We are not yet able to fully predict how the rafting industry will be affected in 2009. It would appear that the more high end, costly vacations may be curtailed as the airlines industry is mostly reporting a decrease in the frequency of travel. We think that the US consumer will continue to hold on to their dollars until the economy recovers. However, according to Raft American, studies have shown that vacations are often one of the last items people cut in their personal budgets.

Mariah Wilderness Expeditions, (http://mariahwe.com) one of California’s largest whitewater rafting companies, finished their 2008 rafting season with a remarkable 13% increase in business, particularly on the South Fork and Middle Fork of the American River. Why? It is possible that the reasonable price of a typical two day river trip, the safety of the activity, and the draw of the great outdoors has begun to be attractive to the folks who still want to vacation, yet do not want to adversely affect their budget. As of today, our 2009 reservations for summer rafting trips are up by about 15% over the same time in 2008. The reservations are from corporations wanting to be certain that they obtain their favorite trip date, also from schools, colleges, youth groups such as boy and girl scouts. We have a wedding party coming, a group from Europe and several families. It seems there are no shortage of whitewater rafting fans!

It is still too early to predict what the snow level will finally be, and the amount of precipitation California will receive. Currently both snow and precipitation are below historic average. However, the dam controlled rivers in California are in a fortunate position. Due to contracts negotiated over the last several years, the supply of water on the South Fork American River will have predicted releases. (http://www.theamericanriver.com/news/sf)

“Family river rafting makes great memories!” Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Media Services, makes an excellent case for taking the family rafting. (http://cnn.com.2008/travel/getaways/11/03/river.rafting/index.html) Eileen describes a week ling rafting trip in Utah. A trip of this length may not be for you and your family; you may prefer a one or two day trip in California. (http://mariahwe.com)

Hopefully 2009 should be a great year for rafting!

In the Mariah Wilderness Expeditions’ office, in Coloma, CA, the phones are already ringing! Our loyal guests are already reserving their favorite weekends and favorite rivers.

We specialize in safe, exciting, and fun California whitewater rafting trips. Corporate groups, youth groups, and families really enjoy the good ole’ South Fork American River, which is runnable May through September. For a lot more excitement and an enjoyable wilderness camping experience try the Middle Fork of the American River, runnable from Memorial Weekend through mid-September. The North Fork of the American River is for the experts, and is unable as soon as the snow starts to melt!

Although the Mariah guides are scattered far and wide this winter,  because of the internet we are all keeping in touch with each other and sharing our adventures. When we see you this coming river season you will be able to hear wonderful stories of their adventures.  In our upcoming blogs we will give you some glimpses of what our adventurous staff are up to this winter. 

For now, we are happy that it is snowing!!  Snow and river rafting go hand-in-hand, so the phone has been ringing as some of you are already reserving trips on your favorite river. It looks like our 2009 guide school will also be lots of fun!

So we will now say “talk to you soon”.

Certain difficulties they were prepared for; the funding, the red tape, the time and patience.  But there was one obstacle neither had anticipated.  It was an obstacle most people encounter at some point in their lives, be they new parents, novelists, or scientists on the brink of discovery.  The obstacle was, of course, the name. 

What in the world were they going to call it?

 Hunter and Tennyson wracked their brains and attempted to approach the problem logically, by asking themselves questions.  What kind of company were they creating?  Both agreed that water sports, especially whitewater rafting, would be a major component of the enterprise.  But neither wanted to limit it to a single type of adventure.  If the company name only boasted of whitewater rafting how could they lead back-country skiing trips?  Or moonlight hikes? Or an epic sea-kayaking expedition in Baja?  They concluded that the name could not be sport-specific, it had be open and broad enough to reflect Hunter and Tennyson’s own range of interests.

And what of their unique position – creating the only company of its sort owned by women?  This was a warranted point of pride, as both were committed to sharing their love of the outdoors with other women, those who were already experienced adventurers and those just beginning to feel at ease in the wild. 

Couldn’t they find a name that expressed all of the above?  Easier said than done.

Just like many parents do, when faced with selecting a name that they would use everyday for the rest of their years, Hunter and Tennyson hit the books.  They went to the library, combed through the family trees, made lists of their favorite figures from myths and heroines from childhood tales.  But they always came up short; this one was too obscure, that one too frilly, and that one, well, no one could ever figure out how to pronounce that one.

Indeed it seemed the budding adventure company was doomed to go nameless . . . until one night around 3am.  Hunter was fast asleep, enjoying a reprieve from the day’s labor, when the phone rang.  She picked up the receiver and heard, “I’ve got a song stuck in my head!” The disoriented Hunter muttered something about that being a poor excuse for a late night disturbance.  But Tennyson persisted, “It’s a song from that musical by Lerner and Loewe, Paint Your Wagon.  Remember that one?”  “What in the world are you on about?” replied Hunter.  “The lyric goes like this, ‘They call the wind Mariah’. It’s perfect!”

And so it was.  This year Mariah Wilderness Expeditions celebrates her 25th year of excellence in outdoors adventures; from California to Costa Rica, from whitewater rafting to hikes in the jungle, from individual and family trips to women’s-only weekends; Mariah has remained true to, and surpassed, the purpose and inspiration of her founders.  Many happy returns to you, Mariah!  We’ll see you out there.

     “Way out there they have a name

      for wind and rain and weather

      the rain is Tess, and the fire is Joe,

      but they call the wind Mariah,

      Mariah, they call the wind Mariah . . . “

Every year Mariah Wilderness Expeditions celebrates the month of June with a Women’s-Only rafting extravaganza.  For three days our camp will be home to 140 ladies! That’s 120 guests and 20 professional female river guides.  What adventures await these gutsy gals? Let’s take a glance at their itinerary and see:

     Friday, June 1

• Arrive in Coloma/Lotus
• Attend specially prepared banquet at local restaurant the Sierra Nevada House
• Sleep under the stars at Mariah’s Luxury Camp

     Saturday, June 2

• Wake up to the sound of the American River
• Enjoy a hot breakfast, prepared by the guides
• Go Whitewater Rafting down the South Fork of the American river, complete with a picnic lunch and paddling through Class III rapids!
• Discuss the day’s excitement over a Wine-Tasting Dinner
• Dance the night away to music provided by a female DJ

     Sunday, June 3

• Replenish energy with a Sunday breakfast.
• Raft the upper section of the South Fork, braving technical rapids with delightful, ominous names such as Meatgrinder, Troublemaker, and Old Scary.
• Arrive at camp for a barbeque lunch.
• Bid farewell to new friends and savor the scenery while departing Mariah Wilderness Expeditions.

What a way to welcome the summer!  Note to the lucky ladies – don’t forget your river shoes! Our toes are already tapping in ours.

                           Happy Summer to All! See you on the river!

                                                                        Mariah

There are a number of swiftwater rescue courses being held in Coloma during the upcoming months.  Check out www.rescue3.com for details on becoming a certified Whitewater Rescue Technician, Swiftwater Rescue Technician, or Swiftwater First Responder.

For CPR certification go to www.sacsierraredcross.org. The Sacramento chapter is the closest American Red Cross education center to Coloma, and they offer regularly scheduled courses. 

The more education you have, the safer you’ll be on the water.  The beginning of the season is the best time to get certified or re-certified.  That being said, it’s a gorgeous spring day, the poppies and lupine are blooming, the sky is blue, and the river is running! Let’s get out there!  

                                                              Forward!

                                                                              Mariah   

        Welcome to Mariah Wilderness Expeditions’ new blog, fresh off the water, smelling of sunscreen, and grinning ear to ear.  Here at Mariah we’ve created this forum to keep you in touch with the river even when you’re away.  When you’re not out with us; digging your paddle into a colossal wave of whitewater, lounging on the riverbank, or tightening the straps of your PFD; we’ll be here keeping you up to date on the current and the community.  Look forward to posts packed with whitewater rafting resources, events, local history, and maybe a tall-tale or two.  Spring is here, our boats are out, and Summer is on the horizon - it’s the perfect start to a wonderful season!

              See you on the river,

                                                  Mariah Wilderness Expeditions