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During the spring months, when we offer our one-day trips, the Merced is full with snowmelt and is quite cold. Therefore, we require that all trip members have wetsuits, waterproof rainshells and fleece jackets. 3mm or 1/8 inch Farmer-John wetsuits work best - they cover your legs and torso but leave your arms and shoulders free to move. For your upper body, a polypropylene pile or fleece sweater, NOT COTTON, under a waterproof rainshell will also help to keep you warm and comfortable.
Rental Equipment:
ARTA has 3mm Farmer-John wetsuits with Kokatat waterproof paddling jackets available for rent. The cost is $10.00 per day. Our supply is limited and we cannot always accommodate late requests. Please reserve well in advance using your Guest Information Sheet.
Additional Information:
About the River:
The Merced River originates on the slopes of some of the highest peaks in Yosemite National Park and flows free and undammed until it reaches Lake McClure on the edge of the San Joaquin Valley. Our encounter with the river begins about 10 miles outside of the Park and continues for 14 miles through the Sierra foothills. Since the river is only runnable during the Spring runoff period, the canyon hillsides are green and often covered with wildflowers, making a lovely back-drop for our trips.
The Merced is a powerful river. Dropping at nearly 30 feet per mile with wide fluctuations in its flow, it presents a difficult array of exciting and challenging rapids. While the Tuolumne is known for its rocky, technical drops, the Merced is famous for large, roller-coaster waves and big crashing swells, perfect for veterans of the American and adventurous newcomers.
Itinerary:
The Merced is an uncontrolled and unpredictable river, so our itinerary varies to take advantage of the best whitewater on any given day. We will meet in the El Portal area, then take a short van or bus ride to the actual launching point. When the water is very high, we will all practice swimming at the launch site. We will get an early start on the river, and will raft between 12 and 15 miles, running numerous rapids including the famous "Ned's Gulch". During the day we will have time to enjoy a wonderful picnic lunch along the river and savor the historical sites, scenery, and spring wildflowers along the Merced. We will return to the meeting place around 5:00 PM.
Types of boats:
Paddle rafts are our primary means of transport on the Merced River. These small, dynamic rafts carry four to six paddlers plus a guide. The paddle team actively propels the raft down the river and through the rapids using canoe-type paddles and following the commands given by the guide. At very high water levels, we use oar/paddle combination rafts, in which the boat is steered by a guide using oars, and a paddle team assists with paddles from the front of the raft, making for a highly maneuverable and powerful craft.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend that you purchase short-term travel insurance that provides trip cancellation and medical coverage for you and your family. Please request a Travel Insurance packet from ARTA if you have not already received one.
Gratuities:
We want you to feel like a guest in our home and tipping is never expected. It is certainly appreciated, however, and is accepted as recognition of an outstanding trip or exemplary service. Normal tips range from 5% to 10% of the trip cost and are usually given to the Lead Guide who splits them equally among the entire crew.
Whether and how much you tip should depend on your satisfaction with the guide service, your financial means, and your feelings about tipping in general.
More Information
If there are any questions we haven't answered, please feel free to contact us. Our office staff enjoys telling folks about our trips, so don't hesitate to call 800-323-2782.
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