|
River
Rafting Tips:
No
matter which course you choose,
come prepared to paddle and
get wet. The following tips
will help you get prepared
and know what to expect:
Wear the right
clothing. Both
the water and the air can
be cold during early spring
and late fall so be sure
to pack a pair of wool socks
and a wool sweater. Wool
will pull the water away
from your skin and help
prevent you from losing
too much body heat. A windbreaker
and hat might also come
in handy. The spring run-off
caused by melting snow makes
for very cold water, so
if you plan to go during
March, April or May you
should wear a wet suit.
In the summertime you can
don a swimming suit, shorts,
t-shirt, or tank top and
don’t forget to bring
along lots of waterproof
sunscreen.
- Listen to your
guide. Prior to
your expedition your guide
will give you a tutorial,
be sure to pay attention.
One of the most common errors
that rafters make is to
paddle in the wrong direction;
to turn right you paddle
with the left oar and vice
versa.
- Be ready for a
challenge. Remember
that river rafting will
challenge both your body
and your mental stamina.
There really isn’t
any need for special training
at home before you take
off on your expedition but
be prepared to feel sore
in unusual places at the
end of a long day on the
river. You will of course
be required to wear a life
jacket but it is a good
idea to know how to swim
just in case.
- Inform your guide
of any preexisting medical
conditions that may affect
your performance.
Your guide needs to be aware
of any heart conditions,
back and neck injuries,
diabetes, or epilepsy. You
may not experience any problems
during your expedition but
it is a good idea to make
your guide aware of it so
that he/she can be as prepared
as possible.
- Choose the right
guide. You don’t
want to jump into a raft
with just anybody as your
guide, make sure that he/she
will not only show you a
good time, but bring you
home safely as well. Ask
him/her what the standard
ratio of guests to guide
is. Any more than fifteen
to twenty people per guide
could be problematic. Also
ask what kind of training
the guides have. Of course
the guides are required
to have certain qualifications,
but you will want to make
sure that they have received
at least two to four weeks
of training on the specific
course he/she will be taking
you on. Make sure that they
provide you with 20-30 minutes
of training before taking
you out.
|
Maps
banner text 
