| Here are the basics you need to know to have the | | | | rafting, they're incredibly tough. There are two materials |
| confidence to book a whitewater rafting trip for your | | | | commonly used in crafting a raft: Hypalon a rubber |
| next vacation. There are a lot of misconceptions and | | | | based material and Urethane/PVC a plastic based |
| unknowns about this vacation option. When you know | | | | product. These boats can smash rocks, pound waves |
| what to expect, what's protecting you, what you get | | | | and take people climbing in and out of them for quite a |
| for each dollar spent, you'll quickly conclude this is one | | | | few years. Please do make sure you rinse your feet |
| of the most memorable, doable and valuable vacations | | | | before climbing into the raft however, sand is the |
| you'll experience. | | | | worst enemy of a raft, it wears holes in the seams |
| Let's start at the very beginning, what is whitewater | | | | and causes leaks. The average whitewater raft costs |
| rafting? This is the maneuvering of a vessel down a | | | | nearly $5000.00. |
| river. Rafting implies the vessel is a coast guard | | | | You'll most probably be handed a paddle so you can |
| approved raft, more on equipment in a bit. This raft | | | | do your part to get down the river. The paddle will be |
| can be maneuvered in a variety of ways, by one | | | | near 6' in length, an aluminum shaft coated in a colored |
| person with large oars rigged to the raft, with a group | | | | plastic with a durable plastic blade. |
| of people holding individual paddles and led by a guide | | | | You'll be fit in a class V coast guard approved |
| calling paddle instructions (most common) or in a | | | | personal flotation device (PFD). These vests will float |
| combination referred to as an oar-paddle combination | | | | the small to the quite large. They're the most buoyant, |
| with the oarsman in the rear compartment of the raft | | | | top of the line PFDs in use today. |
| acting as both the major power and the guide calling | | | | More and more outfitters are providing their guests |
| instructions. | | | | with helmets. The helmets will vary in design but |
| Rivers are exactly that, flowing water from some | | | | they're made for getting wet, are light weight and a |
| elevation working its way towards some body of | | | | smart thing to wear. In many other countries wearing a |
| water. Most rivers are given a class-rating for rafting. | | | | helmet is not an option, everyone dons a helmet. |
| This helps folks determine the intensity of the ride. | | | | Outfitters exposed to foreign guides are adopting, by |
| Most rivers are graded on a scale of I to VI. A I is near | | | | choice these safer rafting practices and providing their |
| flat water with little current and class VI is un-runnable | | | | guests with helmets. |
| in a raft. While this can mean Niagara Falls, it also | | | | It depends on the river but speaking about the |
| means the stream running alongside a road. This | | | | American River and the outfitters that run that river, |
| classification is specific to rafts, as different watercraft | | | | you will receive a gourmet deli-style lunch, often right |
| such as kayaks can run incredibly intense areas. For | | | | on the banks of the river. There are small variances |
| the average rafter, class II to IV is doable with class III | | | | between companies but a typical lunch will look like this: |
| being the sweet spot. This is why the South Fork of | | | | 2 - 3 bread choices, sprouts, lettuce, avocado, |
| the American River in Northern California is such a | | | | tomatoes, onions, 2 cheeses, 2 meats, mayo, mustard, |
| popular river. It's a class III offering fun pop for most | | | | pb&j, chips, fruit, cookies and water. |
| everyone, it's great for families, youth groups, the | | | | If you're on an overnight trip, your camping is paid, your |
| young (about 7 years of age (give or take depending | | | | dinner is made and served by staff, breakfast the |
| on the child's psyche)) to the active elderly (80+ | | | | same another day rafting and another lunch. |
| depending on activity level). | | | | The typical price for whitewater rafting is near $100 |
| The typical raft trip includes: a professional whitewater | | | | per day, per person. When you consider all you get, |
| guide. These people, male and female alike, are quality | | | | professional guide, professional equipment, the unique |
| boatmen who make their living whitewater rafting. | | | | opportunity to see the beauty of a river canyon in a |
| Some follow summer around the globe, literally. Don't | | | | way you couldn't see otherwise, the opportunity to |
| be surprised if you meet your guide and hear a New | | | | travel through whitewater rapids, an excellent lunch |
| Zealand accent or the aboot of a Canadian, ay. They | | | | and stories to tell over and over. |
| are used to the river you're rafting, they're used to | | | | I often compare the cost of whitewater rafting to the |
| folks of all fitness and competency levels. They know | | | | cost to visit Disneyland. My whole family loves |
| how to read water and navigate the river you're | | | | Disneyland. When you go to Disneyland you're not |
| rafting. You can have complete comfort in the | | | | provided a personal guide, you're not fed, you're not |
| professional in the back of your boat. Don't forget, if | | | | experiencing something natural and majestic and most |
| you enjoyed your trip, tip your guide. It's very | | | | often you're paying more than you will for whitewater |
| appreciated and completely acceptable on a raft trip. | | | | rafting. Value is in perception and knowledge. It's our |
| The average guide earns about $65 dollars a day and | | | | hope this brief article on basic whitewater rafting |
| their average day runs some 10 - 14 hours. It's a | | | | knowledge will help you to overcome some fears you |
| lifestyle choice, not a retirement option. | | | | may had with regard to the unknown and has |
| Your trip also includes a whitewater raft. These boats | | | | encouraged you to try this incredible and affordable |
| are specifically designed for the use of whitewater | | | | vacation. |