 2, you pretty much need to wait until we get to camp so don’t down a pot of coffee and six bran muffins before getting to the meeting place. I’m sure if it’s an emergency however the guide will have a river-fix for that too. If you’ve ever wanted to pee your pants in front of other people you are going to love this trip because that is encouraged…hopefully your in the river while relieving yourself…but hey, sometimes you’ve just got to go! The guides set up facilities at camp where you can do your business, and the view is spectacular. Just remember to take the paddle with you to denote occupancy, unless you want some company to share that view with.

Day one’s activities of rafting (and sometimes surfing) rapids, swimming and jumping off rocks into pools of water below is broken up with a nice guide-preppared lunch next to the river (where else are you gonna go?) and ends at a camping spot where you set up your gear. Time to put on your exploring gear (or you can just go barefoot with a swimsuit on – but the rocks can get mighty hot so it’s best to wear footgear that can get wet) to hike up the Clavey river for swim holes, natural slides, body surfing and water falls to enjoy. This water comes from an undammed source and is warmer than the T. Just beware of snakes. You’re almost guaranteed to see them but just hold true to the golden rule, don’t bother them and they won’t bother you!

Last year we brought a mask in order to look under water in some of the larger swim holes. Not only do you get a clear view of fish and the terrain underneath, you might even see some “river booty” like a swiss army knife or jewelry of some kind. Whatever you decide to do exploring-wise, be sure to go with a partner for safety.

By the time you’ve had enough sun and your fingertips are getting wrinkly it’s time to roll back into camp where you’ll be welcomed with an awesome happy hour that includes several appetizers and libations – and nobody has to be a designated driver! Plop down on a chair (provided and also waiting for you in a circle format to entice conversation) next to the river and enjoy the serenity, the views and the great company amongst you…these are truly good times. Take your time and sink into the peacefullness while the guides clean up and prepare a fabulous dinner. Of course they’d appreciate the little things like putting cans in the recycling bin, trash in the bag and dishes next to the sink. Do unto others!

The nights are spectacular. It’s wonderfully tranquil next to the water and under the stars. You can even see satellites racing across the night sky. We’ve had some great nighttime adventures with other rafters and/or guides on several occassions. These are the sorts of things not stated on the website or in the brochure but they just happen as a byproduct of the environment and the people you’re with. It’s an unscripted party of sorts where sponteneity, curiosity and adventure reign supreme…respectfully, of course. If only the canyon walls could talk. N’uff said.

Day 2 begins with some nice leisure time in the morning to enjoy breakfast while the river “wakes up” and rises to raftable levels again. You can skip rocks, explore more terrain or go back to your favorite spot, swim, read, fish, sleep, hang out or do yoga. My favorite thing is to simply drink a hot cup of coffee while gazing into the water. It’s amazing how calming it can be to stare at the flowing water or following a fish as it swims around and jumps for food above the surface every now and then. What will you get lost in?…

Cruising down the T

The adventure continues with more of the same activities experienced on day 1 but now you’ve got a feel for the river and overall enjoyment steps up another notch. Some things like new rock jumps, surfing the rapids and jumping out to enjoy “whirlpools” in the river or even floating down one of the calmer rapids on your own outside the raft (with feet up and in front of you to protect from rocks) keeps the experience fresh and exciting – if you opt for it, which we do.

Rock Jumping into Tuolumne River

You are now a savvy paddler and stresses of the real world have well-melted off so basking in the day feels natural and looking at your watch is the last thing on your mind. Permagrin has overcome you and your cheeks just might be the sorest muscles in your body in the coming days. Playing in the river for a couple of days is like time-traveling back to when things were simpler. It’s nice to appreciate this feeling while being catered to by Sierra Mac and enjoying the luxury of their service. Truly a nice way to spoil oneself!

At the end of day 2 we let out under a bridge and the rafts are lifted out of the water by crane. It’s a cool thing to witness…especially with a cold drink in hand. A truck takes you back to the meeting place where you can say goodbye’s, exchange info with new friends, tip the guides and view/buy photos that were taken by kayaking photographers on the river. You’re pretty exhausted at the end of the trip and the best thing to do is take a shower, eat a big meal and reflect on the trip until you pass out and have some of the best sleep of your life. When you wake up you start thinking about planning the same trip again next year with the outfit that pre-qualified themselves during the trip – Sierra Mac. I’ll probably wear the same shirt as last year but in a different color, just to be extravagent.