We’ve partnered with some of our favorite brands in the Bay Area to give away a full-on weekend adventure package in the heart of California’s Sierra Nevada.  All you have to do is grab your friends and enter to win…

The Great American Weekend

What exactly is the Great American Weekend?  How about this?

O.A.R.S. will put you (and three friends!) on a two-day rafting trip on the South Fork of the American River, Zipcar will hook you up with the wheels (and the gas), and 21st Amendment Brewery will provide the beer.  But wait, need some outdoorsy threads?  We’ll even throw in some flannel shirts to keep the whole crew looking good.

Rafting. Beer. Free gas. And flannels.  Yup, sounds like a perfect weekend to us.

Head over to our Facebook Page for details on how you and your friends can enter to win the Great American Weekend:  bit.ly/GreatAmericanWeekend

Related Articles:

California: A State of Whitewater

Scenic California By Car: The Tahoe-Yosemite Loop

The Ultimate Girls Getaway

The post Grab Your Friends for the Ultimate Weekend Adventure appeared first on River Currents.

Ok, so most of the time we advocate turning the television off and heading outside.  But when Outside Magazine comes alive on our TV’s, and we have the chance to experience an adventure we wouldn’t otherwise be able to, we’re willing to look the other way.  Heck, we’re even willing to plop down on the couch with you and tune in…to Outside Television, that is.

On the air since 2010, Outside Television is a TV station that’s worth grabbing the remote for.  It’s the only national programming network dedicated to us—the folks who love being active, outdoors and are always looking for a new adventure.  The station features a gamut of shows and special series focused on all things wind, water, snow and terrain.  And lucky for us, it’s becoming a pretty common offering from cable, satellite and broadband providers.

But we have an ulterior motive here.  And that’s to tell you about Outside Television’s original series (and one of our favorites), “Dispatches.”  Straight from one of the most popular sections of Outside Magazine, “Dispatches” takes viewers around the world as it highlights initiatives, people and companies who make a big difference. 

Check out a sneak peek at the newest season of “Dispatches” and tune in Wednesday evenings.  Find out where Outside Television airs in your area.

Oh, and one more thing.  We’ve got a shameless O.A.R.S. plug.  Don’t miss Dispatches from the Grand Canyon featuring O.A.R.S. which premieres on Outside Television on December 19 at 10 pm.  (We told you “Dispatches” was our favorite.)

Related Articles:

VIDEO: There’s No Place Like High Water

The Heart of the Grand Canyon

VIDEO:  How Will You Spend Your Greatest Moments?

The post Permission to Grab the Remote appeared first on River Currents.

The not-for-profit conservation organization American Rivers has just announced its 2012 list of the country’s most endangered rivers. Unfortunately, the historic and spectacular Green River, which flows through parts of Wyoming, Utah and Colorado, made the list.

What’s the threat?

There is a proposal under consideration to divert 250,000 acre-feet of water from the Green River across the state of Wyoming to fuel ever-expanding growth in Colorado’s Front Range communities. The plan, in effect, would be to build a 500-mile pipeline to funnel water to Denver and its suburbs.

And as if that weren’t enough of a threat, there’s also talk of a nuclear power plant being built near the town of Green River, which would suck up an estimated 53,000 acre-feet of Green River water each year to prevent a catastrophic meltdown.

Naturally, we’re biased in our opinion that the water should stay in the river. There’s no doubt we have a vested interest! After all, we’ve been guiding whitewater rafting trips on rivers of the American West for over 40 years and, along with our subsidiary Don Hatch River Expeditions, we’re the largest commercial outfitter on the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument. And at over 700 miles in length, the Green is the largest tributary of the Colorado River, which is the cornerstone of our organization. But these threats, of course, have more far reaching consequences than just our business interests.

Water shortages caused by these proposals could have a devastating effect on the robust recreation and tourism economies of the Colorado Plateau, as well as a potentially enormous negative impact on rural agriculture, native species and downstream water needs.

According to Trout Unlimited, which also opposes the pipeline project, the Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Green River above it contribute $118 million annually to the local economy. (That’s in addition to the estimated $4.3 million Green River whitewater rafting contributes to the economy.)

Why Is This River So Important To Paddlers?

The 4-day river trip that O.A.R.S. operates on the Green through the Gates of Lodore in Dinosaur National Monument is one of the world’s great introductory river trips.

The camping is on sandy beaches among scattered boulders, rustling willows, junipers and giant cottonwoods. Clear creeks–perfect for swimming–tumble out of shady side canyons and the wildlife abounds.

The whitewater is moderate and fun, even for kids as young as seven. The side hikes are rich with history, ancient and not-so-ancient.

The geology is some of the most fascinating on the planet. A billion years are captured in these canyon walls, along with the remnants of various life forms that existed long before humans.

The scenery features vertical yellow and red sandstone walls that tower as high as 1000 feet and tiger-striped walls alternate in blonde rock and black manganese oxide. It’s not uncommon to hear from people that they consider the Green River through Lodore Canyon to be every bit as spectacular as the Grand Canyon.

And on the final day of a Green River trip in Dinosaur National Monument, Split Mountain Canyon awaits. The Class III rapids are so much fun, we run that part as a single-day trip as well. And, if you ask me, it’s the most scenically spectacular one-day river trip in North America.

What Will Happen To The River?

The very water in the river is what’s at stake here.

A pump and a 500-mile pipeline threatens to divert water from the river to slake the thirst of an ever-growing population.

And when the water is drained from the Green, a classic American river could be forever altered. Critical fish habitat, home to endangered species and countless others, will be jeopardized. A sustainable economy built on recreation and tourism in this magnificent place could take a big hit. Rural agriculture and urban water use downstream could be severely impacted. One of the best rivers for first-timers–one we love to share with people again and again–could dry up.

What Can You Do?

O.A.R.S. has joined with American Rivers in opposition of the proposed pipeline.

We recognize the importance of preserving the Green River’s recreational opportunities and natural ecosystems and think you should too.

If you want to pitch in, if you love rivers and wild places like we do, then here are a few things you can do to help:

• First, visit the American Rivers website and complete the pre-formatted message to Utah’s Gov. Herbert.
• Then, share a photo or message on Facebook and Twitter. American Rivers has prepared some for you on that same page, so it just takes a couple clicks.
• If you’ve got a blog or website, there are banners and graphics that you can embed to help spread the word.

It only takes about 3 minutes. Less, even. Thanks for joining us in support of protection for one of America’s great natural treasures.

The post The Green River Makes The Most Endangered Rivers List appeared first on River Currents.

On the eve of the 19th annual World Water Day, our friends at Teva® will launch the Teva World Water Day Challenge asking participants to give up water in one simple area of their life for the day. From no showers, laundry and teeth brushing to waterless culinary creativity, the day promises to be one full of stories and building awareness.

“Teva has a long standing passion for clean water, the source of both life and our recreation,” says Will Pennartz, Teva Lifestyle Marketing Manager. “It is our responsibility to help in the protection of these playgrounds for future generations. Through the World Water Day challenge we hope we can inspire a larger community to join us as we raise awareness for clean water.”

The details of the challenge are purposely simple: starting now you can visit Teva’s Facebook page and share, post, tweet or pin the provided water info-graphic. Participants can make their voices louder by visiting the Teva Collect blog for specially designed World Water Day social media cover photos and pinable posters. The brand will also share water-related facts and blog posts while encouraging participants to join in the conversation with stories from their experiences throughout the day. Through thoughtful water consumption, Teva hopes to inspire permanent change for the future of clean water.

The post Teva’s World Water Day Challenge Calls For A Day Without Water appeared first on River Currents.

Until recently, that meant reaching into the cooler or drag bag for a can of Bud, Coors, or Miller. Today, cans are becoming the preferred vessel for a range of tasty American craft beers. We asked Mutineer Magazine’s online editor, Brian Kropf, to share his thoughts on the virtues of canned beer.

In your opinion, what are the best canned beers on the market today and why?

That’s a loaded question as there are so many incredible craft breweries canning beers these days. One of my favorites and one of the original craft breweries that turned to canning was Oskar Blues in Lyons, Colorado. They do about every style you could think of, but their Dale’s Pale Ale and their Ten FIDY Imperial Stout are phenomenal.

I’m also a big fan of canned beer from 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco, New Belgium Brewing out of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Avery Brewing from Boulder, Colorado. I’m most excited about Sierra Nevada who has just ordered a canning line and they should be fully operational around the first of the year offering both their game-changing Pale Ale and their incredible Torpedo.

Where can you find good canned beers these days?

Everywhere. Depending on where you are located, there are plenty of local options from breweries like Surly Brewing (MN), Ska Brewing (CO), Maui Brewing (HI), Brooklyn Brewing (NY), etc. There are plenty of options, many of which receive national distribution and plenty that distribute only regionally and locally.

What are the advantages of canned beer?

There are plenty of advantages ranging from sustainability to convenience to overall quality. One important advantage is that aluminum is infinitely recyclable, so long as it is actually recycled! Also, it is “greener” as it has a lower carbon footprint being that one standard shipping pallet can hold one hundred cases of canned beer versus sixty glass bottle cases. Second is convenience. Glass isn’t allowed everywhere, such as beaches for example, or backpacking or river rafting. Would you want to haul in and out glass bottles? No! Grab your favorite canned beer, drink it, smash it, throw it in your bag and recycle it. Lastly, cans keep beer fresher! The can will keep out harmful UV rays and oxygen, keeping your beer fresher, longer.

Brian Kropf is a former paratrooper of the United States Army’s 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and has spent over a year and a half fighting on the front lines of Iraq and providing humanitarian assistance to earthquake victims in Haiti. Brian now resides in Napa, CA, where he works full time as the online editor for Mutineer Magazine and is in a scout sniper platoon in the California Army National Guard. When Brian isn’t busy saving the world, he enjoys craft beer, tasty bourbon and a good meal.

The post Good Beer In A Can. Finally. appeared first on River Currents.