RAFTING VACATIONS, “ROLLING DOWN THE RIVER”
BY CLAY LARROY
Regardless
of whether you are
traveling to a nearby location for the weekend or taking a
week-long destination vacation, you are always going to benefit from some tips
and ideas on how to make the whole process, more fun and less stressful. Take
time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or
vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all
the chaos, jet-lag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot
of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another
one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will
make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over. When you want to
plan a vacation contact me!
Do your research! Not only do you need
to determine your ultimate destination, but you will need to choose between the
many river rafting companies servicing your river of choice, and doing so can
sometimes be challenging as many rafting companies are small operations with
little financial depth.
Review
the website and/or brochures of each company. How well trained are the guides?
Do they know CPR? Pay attention to the experience of the company on the river.
Make sure that the company works with rafters that match your degree of
experience and that of your traveling companions. Pay attention to the type of
equipment provided, and the description of overnight accommodations and meals..
Fully
understand what is and is not included in your trip costs. Packages typically
include well-trained and knowledgeable guides, good rafts, safety equipment and
transportation to and from the river. Meals and beverages suitable for either
single day or multi-day trips are typically included as are any fees for
camping arrangements..
Using
a good travel consultant experienced in dealing with tour operators and travel
insurance will make this part of your trip preparation much less stressful and
more confident.
While
it is by no means necessary for you to be an athlete to enjoy rafting, you
should be prepared for moderately rigorous activity. Because rafters wear
personal flotation devices (PDFs), it is not necessary that you know how to
swim. However, you will feel much more confident in the boat, and out of it, if
you can swim. If you are extremely large, ask your tour operator about the
maximum sizes of the PDFs available to participants. If you have any other
physical restrictions, make sure your tour operator knows about them in
advance. Many tour operators do not permit pregnant women to raft.
It
is worthwhile to take time prior to your trip familiarizing yourself with your
river routes. Although it is likely that your tour operator will provide you
with a daily briefing, your own mental preparation and physical training will
be easier to supplement if you know in advance the general course of rapids of
your daily schedule while on the trip. Ask your tour operator to provide daily
schedules with route guidelines in advance, if possible.
Finally,
discuss with your personal traveling companions the various options on the trip
and make sure that each is comfortable with the varying degrees of skill,
fitness and desired pace represented by each member. Discussing such matters
before you arrive at your destination will make your rafting vacation much more
pleasant on yourself and on the other participants.
Your
river guide company will no doubt provide you with a list of equipment that you
should bring. If you own some of your own personal rafting equipment you might
want to bring wetsuits, wetsuit boots, and paddle jackets. For multi-day trips,
sleeping bags, tents, and sleeping pads may or may not be supplied by your
guide company, so make sure to check. It is usually wise to reserve any
necessary rental gear well in advance.
The
climate of the destination will determine your clothing selection. To the
extent possible, pack lightly. River shoes or other appropriate footwear such
as Tevas are not essentials but once you have used them, you never go back.
Bring appropriate changes of clothing for multi-day trips, including changes of
socks and shoes, much appreciated after a day in the water. Be sure to take
clothing that dries quickly, avoiding cotton except for after hours. Some of
the most important gear you can take are sunglasses (with a strap!) and a hat
and sunscreen.
Waterproof
containers for money, matches and other essentials are important (most guides
will take charge of car keys for you).
Your
destination and comfort zone will largely determine when the best time to go
rafting might be. Rafting is not only a fair weather sport, and many
enthusiasts will raft in late fall and even into winter. Domestically, Arizona
tends to have the earliest spring rafting in North America. Because snow melts
and rainfall often determine how fast a river is running, temperatures and comfort
do not always coincide with warmer seasons. Many rivers have their peak water
opportunities in early spring.
Your
personal budget will comprise the other half of the "when" question
and answer. In general, your best values are in the shoulder season: that
period between the highest, peak travel months in your destination and the
lowest, off season. Typical shoulder season weather is a bit cooler than peak
seasons yet much more affordable. Low seasons, while very inexpensive, tend to
be uncomfortable...too hot, too cold, or too wet. Balance off the cost of the
trip with your comfort and you will find value!
Rafting
vacations are available the world over, from a river not far from your home to
the most far off reaches of the planet. The list of possible river trips is
extensive but your travel agent can assist you in finding the destination most
suitable to your skill level and budget. In the United States, the Colorado
River in Colorado and Arizona are well known and much appreciated destinations.
Likewise in the West, Utah, Washington, California and Idaho all have excellent
rafting. On the east coast, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and
Georgia take top honors. However many other states have excellent white water opportunities?
Internationally,
destinations as far flung as Canada, Austria, Nepal, Norway, Costa Rica, Chile
and New Zealand are well known for their rafting river experiences. The choice
is yours and the possibilities many. When traveling internationally, many more
logistical elements are involved, so plan further ahead and make use of as many
planning resources as possible, including a good travel agent.
Not
all tour operators will offer all destinations during all seasons. Likewise
many tour companies will have policies about cancelled departures resulting
from too few participants. Be sure to check on, and be comfortable with, the
tour operator’s right to cancel a departure.
Are
rafting vacations safe? Any travel entails some degree of risk, but the
excitement and adrenalin of rapids is an inherent part of the rafting
experience. Some risk is inevitable, even on Class I water. Most river guide companies
will ask you to sign a waiver in recognition of the danger, however minimal.
Rafting companies are very much aware of the inherent risks of being on the
water, in rapids, with less than experienced rafters and seek to minimize the
probabilities.
Here
are a few tips that can help you ensure that you enjoy your rafting vacation
with the maximum value and minimum risk:
- Prepare
for the trip by making sure that you can physically handle the river’s
degree of difficulty. Your guide will ultimately indicate that you are
responsible for your choices, so be objective in your estimation of your
conditioning. Stay within your limits of difficulty.
- Learn
to swim! No, you do not have to know how to swim as PFDs keep you afloat
if you find yourself in the water. But let’s face it: you are in the
water, in rapids with sharp paddles and whirling hydraulics. Dog paddle
anyone?
- Know
how to swim in a river. If you fall out of the boat, keep your feet off
the bottom of the river! Your guide will no doubt cover proper swimming
technique, but one of the greatest risks comes from an underwater rock or
branch trapping the swimmer’s foot while the current pushes the swimmer
under the surface. If you are not familiar with river swimming technique,
ask.
- Rapids
and drugs or alcohol do not mix. If you drink at night, be moderate in
your consumption so that you are not detoxing while trying to negotiate a
set of Class IV rapids.
- Listen
to your guides. They know the river, where the tough spots are and how to
negotiate each set of rapids.
- Work
with the group. Rafting is a team endeavor.
- As
always, stay hydrated.
- As
with any active vacation, travel insurance covering trip cancellation,
trip interruption and medical emergencies is a good idea.
Grab
a raft, put on your helmet, and find yourself up the creek with a paddle on
your next vacation!
REFERENCE SITES:
The Sun shines not on us but in
us. The Rivers flow not past, But through us.
- John Muir
- John Muir
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