Trip Details - Merced River

ARTA provides the following:

You are responsible for:

Where to Stay:

Motels in the El Portal area include Cedar Lodge 209-379-2612, Yosemite View Lodge 209-379-2681, and the Red Bud Lodge, 209-379-2301. Camping is available along the river at "first-come, first-served" Forest Service and BLM campgrounds, (check Briceburg Visitor Center for map), and at Indian Flat RV Campground 209-379-2339. Camping inside Yosemite National Park can be reserved in advance 209-372-0200 or through www.recreation.gov. In the town of Midpines there is Yosemite Bug Lodge 209-966-6666.

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How to Get There:

Most trip members drive to El Portal. Driving time from San Francisco is about 3½ hours, via 120 through the Park or via 140 through Merced. From Los Angeles it is about 5½ hours via 99 and 140.

Trip members who wish to fly, may fly into Modesto or Fresno on United Express and then rent a car for the drive to El Portal (1½ hours).

Personal Equipment List

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE: Polypropylene pile or fleece pullover or jacket (Polartec, Polarfleece, etc. NOT COTTON!.) (required) Sandals (Chaco, Teva, Keen) with heel strap or tennis shoes & fleece socks. NO FLIP FLOPS OR SLIP-ONS. Swimsuit or shorts (nylon quick-drying are best, for under wetsuit) Second pair of shorts for over wetsuit. Hat for under helmet (baseball style is best) Sunglasses with strap, (maybe not your best) Small water bottle, 1 quart, (essential - even if its just an empty plastic Gatorade bottle) OPTIONAL: Long-sleeved cotton or dry-tech style synthetic top for sun protection Waterproof sunscreen/block (SPF 15), lip balm Waterproof camera Fleece or wool cap, gloves and socks (for cold days)

During the spring months, when we offer most of our one-day trips, the Merced is full with snowmelt and is quite cold. Each trip member should have a heavyweight, synthetic fleece or polypropylene pile top, (NOT COTTON). Fleece tops (commonly called “polartec”) can be found at outdoor, department, surplus and even thrift stores.

If needed, ARTA will provide wetsuits and waterproof splash jackets for each guest, (you will still need to bring your own fleece insulation layer). A non-bulky swimsuit or pair of shorts should be worn underneath; another pair of shorts on the outside will add a little friction between you and the raft and help keep you on board. Our wetsuits are 3mm “farmer-john” style (like overalls) and are designed for paddling; you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

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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 Midpines and take a van 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 strongly recommend that you purchase short-term travel insurance prior to your trip. Contact USI Travel Insurance (www.travelinsure.com or 800-937-1387) for more information.

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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