River Touring Section Rivers are for boating!

Do you enjoy peace and solitude? Do you enjoy watching birds and other animals frolicking in the out-of-doors? Do you love beautiful trees and out-of-the-way places?

Or would you love the adrenaline rush from arriving at the top of a new rapid? Would you love the thrill of bouncing through big waves or navigating down a technical rapid? Would you enjoy competing with others in a race environment?

If you say "yes" to any of these questions, then try river running with the River Touring Section of the Sierra Club Bay Chapter. Join us paddling in a kayak, a canoe for one or two, or a multi-person raft.

Here in northern California we are fortunate to have many varied rivers within a few hours drive. Each season brings unique river opportunities.

In the winter and early spring, we enjoy the beauty and solitude of the North Coast rivers. For mild rivers where you can mostly sit back and watch the birds at play, try the Garcia, Gualala, Big, Mad, and Albion Rivers. Beautiful canoe-camping rivers include the Navarro and some stretches on the Eel and Trinity. If you want some excitement mixed with your relaxation, then the choices are nearly unlimited. Favorites include Rancheria Creek near Boonville, the Van Duzen, and the Russian. For really fun whitewater in winter and early spring, try the South Fork of the Smith. Extremely skilled kayakers can do the North and South Fork gorges as well, but most paddlers take out just above them. Close to home, in March and April of some years we are blessed with enough water to kayak Alameda Creek through Niles Canyon, where we enjoy watching many birds, including egrets and herons, and rarely notice the highway just above.

In spring and summer, the Sierra snowmelt provides water for the Feather, Yuba, American, Cosumnes, Mokelumne, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, Kings, Kaweah, and Kern. Each of these rivers provides for all levels of boating - from flat water to waterfalls. Some stretches run year-round, such as the Parks Bar run on the Yuba and the American River near Sacramento. Another favorite, just 2-1/2 hours from the Bay Area, is Cache Creek, which runs out of Clear Lake. During very rainy years, there are releases from the dam during the winter. Otherwise, normal flows begin in early May, when farmers call for irrigation water. In early May our section puts on a Downriver and Slalom Race for canoes, kayaks, and other forms of floating, such as inflatable rafts.

Don't tell anyone, but sometimes we sneak out onto lakes and estuaries for a little exploring and wildlife watching!

So, if I have `wetted' your appetite to try a river, join the River Touring Section, and get our Paddlers News Bulletin. The monthly PNB includes stories about people and river running, lists of classes on topics such as canoeing and first aid and CPR, and a calendar of canoe and kayak trips. To sign up or to get more information, see our web site or contact Bruce and Sharon Schumacher at BSSchu -at- aol.com or call (925) 447-3110.

Bruce and Sharon Schumacher, River Touring Section