Our Staff

Scott Underwood, M.D.

Favorite Whitewater Rapid: Any I don’t swim!

Favorite thing about the Gold Country: Rivers.

Favorite Adventure: Rowing the South Fork at 35,000 cfs without getting killed.

Bio: My most vivid college flashback is to Bio IA at Stanford University in 1967. On stage was Dr. Paul R. Ehrlich, the father of American Ecology, pacing back and forth while delivering his legendary lecture on the impact of humans on planet Earth. We were doomed! I was so impressed I volunteered in his lab for several years where I learned about biodiversity loss, extinction, and the impact of the rapidly expanding human population on natural places and living things. The Population Bomb was published, DDT was banned in 1972, which ultimately saved my beloved California pelican; and, best of all, the Federal Endangered Species Act passed in 1973. Also, America’s greatest folly, the Vietnam War, ended. Those were exciting times.

Over 50 years later, Dr. Ehrlich has been confirmed as a prophet, and Al Gore’s ‘age of consequences’ has arrived. I have two beautiful daughters, a wonderful and loving wife, and recently a wonderful grandson! I have enjoyed the privilege of helping Mother Lode share my love of rivers with over 300,000 people and take pride in having helped facilitate the writing of over 30,000 letters which, in turn, have helped save 15 rivers in the Sierra. I am equally pleased to have helped conserve over 30,000 acres along the South Fork of the American and Cosumnes Rivers through the efforts of the American River Conservancy. However, as Dr. James Hansen, one of the world’s foremost climatologist points out, it is time to wake up, get busy and hit the streets in defense of the planet! There is still no evidence we will acquire another one.

Read more of Scott’s blogs.

Activites at Mother Lode

On The American River

At The Adventure Center

Team Building & River Skills

Introductory Packrafting Clinic at Mother Lode River Center

New Activity

Celebrate our 50th Anniversary with deep discounts on rafting & more!

Special 50th Anniversary Ropes and Rafting Events

Join us on  for a thrilling half-day of high ropes and rafting—no minimum group size required! Celebrate with us and book your adventure now!

Event Dates: June 15th, June 22, July 20th, July 27th, August 10th, August 17th