Frequently Asked Questions
 1) What class should I take?
Descriptions of the
various levels of classes are
available in our brochure and web site. If you don’t fit into a
particular class, no worries. We take the group (maximum size of 14) and
subgroup according to skill level. We will never put you
anywhere you don’t belong. We tailor the week to meet your
skills and will put you on appropriate river runs. We'll push
along if that's what you want, or go slower and easier if that's
your pace--just lets us know how you feel. There
is usually a wide range of skill levels in any given week.
Call us if you still have
questions.
2) Why seven
days? Can I stay less than 7 days?
Our programs are
based on a 7-day schedule. We
feel this is the least amount of time we can spend and teach what we
have to teach. You can get a lot under your belt in seven days.
Doing anything for seven days in a row will improve your skills
tremendously, as opposed to a day here and a day there or even three
or four days in a row. Skill
acquisition can be practiced through out the rest of the week.
Besides, you won’t want to leave after seven days!
3) What if I have a partner that wants to come, but not kayak
(or, what if my partner wants me to go but I don't want to kayak)?
You can bring someone if the week is not full with kayakers.
Usually we don’t know how full the week will be until shortly before
it begins. So, if they are flexible, you can call before the class
begins and ask about space. The cost will be $100 per person/day. If you want to be
assured of a space you must pay full rate.
4) Where do I fly into?
You fly into the
Eureka/Arcata Airport on the northern coast of California. We will
pick you up there the day before the class begins and drop you off
when the course is over for $40 round-trip. All
flying information is on our website &
brochure.
5) How many instructors do you have?
We will have 4 instructors for maximum of 14
or 15
students, giving us one of the best instructor/student ratios in the
business. You will rotate amongst the different instructors
during your course.
 6) What are the rooms like?
Our rooms are best described as "Bed
& Breakfast" type. There are 4 bedrooms in the lodge plus 3 separate
cabins. All rooms and cabins are shared occupancy. You may request a particular room, but we can't
guarantee that you’ll end up with that room. We must wait and see
how many couples, men and women are in the group before we can
assign rooms. Most rooms sleep
two; one room is a single; one room is a triple. Couples will always have their
own room or cabin, of course.
7) What if I come alone?
No problem. People
come by themselves every week. Generally, the group consists of
about ½ couples; and
½ people on their own. It is a warm, family
atmosphere and most groups become very close by the end of the week.
You'll be sure to leave having made some new friends. Many
Otter Bar guests keep in touch with one another and paddle together
long after leaving. Some have even married! Rooms are
shared occupancy so if you come alone, you will most likely have a
roommate.
7) When are
deposits and final payments due?
The deposit is
usually sent in with the reservation form. The deposit confirms your
week. The balance is due 45 days prior to the beginning of your
week. There will be no refunds after this point and you should
always take out trip insurance in case you can’t make it.
Several companies offer trip insurance and we do not recommend any
particular company over another, however, several of our guests have used
All Trip Protection (www.alltripinsurance.com
or 1-888-560-95222 ext. 55555) and
TravelGuard,
and
TripInsuranceStore.com in the past.
8) Is there any
camping?
During July, August
and September we do one overnight, raft supported kayak trip on the
Wild & Scenic Klamath River (weather permitting). You just need to
bring a sleeping bag and ground pad for this; a tent is optional.
9) Do I need to bring any money? Do you have a local store?
You should bring some cash for items you may want from the local
store including beer and snacks. While at Otter Bar you may
want a massage from one of our amazing masseuses ($65/hour) or some
items from our boutique (Otter Bar hats, t-shirts, booties, ear
plugs, and other odds and ends). Finally, you may want cash for a
staff gratuity should you choose to leave one (see next question).
There is no ATM or bank anywhere close by
so please bring all the spending money you'll need.
10) What about tipping?
Our instructors and staff work very hard to make sure that you
have a safe and utterly enjoyable experience that exceeds your
highest expectations. Tipping is done at your discretion and you
decide what to leave; a typical tip is around 10 percent of the
course cost with many individuals leaving more or less than that.
 11) What if I’m a vegetarian, vegan, or have other dietary needs
or food allergies?
No problem: our
chefs are the best and they will take care of your needs. Tell us
in advance and we’ll make sure you have everything you need.
12) What should I pack and what’s the weather like?
Please see our What to Bring list.
In April and May the
water will be cold, and you’ll need a dry suit or wet suit. The
weather could be clear, 70 degrees and sunny, or cold and wet. Be
prepared for changing weather in Spring. In June it’s changing into
summer; water is warmer and you may only need your bathing suit or
you may need a drytop. In July, August, and September the water and
weather are very warm. 80-90 degree days are common with
temperatures occasionally in the high 90's to 105 degrees. The water is
around 70-75 degrees on the Klamath River in summer and slightly
warmer in our instructional ponds. |
