Whitewater Rafting Travel & Destinations Guide Worldwide

Whitewater Rafting

Travel Guide

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Origin

Rafting originated from the need to carry mostly goods down the vast waterways, predominantly in North America. The first known descent of a river was in 1811, on the Snake River in Idaho. Later on, in 1869, John Wesley Powell made the first European decent of the Snake and Colorado rivers (including the Grand Canyon) in wooden dories, which can still be seen to this day on the Colorado River. In the late 1950s rubber rafts were invented, transforming river running and making it a far more viable business. The rafts consist of four independent chambers on their outer sides; thwarts, which help to keep the boat rigid and run laterally across the raft, (these also serve as a good way for paddlers to brace themselves in the raft whilst paddling) and an inflatable floor, which allows water to drain from the raft while the guide and paddlers are performing maneuvers. Having the raft in separate compartments allows safe running of rivers even in the event of a puncture, as only one compartment will generally deflate. Also, simple repairs can be carried out while on the river, which is needed sometimes when paddlers are on a multiday trip. Rafts are made from fabrics such as hypalon, PVC and urethane, all exceptionally strong and rigid to help punch through waves.

Get Started

Rafting works on a graded system, from Grade 1 to Grade 6. Grade 1 is flat water with a few ripples and Grade 6, by definition, is un-navigable in a raft. Even beginners can tackle Grade 5, which is the beauty of this excellent leisure activity. Paddlers wanting to tackle Grade 5 should have a basic level of fitness. Personally, as a guide, I find age is not restricting, and some of my Grade 5 paddlers have included people in their 70s and even some in their 80s! The minimum age for rafting can vary, but as a rule it is around 16 on most rivers.

As a participant, you have a wide range of companies to choose from. But as always, check safety records, and the firm's years and level of guide experience. Find out if they have safety kayakers on each trip, perhaps watch a trip video of them in action and see if they had a large number of swimmers or flips on the trip?

Style

Within rafting, there are several styles and types of craft for river trips. The most common is a paddle raft. In these, anywhere from four to eight paddlers sit in the raft, and follow the instructions of the guide who will generally sit at the back, and steer it around and through hazards. This type of raft is particularly maneuverable and relatively fast. In order for a raft to be "in control" it must go either slower, or faster than the river.
A slight variation on the paddle raft is the paddle assist or stern assist. This is where the guide sits in the middle or back of the raft, with a set of oars for added power and control, although the raft participants still paddle. This also serves as a great relief for multiday trips, such as those along the Grand Canyon or Zambezi where there are long, flat water sections.

On more scenic trips or those with older clientele, sometimes the guide will sit in the middle of the raft and the raft participants at the front and back, and they will move around the raft as necessary (hysiding) or just sit there and look at wildlife; many trips on the Tatsenshini in Alaska are run this way. The final method is with motor rigs - these are used on large rivers, such as the Grand Canyon in the USA or the Fraser in Canada. These have the added benefit of being very stable, and they can help carry elderly or disabled people, so they can share the experience with their friends and family.

Lingo

So, now you are ready to raft, all you need is to learn the lingo.

Put in: The point where you drive or walk to - where you will start your rafting trip.
Take out: The point on the river where you take the raft out of the river and conclude your trip.
River Right: The right side of the river when looking from upstream to downstream.
River Left: The left side of the river when looking from upstream to downstream
Safety Kayaker: A guide who paddles down the river in front of the rafts and who can offer advice or help to a swimmer.
Hysiding: Raft participants putting weight on either side of the raft to stop the raft from flipping. The guide will get people to jump within the confines of the raft, towards rocks or waves to stop the capsize.
Safety line: The rope running all the way around the raft that swimmers can hold onto.
Eddy: Water flowing back upstream behind a rock or obstacle.
Eddy Fence. Where the water from the eddy meets the current moving downstream. Strong paddling is required to break through this.
Hole: Water flowing over a rock and recirculating back on itself. Hard paddling or avoidance is advised. Many large holes can be run safely.
Lateral: A reactionary wave peeling off an obstacle (constriction of water) that it is important to paddle through!

Packing

So there it is! Rafting 101. Now all you need to do is pack your gear and go, here's a few suggestions:

You’ll raft in a swimsuit or shorts and need some river sandals (Chaco’s and Keens are the best if it's warm).

If wetsuits are provided, pack a thermal such as Helly Hansen or Patagonia Capiline to wear on your torso.

Take any medication you are on and tell your guide what its for.

For warmer climates take plenty of sun protection and a sunhat or baseball cap for under your helmet, and most importantly a water bottle.

So what is stopping you? NOTHING! Get out there join the millions of others who love participating in rafting every year, and enjoy it with your friends and family.

Whitewater Rafting Travel Guide

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Origin

Get Started

Style

Lingo

Packing

Holidays

Activity Days

Companies