Tuolumne Love Stories
Last month, we asked you to share your Tuolumne love stories, and we were so moved by the power that the Tuolumne has to bring us together and find moments of awe and adventure. Read some of the stories below.
My Favorite River
By: Steve Welch
People often ask me what my favorite river is and I always answer, politely but only half-truthfully, that it is whatever river that we happen to be on at the time. Polite because that’s what they want to hear, of course, and only half-true, because in that moment, that is my favorite river; there is nowhere else I’d rather be. But I think what they really mean is what is my favorite river ever? And to that I have to reply, truthfully: the Illinois. But choosing the Illinois as your favorite river is like choosing February 29th as your favorite day; you don’t get to enjoy it as much as you want.
So... the Tuolumne. My first Tuolumne trip was in 1976. A late-summer one-day trip with a High School buddy who knew what he was doing; one boat, two dudes, 18 miles, the first of many and the beginning of a lifetime. And two distinct memories. The first: approaching Clavey and having my friend say, presciently, that he hoped I got to see that horizon line many times in my life. The second: absolutely getting our butts kicked in Clavey moments later. We stayed upright (as I said, my friend knew what he was doing), but even I, who didn’t know anything, knew that we got our butts kicked, (don’t forget, the hole was much bigger back then). Those memories still flash through my mind every time I float that indelible final 100 feet above the rapid.
Since then, I’ve run the river in every month of the year; in everything from an 18-foot Avon Spirit to a one-person inflatable kayak; at every flow between under 250 and over 10,000 (and don’t forget, 10,000 was much bigger back then).
I’ve been as tense as I’ve ever been in my life and as relaxed as I’ve ever been in my life, in direct proportion to flow and distance above or below Clavey. I’ve run the main falls, the goalposts, far left, right of the scout rock, and once, memorably, the elusive “right of the willows” line (before things were even called lines). And I’ve flipped there twice. Plus once in Sunderland’s and another in Gray’s. I’ve gotten stuck in Rock Garden. I’ve gotten stuck in Pinball. I’ve gotten stuck pretty much everywhere in between. I’ve broken more than one oar. And I still haven’t figured out the best line through Hell’s Kitchen. I’ve eaten gourmet meals and sipped expensive wine with good friends and strangers at Indian Creek and I’ve eaten nothing but rice and fresh-caught trout by myself at a couple of tiny unnamed (and unforgettable) beaches. I once saw a bear swim across the river just above Rinseaway (before it became Surf City) and climb up the bank so close to me that I could hear its claws scrape on the bedrock when it finally scampered away. I’ve hiked in with beer. I’ve hiked in with ice cream. I’ve hiked in with oars. I’ve hiked out with a headlamp. I used to tell my co-workers in the ARTA office at La Casa Loma that I had to go to the bank in Groveland, only to turn left on Ferretti and drive down to the river to spend the afternoon fishing.I’ve been haunted, humbled, and blessed.
I love the Tuolumne.
(It’s my favorite river.)
Steve Welch
Tuolumne Lover Since 1976
Falling in Love With The River
By: John Rosapepe
A dozen years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and my prognosis for the future was not good. As my doctor said, "We need to talk about death." I am extremely lucky to be here today. During a period in the summer when I was receiving extensive and varied treatments, I was extremely depressed, so I drove up to Tuolumne Meadows. I parked my car and walked to the river and took off my shoes and socks and rolled up my pant legs. No one else was around and I spend the afternoon sitting on the bank occasionally dipping my feet into the water as I felt at peace with myself while I enjoyed the day and my surroundings. That is the moment I fell in love with the Tuolumne River.
Why I Love the Tuolumne
By: Virginia Smedberg
I love the Tuolumne for several reasons:
I love water - lakes, rivers, oceans - but especially mountain lakes and rivers - every river has many small "lakes" one can fit ones body into as a respite on a hot hike.
I love Tuolumne Meadows - besides being an amazingly beautiful open space, with high altitude wildflowers (my "thing"), I've done meadow restoration work there with Sierra Club.
I love canoeing, esp on rivers, which I've done elsewhere too but got to do on the Tuolumne with the Trust a few times - being in the middle of the river, seeing ducks, reading and running rapids, seeing how a river changes from year to year.
I love the fact that that river starts at the very top of our mountain range (Tioga pass is one of my favorite destinations when I'm in that area - it's the top of the world!) and ultimately, joined with other such rivers, makes its way all the way to the Bay and thence the Pacific Ocean - a long journey through many different landscapes.
and I love being part of a group of people who love this river and are working constantly to keep it functioning as ma nature intended!
