Whitewater/Lazy River Rafting

AbnMike

Well-known member
Apr 6, 2016
1,218
117
Western Slope, CO
Any other rafters here? I grew up way up north in GA on the Chattahoochee where it could be ankle deep at times and any playing in the rivers up there was really in old beat up aluminum canoes.

I live about a mile from the Gunnison River in CO and 2 miles from the Colorado River so I've decided to get into rafting. There's a nice stretch from Delta CO to the takeout near my house that's all Class I/II so super easy for the family - and there's two options, a longer overnight or a shorter day trip.

Going to pick up an AIRE 143D completely outfitted. It's in WY but I got a good price so it's worth the 12 hour round trip, plus I really need to get out of the house.

I'm on a rafting board now, but wondering if any of you guys are part time rafters and have any pointers, tips, advice?

Thanks
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
I worked as a whitewater rafting guide for several years in South Africa and Washington. Owned my own guiding company for a couple of those. Kayaked for many years, too. What kinds of pointers, tips, and advice are you looking for? The main things are:
  • Avoid strainers
  • Don't wrap the boat
  • Keep your feet up when you swim
  • Hold on to your paddle
  • Have your safety gear and know how to use it - which means take a Swiftwater Rescue course from a certified instructor
  • Secure everything in the boat
  • Keep the river clean
  • Drink when you're done
  • Wash and dry your gear so it lasts a long time
  • Respect private property
  • Respect public property
  • Have a permit where you need one
  • Have a great time
Getting started with day trips is a good approach and there are lots of excellent whitewater sections in the Rockies. The absolute highlights of my experience rafting have been the multi-day backcountry floats. The Green River through Desolation and Lodore Canyons is an amazing trip. The Salmon, the Rogue, the Deschutes, there is no joy in life like being with a good group of folks in the wilderness floating down the river for a few days.
 
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Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
Here's a photo of me guiding the Skykomish River. Man, those were good times:

E8826D11-9C6D-4D6E-A9C3-76B2C0E92275.jpeg

Tugela River in South Africa:

6B72E57C-8FF4-4EB2-A773-E69CDD5CE0CB.jpeg

Messing around on the Wenatchee. This is what happens when you put a bunch of guides in a boat:

A6F4C396-8F3A-40C0-B007-D8CB12657D93.jpeg

9A4A47D1-486C-4832-B400-9F235D838E3E.jpeg
 
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AbnMike

Well-known member
Apr 6, 2016
1,218
117
Western Slope, CO
Nice. Thanks.

Biggest challenge will be the first overnight with the wife. Girls don't poop of course, but she's not a fan of the groover concept.
 
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Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
I’ve floated the Toccoa several times for fishing trips on an NRS raft. Always fun catching the dam release at the end of a trip. Have a canoe we take out to Lake Jocassee a bunch but can’t get my wife out on the river. The local rivers get pretty muddy so can’t blame her too much. Hoping to do an overnighter on the French Broad this summer
 
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Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
That sounds fun. I worked near Hendersonville for a little while and paddled the Nantahala a couple times. Always wanted to check out the French Broad but never got it together for that trip. There are some great rivers out east.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
Many rivers have rocky bottoms. If you end up in the water, whether you want to or not, this is generally referred to as swimming in the boating world. The first rule of being in the water is to get onto your back and poke your toes above the water. If your feet are at the surface it's harder to get them stuck in a foot entrapment, where your leg gets wedged between rocks - this can result in a broken leg or drowning. I've had to rescue a guy who shattered his leg from a foot entrapment. Also, with your feet up you can push off boulders and your bum can bounce off underwater rocks. Having taken some nasty swims in class 5 rapids I am a big believer in safe swimming technique.
 

pinkytoe69

Well-known member
Jan 14, 2012
1,689
182
minnesota
Many rivers have rocky bottoms. If your feet are at the surface it's harder to get them stuck in a foot entrapment, where your leg gets wedged between rocks - this can result in a broken leg or drowning. I've had to rescue a guy who shattered his leg from a foot entrapment.

Ah interesting.

This is not covered in ocean safety 😄
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
The cost to insure a business like this has to be astronomical right?

It wasn't too bad. We had a sharp attorney and a high value policy. The premium was reasonable for the coverage. Thankfully it never came into play. It's a point of pride that in our time operating on 4 rivers and in 2 rock climbing areas the worst injury any of our clients ever sustained was sunburn. You do this long enough and the law of averages says you're bound to have some kind of incident, so maybe luck also played a part. Either way, I'm grateful.

The second-closest I've ever come to death was when I was pinned underwater between two boulders at the top of a rapid. I thought for sure it was all over but somehow I wriggled out of that one and got my ass kicked swimming the rest of that rapid. This happened during a training course, so we were doing things that no guide in his/her right mind would ever attempt with clients.
 

Swedjen2

Well-known member
Sep 12, 2018
594
127
California
One of the best weekends of my life was an overnight rafting trip on the Stanislaus just south of Angel's Camp in Calif. Gold Rush country.
Never felt more alive.
Then, the state dammed the river downstream to make New Melones reservoir (the gold they were finding looked like melon seeds, in 1850's). Built for the farmer's and the the good citizens of L.A. who live in a desert climate so they could water their lawns.
I wanted to be a guide after that....
The dreams of youth.

No, I'm not bitter. Not even a little.
 
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