Columnist Paula Del Guidice: White water trips fun for entire family

Friday, May 31, 2002 | 9:32 a.m.

Paula Del Giudice's outdoors column appears Thursday. She can be reached at desertdenizens@aol.com.

As it becomes clear that summer temperatures are here and school draws to a close, you may be looking for some interesting summer family adventures.

When it's so hot and dry in Las Vegas, a water-based activity is the perfect ticket. White water rafting is a lot of fun and can be tailored to meet the needs, adventure and skill level of the participants.

While the most famous white water runs have years worth of waiting lists, some white water rivers in neighboring California give you the flavor of white water rafting-and you don't have to wait until you're 80 to get on them.

Most of the best rivers for white water rafting are in Northern California. One of the most popular ones for those in the beginner/intermediate/slightly advanced level is the South Fork of the American River. I've rafted this section of the river on two occasions and found it awesome.

The South Fork is 40 miles east of Sacramento and wends through the Sierra foothills. There is some local history to be learned along the way because this is where James Marshall discovered gold in 1848.

The scenery is classic with rocky gorges, beautiful calm stretches where you can catch your breath and rapids with names such as "Troublemaker," "Fowler's Rock," and my favorite -- the one that almost dumped our whole raft -- "Satan's Cesspool."

At All-Outdoors Whitewater Rafting, you can tailor your trip to suit your time and your interests. They have everything available from day trips to two-day wilderness floats. There are nearly 15 rivers from which to choose.

If you are an experienced rafter and want a more challenging trip, try the Upper Tuolumne River/Cherry Creek just outside of Yosemite National Park. On this trip, reserved for those at least 18, you'll find Class III-V+ rapids.

The river drops 110 feet in a mile, with the steepest "miracle mile" dropping more than 200 feet in elevation. This trip is more of an experience than a simple run down the river.

River guides help participants learn about the river, hydrotopography, swimming skills and how to work as a team in a challenging situation.

The closest river trip to Southern Nevada that All-Outdoors offers is the Kaweah River near Sequoia National Park. The Kaweah River trip offers nine miles of Class IV rapids that is recommended for those who have had some previous white water experience.

There isn't time to learn about how to paddle since the trip is challenging right from the beginning. This trip is best planned for April and May when flows are still up and the recommended minimum age is 15 years.

To learn more about what All-Outdoors offers, check out the the company's website at www.aorafting.com. You'll learn everything you need to book a trip.

While you're in Northern California, you can explore the local history, poke around some of the small mountain towns that remain, camp under the starry skies, hike the gorgeous mountains, marvel over the incredible rock formations at Yosemite or fish for salmon.

It's a great get away for all members of your family.