Guest Letters & Trip Feedback

Feedback from a husband and wife from Alameda who joined us on a 1-Day Merced River rafting trip…

Hello Lenka,

My husband & I absolutely loved the rafting trip on the Merced river and we cannot wait for our next trip on Tuolumne river. On the Merced river trip last Sunday, the weather was warm yet not hot or too breezy. The trip was well organized and the guides were knowledgeable and friendly. The selection of lunch food was suprisingly good: high quality meats, whole grain bread, vegetables, fruits.

We are raving about our experience to friends and family.
- Yuliya

This group was referred to us from another rafting company. Sounds like they were very pleased.

Roxanne,

I was very impressed with your company. Adam and Kevin were very professional and very accomodating. Adam has an excellent knowledge of the Ts rapids and was very skilled at guiding our raft. The food was very good and in plentiful supply. I would absolutely use your company again and I am grateful that WWV sent me your way. My brother and I are already planning a Cherry Creek trip. Thank you so much for your kindness. This was an excellent trip.

Sincerely,
Kris S

Heres a great piece of guest feedback from the Merced River.. kudos to veteran guide Joe Marshall.

Hi Lenka,

Our group rafting trip was very exciting. We had a really nice time, couldn’t have asked for better circumstances. The weather was a perfect 75 degrees with little to no cloud cover. Both guides were fantastic. We got along with the other boat as well. The lunch was really good. It definitely hit the spot mid day.

Our guide Joe was great. He is very knowledgable of the river and orchestrated the greatest ride my group has experienced to date. It’s been two days and we can’t stop talking about the ride down split rock and the adrenalin we fealt. Joe was able to guide us to position the raft within centimeters of large rocks, thus maximizing the thrill and wave factors. My group liked him so much that we would like to request him as our guide for our next trip. Nobody fell in, but that just meant he instructed us well enough to keep us on our feet and off our backs.

To give you a heads up, I will be getting back to you AO in January about a two day trip on the Tuolumne for June 09 and would like to request Joe Marshall as our guide for that trip.

Stephen Q.
Fresno, CA

Recent feedback from the North Fork Stanislaus (Class IV+) near Calaveras Big Tree State Park.

Hi Lenka!

Thanks for checking in! We had a blast. Some feedback as requested:

1) Weather was just right
2) River seemed just right too, bummer that a log stopped us from
experiencing the first rapid “Beginner’s Luck” and we had to walk
around it
3) Lunch was delicious as always
4) My sister fell in but was rescued in three seconds flat so that was fine

Overall we felt ready for the next challenge! We’re thinking about
Cherry Creek if not the Tuolome next (depending on who we can get
interested and comfort levels). Cherry only requires four rafters
right? Do you ever split a group of 6 as 3 and 3 for that trip? We
know that there’s a swim test. Is my next one or the following the
free one?

Jason
Milpitas, CA

This little piece of feedback comes from opening day on the Kaweah River. From a gal named DJ spoiling herself for her 50th with a little birthday party on the river.

Yes the trip was wonderful. I tried my very best to look for something to complain about and found absolutely nothing.lol! The guides were great, considerate, funny and they even served our lunches. I phoned a few outfitters and I must tell you that your personal touch on the phone ie; call backs and understanding of my situation, made your company outstanding. Your guides too!

Thanks Again,

dj

Feedback from a Boy Scout rafting trip on the South Fork American River on April 27, 2008.

The trip was a great adventure. To be honest with you it was great for Scouting and they did have a blast but there was more to it. Two Scouts pulled out after I paid. That left 2 openings.My Wife and daughter got to go and that meant my whole family was there.

My Wife and I discovered how great this trip was for us and we are looking at booking a trip next year on the Middle Fork for a two day trip. We had an absolute blast and realized we found another thing in common that we LOVE to do together. We have been together 25 years and are high school sweethearts and Rafting has brought to us another great moment in our marriage. I want to thank you for this even though you didn’t know this was going to happen.

Arron was our guide and he did an excellent job. Our boat had the younger kids in it, so he was being extra careful with us. I was on point and I was pushing it more than he liked because of the kids. I was the biggest on the boat. We did fine, he was just concerned when the splashing got to close and was concerned that somebody my get hit by an oar. Which he should since he is responsible for the rafts safety. I knew this and understood but sometimes you get caught up in the moment. Laura was the other guide and she was excellent. She let the other boat get a little wilder because it had the older scouters and adults on it. They were very happy in that boat also. The food that Arron and Laura made was excellent and the Boys scarfed it up. I could not believe how they attacked the food.

This was my first Rafting Trip and on a scale on a 1 to 10 I would give it a 9. Reason being My Wife and I wanted more adventure. That is why I tell you that we are going to book a trip next year on the Middle Fork. We want to go on the 2 day event. We would like Arron and Laura as our Guides again and yes you may get a hold of me next and get it booked. I don’t know if it will be Scouts or Adults. I have Adults and Adult Couples wanting to do this trip next year.

Thanks again to you and Laura and Arron.

Tony L. Hartland
Troop 152

Feedback is from a 1-Day South Fork American rafting trip on the Upper “Chili Bar” section on 4/14/2008.

Hi Deborah,

We had a great day out thank you.

The guides were informative, entertaining, polite and enthusiastic.
They
prepared us an excellent picnic in a beautiful spot by the river.

The rafting was good although next time I think we shall pick a run
with
some class1V+ rapids to liven things up a bit!

If we find ourselves your way again we shall most certainly be
contacting you for more adventure.

Thanks and best regards,

Bill C,
Norfolk, UK

Feedback sent in from a family vacationing in California from Texas

We had a blast. The river was perfect and food great. We were a little nervous about bringing our daughter (12) on an intermediate trip but she had a blast. Joe did a great job. He really made the trip, informative and fun.

We have already told several of our friends in Texas about A.O and told them they should ask for Joe but really all the guides were great and we would ride with any of them.

We just got back in Grapevine today but I have already heard the kids telling friends that the rafting experience was their favorite part in a week that included…S.F, Alcatraz, Cable Cars, Muir Woods, Wine Country (more for mom and dad) and Yosemite.

Thanks again and if we ever get back to the SF area we will be looking you guys up.
(BTW: My son loved the t-shirt reminds him of Led Zeplin)

Have a great summer,

Rocky G.
Grapevine, TX

Feedback was sent to our Walnut Creek office by Christine C. of Danville, CA. Christine joined us on one of our South Fork American River trips.

Dear David and AO Staff,

Wow! What an incredible trip we had! We can’t stop talking about and grinning over our experience. We’re trying to see if we can squeeze in another trip this summer!

When planning the trip, Cameron at AO was great. He helped me plan a trip that would please both my timid 14 year-old daughter and outgoing 12 year-old son. We decided on the lower portion of the South Fork, and it worked out great. It allowed my daughter to ease into the rapids, and my son to gain an appreciation for the power of the river. We had a great time, and all of us are ready to step up to a class IV.

The guides were fantastic! Our guide Tasha was fun and knowledgeable. She catered to my son by keeping him on the “wet” side through many of the rapids. She was patient with our often awkward paddling, and complimentary when we managed to get it right!

We enjoyed lunch. Some of the ‘gourmet’ sandwich fixings (salami, avacado, peppers) helped make it a little extra yummy! The only complaint I heard from my kids was that the lemonade was watery, though from a mom’s perspective that was probably better for hydration!

While on the river, I felt we were with a professional and high- quality operation. I will definitely plan another trip with AO, and have already recommended you to friends! I would love to receive information on your class IV trips.

A million thank you’s for a wonderful trip.

Christine C.
Danville, CA

Feedback was sent to Taylor in our Walnut Creek office from Brian G. in Roseville, CA. Brian joined us on one of our South Fork American 1-Day trips.

Hi Taylor,

Our trip was great! Everyone in my group loved it. Our guide (Tasha) was absolutely fantastic and we really enjoyed being in her raft. I thought the food was good and the brownie for my wife’s birthday was very much appreciated. Overall, there’s nothing I can think of to improve upon. We’ll definitely be back next year.

Thanks!

Regards,
Brian G.