Ready for their close-up: Students spot the camera down the rapid and make sure to give their best pose. Joseph Mighetto '29 sticks out his tongue out and Yamna Cordova '26 says "peace out" while riding the rapids on the American River. / Photo by All Outdoors
Making Waves: SMC Students Take to the Water for Their First Adventure Trip of the Year
Saint Mary’s students traded in their textbooks and dorm keys for paddles and life jackets as they headed out for white water rafting on the South Fork of the American River.
The Fall 2025 semester started with a splash—literally
With over 50 Class II and III rapids, the American River offered the perfect balance between heart-pounding adventure and beginner-friendly fun. It was the first Saint Mary's Campus Recreation Adventure Trip of the Year. And it was a blast.
Each rapid brought a fresh jolt of adrenaline as rafts dipped, spun, and splashed through foaming whitewater, drawing cheers and nervous laughter from students gripping their paddles a little tighter. Shouts of “Paddle forward!” echoed between rocky gorges, often followed by shrieks of surprise when someone caught a face full of cold water or nearly toppled overboard. But the river wasn’t all chaos and spray. Between rapids, the current softened, letting rafts drift peacefully through golden stretches of Sierra foothill wilderness. Students leaned back, soaking in the sun-dappled scenery, swapping stories, and forging new friendships.
“This trip was fantastic!” said Savannah Peden ’26. “I’m not normally an outdoorsy person, but I had such a great time and feel more motivated to try other activities like rafting!” Her words echoed the sentiments of many who stepped out of their comfort zones and discovered the thrill—and joy—of outdoor adventure.
“This trip was fantastic! I'm not normally an outdoorsy person but I had such a great time and feel more motivated to try other activities like rafting!”
—Savannah Peden ’26
Fueling the Fun
Thanks to the student enhancement fee, everything was taken care of: transportation, professional guides, rafting gear, and lunch. Refueling after a morning of paddling turned into its own mini social event, with sandwiches and fruit shared over retellings of who got the wettest.
Setting the Tone for the Semester
As the first adventure trip of Fall 2025, rafting set the stage for a semester full of exploration and community. With upcoming excursions like First Year Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Bioluminescent Kayaking, A Day in Monterey, and Mare Island Glassblowing, the bar has been set high.
Story updated September 12, 2025 at 3:45 p.m.
