Exercises to Prepare Yourself for Whitewater Rafting & Other Paddling Sports
“The mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.” – Chinese Philosopher If it’s your first time or your 500th time whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking or rowing, preparing your body for the physical stamina and strength required will make your experience more enjoyable and your physique admirable. Similar to any other sport, working out and stretching specific core muscles makes paddling much easier and you’ll be less likely to injure yourself. Although these activities seem to only require your arms and upper body, you’ll actually be using your core a lot if you are paddling efficiently and to maintain your balance. Some people mistakenly focus only on their upper body and forget about their bottom half—Pro Tip: don’t forget to work out your legs since you only need them to hold up your upper half. Increasing Endurance Since watersports like whitewater rafting require you to paddle for long periods of time, building up your endurance means you won’t be huffing and puffing into the person next to you. When you’re out of the water, work on biking, running, and swimming to build up your cardiovascular health. While you’re at it, add in some challenges like 30 second sprints, hills, and obstacles. Start with five minutes as a base to see how you feel, then gradually build up time. Before your cardiovascular workout, pre-hydrate and eat some healthy carbs such as whole grain cereal, or Greek yogurt with granola and fruit. Wrap up your workout with hydration and have some protein like peanut butter and banana, a smoothie, or a protein shake. Increasing Strength Being strong is crucial for how much water you’ll be pulling with each row and your group will be counting on you to pull your own weight too. Beware of shoulder injuries as this is common with kayakers and rafters if you overexert and strain your muscles. It is good to get your shoulders, arms, wrists, and core used to repetitive motions. Build strength and power with row machines, chest presses, pull-ups, and push-ups. Use a couple of light free weights to strengthen up the biceps and triceps. Some great ones to do are straight arm lifts to the side and front. Iron aside, do a few sets of tricep dips. Since paddling requires a lot of core muscles, throw in a few 1-minute planks and squats to your work out as well. Bonus points for doing front planks and side planks. Round out with bicycle pumps laying on your back and touching each elbow with the opposite knee and straightening out each leg. Prior to strength building, consume some low GI carbs and protein like a spinach and egg omelet or a smoothie with protein powder. Always pre-hydrate. Follow up your exercises with a chocolate protein shake or half of an avocado with cheese and tomato and a healthy serving of water. Increase Flexibility All of your hard work building up your endurance and strength will be futile if you pull a muscle every time or sustain an injury. Avoid any let downs by improving your flexibility through stretching after warming up for five minutes and during your cool down. Not drinking enough water can also lead to muscle cramps. Focus on shoulder areas and reach up with one arm and then the other. Cross-body should stretches and arm rotations do wonders for those joints. Pay attention to your posture as well—standing and sitting up straight engages the core muscles and also prevents you from lower-back pain when you’re sitting in the boat. Heading to the Water Before you jump right into the water, take a moment to warm up your muscles whether it’s jogging, sprints, or lunges. Then stretch your shoulders, arms, wrists, legs, and back. This way, your muscles are loose and ready to rock and roll. Make sure your reusable water bottle is filled, you’ve had a few swigs of that, and your snack is safe in your belly. Protect your skin by applying a water-resistant sunscreen to prevent painful burns from the sun reflecting off the water. If you’re wearing sunglasses (recommended), use a strap on the arms so you don’t risk losing them if they fall off. Lastly, get your helmet and life jacket on, have fun and enjoy whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing or rowing as you’re feeling stronger and more flexible. Check out the white water rafting trips we have available at Wilderness Aware Rafting or contact us for more information. See you on the river!
What is Black Water Rafting?
Black water rafting isn’t white water rafting through Mordor but it actually is going tubing through caves. There are active rivers running through caverns and in the 1980s, New Zealand cave explorers decided to clamber into the Waitomo Glowworm Caves with inner tubes and revel in the awe of twinkling phosphorescent glowworms on the cave ceilings as they cruised underground. Black water rafting is cave spelunking meets white water rafting. It’s referred to as black water because, well, you’re in a dark cave and your inner tube is the small raft. Many times, the natural urge to connect tubes together is how it becomes, “rafting.” At times, rafters peacefully float through as if looking up at a starry night sky but getting there requires some hiking and more heart-pumping thrills. Extreme-sports enthusiasts enjoy the adventure of cave spelunking, rappelling to the rivers, and enjoying the rush of floating through rapids and drops. Where is Black Water Rafting Available? Black water rafting tours are only commercially available in New Zealand and Belize. Many of the available tours are at least 3 hours long and a great way to get in your nature therapy. Since journeying through caves can generally be dangerous, it’s always best to go with a guide who knows the cave and river inside out. Often, some parts of the route will require zip-lining down. The caves where black water rafting are available are usually only accessible through a guide. New Zealand only offers rafting in the Waitomo district and in Belize, the Yucatan caves offer a spiritual look inside the Mayan culture. With the rarity of these cave tubing trips, it’s definitely a unique experience that should not be passed up. Can I Take Myself Black Water Rafting? Taking yourself black water rafting without a guide is not recommended. Getting lost inside a cave is a great way to be lost for a very long time as there are many routes and rooms that lead away from the main path. Guides will provide you with all the essential equipment that you need and be able to help you in case of an emergency. Some of it includes wetsuits, inner tubes, helmets with headlights, water shoes, rope, first aid, and snacks. Some other things to consider are whether you’re claustrophobic or acrophobic. Some parts of caves are very open with high ceilings but it can easily get narrow and you may be floating on your tube with the ceiling right above your head. Other areas have steep drops where some people jump into or zip-line down. Going black water rafting just might make some of you feel like Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. If you’re ready for a rafting adventure but not quite sure about doing it in caves or have a fear of heights, good old white water rafting in the open air should suit your itch for adrenaline outdoors. Check out the White Water Rafting Trips & Raft Trip Packages we have available and get your adventure on.
Guide to Rafting the Grand Canyon
White water rafting in the Grand Canyon is a rare opportunity because as a result of overuse and drought, private and commercial rafting is highly regulated and capped. If you do get the chance, it could be pretty expensive too as prices range between several hundred dollars to $3,000. However, the amazing views and experience alone are worth it. Regardless of whether or not you’ve been to the Grand Canyon, each stretch is incredibly different and the various canyon sections tell a different tale. The opportunity to raft down in the canyon and see the spectacular art and geological history made by nature will not only check off your list of visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World but also an adventure off your bucket list. Grand Canyon Rafting Trips Require Patience In order to even have a chance at rafting in the Grand Canyon, there are two options to go about it. Go through a commercial river trip with a professional guide—trips are reserved one or two years in advanced Non-commercial self-guided river trips—enter a lottery for a chance to raft the following year The lottery for rafting opens every February for the first three weeks. People who are interested are interested must pay a $25 fee for the “lottery ticket.” If you’re one of the lucky few who win, you’ll must immediately pay a nonrefundable deposit of either $400 or $200, which goes towards your permit fees. Then you’ll be able to pick trip dates for the next year. Those who did not win still have the opportunity to win throughout the year as people cancel or drop out. For more information on the Grand Canyon rafting lottery, visit nps.gov. Preparing for a Grand Canyon Rafting Trip If you choose to go on a commercial rafting trip, there are various skill levels available. The easiest is what’s known as a, “Smooth Water Float Tour,” where kids as young as 4 can ride and there are no white water or rapids. However, thrill seekers can be sure that there are various skill levels also available. Many of the trips range between 5-17 days long. Since many of the trips are extensive, it’s more important than ever to make sure that you pack the right supplies and gear, keeping in mind that cell phones don’t work in the Grand Canyon, especially that far down. In addition, improving your endurance and core strength several weeks before the trip will make rafting a lot more fun and less tiresome. There are many sections of the canyon to visit so if you have a particular section in mind or curious about what other areas look like, Google Maps has a Street View/River View of the Grand Canyon to check out. Open up a tab in your browser to maps.google.com and type in the location or “Grand Canyon.” At first, this map view will pop up. Click on the little yellow person in the lower right-hand corner and drag and drop it to a location on the river. Next, you’ll see some spectacular views of the Grand Canyon (and occasionally what appears to be someone in the river). Excited to go rafting here yet? We’ll help you figure out what to pack. Grand Canyon White Water Rafting Packing List Remember that you’ll be rafting in the canyon where sediments are frequently floating around in the water. Light-colored clothing is discouraged unless you don’t mind discoloration. River Gear Duffle Bag for Personal Items Dry Bag for Items Accessible During the Day (available through commercial groups) Gear Bag Dry Bag for Sleeping Bag, Small Pillow, & Tarp (available through commercial groups) Two-Piece Rain Suit 3 Swimsuits 3 Quick-Drying Shirts 1 Pair of Quick-Drying Pants Neoprene Socks Water Sandals or Water Shoes Lightweight Fleece Jacket Hat With String or Hat Clip Gloves Sunscreen, Lots of It Sunscreen Lip Balm Sunglasses with Safety Strap Campwear 2 Pairs of Pants, Underwear, Shirt, & Socks Sweater or Light Jacket Flip Flops Light Shoes or Hiking Boots 2 Sets of Capilene Long Underwear Sarong (Optional for Changing) Plastic Bags for Dirty or Wet Clothes Clothes Pins & Line for Drying Wet Clothes Daypack or Fanny Pack Water Bottle with Carabiner A Few Extra Carabiners Lotion or Aloe Vera Travel-Size Biodegradable Soap & Shampoo Camp Towel & Wash Cloth Toothbrush & Toothpaste Tissues Eyedrops Glasses, Contacts, & Saline Waterproof Camera with Extra Batteries & Memory Cards Insect Repellant Headlamp or Flashlight Medication Photo ID, Major Credit Card, & Cash Zip Lock Bags for Valuables, Etc. If you have any other essentials such as medication, nail clippers, etc. be sure to pack those too. Try to avoid any unnecessary items and remember that you’ll be outside all day and night with water on all sides and sun or rain in the sky. Can’t wait a year or two out to go rafting? We understand and we won’t be jealous if you book a Grand Canyon rafting trip so long as you scratch your rafting itch this year with us. Check out the Colorado white water rafting trips we have available or contact us today to schedule an exciting trip outdoors.
White Water Rafting for Beginners
The song of the river ends not at her banks, but in the hearts of those who have loved her. -Buffalo Joe White water rafting is an exciting outdoor adventure for everyone, including children and senior adults. If this is your first or second time rafting, there are probably some questions and concerns crossing your mind. The first part of having a great time white water rafting is finding out what beginners need to know and what to look for in a rafting company. Safety Precautions White water rafting is a thrilling sport for all ages. Like many adventure sports, there is risk involved in participating. Traveling with a company that takes the time to teach you safety measures such as how to properly wear a life jacket, helmet, and personal gear is crucial to having a good time. Well-trained guides will coach everybody on their raft how to get in and out of boats, paddle, where to place their feet, rafting language, and what to do in the event of an emergency such as an upturned raft or if someone falls out. In this manner, everybody is educated and more confident, and the guide can better minimize any dangers. If you have any worries about your ability to raft due to your physical health, check with your doctor beforehand. Swimming Abilities Many people are worried about falling out of the raft and not being able to swim. Guests must be at least 7 years old to participate for safety reasons and all of our guests are required to wear a lifejacket and helmet, which eliminates the worry of staying afloat so everyone can have a great time. Guests can choose from a variety of skill levels that they are most comfortable with. Trips that are Class II-IV are suitable for beginners. Wilderness Aware Rafting professional guides work to educate everyone at the start of each trip on what to do if they fall out of the raft and how to properly float down river to the riverside where they will be picked up with little, if any, injuries. If there is a part of the river with any risk of falling out, we’ll be sure to warn you to “dig in” before we hit the rapids. For many people who do fall out, it’s actually the most exciting part of the trip that they enjoy telling others about. Well-Trained & Knowledgeable Staff Wilderness Aware Rafting earned the 2012 Better Business Bureau’s “Excellence in Customer Service” award and we have been twice named Colorado’s Company of the Year. Every member of our staff works to maintain our excellent safety record since 1976. The owner and management team is involved in daily operations and making sure guests have an excellent experience. Part of the awesome experience of taking a trip with us is the trust and care that our guides are professionally-trained, First Aid and CPR certified, and drug-tested. We also make sure that our guides are fun and easy to get along with. Preparing for Your First White Water Rafting Trip The day before your beginner white water rafting trip, make sure you pack the right gear to have a comfortable and fun time. We don’t recommend wearing cotton at all because you’ll stay soaked and cold longer. Bring a swimming suit and wetsuit. If you don’t have a wetsuit, they are available to rent. We do recommend sunglasses with a securing strap and hat since the glare reflecting off the water and canyons can be harsh on the eyes. Water resistant sunscreen is a must to avoid burns. For your feet, bring tennis shoes that you are ok with getting wet or secure sandals. Lastly, also bring a change of clothes, towel, water bottle, fleece jacket, and cash. Are you ready to sign up for a beginners’ trip? Browse our selection of white water rafting trips or contact us today to get started.
Colorado Outdoor Adventures
I come from a city where one rarely sees all the generosities of the weather, so to see snow or the leaves change colors on trees would imply a drive for several miles away from the city. Moving along the roads of Colorado, heading to the small town of Buena Vista, I drove almost nonstop with one of the best visual experiences that nature could offer—beautiful snow-capped mountains, or just completely green. Sometimes I passed full paths of trees with red leaves, then the next with yellow leaves, some orange, some green and so on. I also passed by beautiful rivers that accompanied me for a couple of minutes. It was so gorgeous! I had to stop a few times to record it with my camera. White Water Rafting & More Finally, I made it to my destination. If you are looking for excitement, Wilderness Aware Rafting in Buena Vista is an outfitter providing access and tours to exceptional adventures such as as horseback riding, zip lines, mountain bikes and rapids. To start, you can try whitewater rafting down America’s most popular rafting river, the Arkansas River, as well as four other stunning Colorado waterways. Witness glorious canyon walls and grand views of the largest concentration of mountain peaks that are over 14,000 feet high in the lower 48 states. They offer exciting trips for all levels of ability including gentle floats for children as young as 4 years old. The wildly popular Browns Canyon tour is perfect for adventurous first-timers (like me) and experienced rafters alike. Activities Out of the Water And for the experienced rafters looking for a more intense adventure, consider the extreme Colorado white water rafting trips in the Royal Gorge or the even more challenging Numbers section of the Arkansas River, known for big, powerful drops and continuous rapids. If getting wet is not your thing, Wilderness Aware Rafting has more fun land-based options to choose from. I rode a good-looking 4-legged horse named Boston and together we promenaded among some of Colorado’s most beautiful passages on a horseback riding tour. I rode until a meadow where my beautiful white horse stopped by the river and where Mount Princeton could look down on us with curiosity. I later said goodbye to my fuzzy partner and continued my adventure towards Leadville. The moment I feared the most had arrived: high-altitude zip line between the towering snow-capped mountains and stately pine trees! Thankfully, their zip lines use some of the latest braking technology, which means you can fly hands-free without worry. At first, I was nervous, but by the second circuit I was already a pro; by the fifth one I wanted to do it all over again. Whether by water, land or sky, outdoor excitement awaits in Colorado! Bring your sense of adventure and let Colorado’s white water rafting experts at Wilderness Aware Rafting organize your next best experience!
The Lessons of Rafting: How Rafting Can Be Used as a Business Team Building Exercise
To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless. -Mike Krzyzewski Good businesses know that team work is important, whereas great businesses know the importance of team building. If you’re looking for a fun and creative way to improve your workplace atmosphere, energy, and synergy, taking your employees for a day of whitewater rafting is it. A 2012 Wakefield Research Study shows that almost 31% of employees dislike team-building activities so skip the typical trust exercises. Let’s take a look at all the reasons why whitewater rafting is great for team building. 1. We Offer Food One of the best ways to improve workplace relationships is to have them share a meal together. If you think about it, anytime there’s a celebration, it involves gathering together for a meal. At Wilderness Aware, we offer deli-style lunches on our full-day trips and free continental breakfasts. There’s even a shaded meeting area and riverside picnic site for groups to gather and reminisce about their day on the river. 2. Team Work at its Best Another effective team-building activity is to have employees participate in fitness or sports activities together. When each person has a critical role in the raft to paddle through eddies and challenging obstacles, it sets up an open environment for bonding and encouragement. Looking back at our roots not 50 years ago when office jobs were uncommon and people physically interacted on a daily basis, you see a huge improvements in relationships. A change of scenery with a common goal gives people a fresh outlook. 3. Nature Therapy is Awesome Being outdoors and working together in Mother Nature spurs nature therapy and an experience that they’ll never forget. Nature therapy can have regenerative powers that diminishes stress, anxiety, and depression. It is a great way for people to relax together and unwind. Being outdoors also improves physical health and mental clarity. People talk and bond more when they are moving, and in this case, paddling their oars through whitewater! 4. Fun is an Option Setting up a getaway that allows employees to enjoy themselves and have fun taps into the most basic way that humans and animals improve their social skills: learning through play. It also lowers blood pressure and increases friendly pats on the back. When co-workers feel more comfortable interacting with one another, workflow and quality improves because people aren’t hesitant about approaching one another for advice or suggestions. When employees can connect to one another, it improves their happiness with their workplace. The workplace culture is taking two directions: companies that care about employee retention and a quality workplace, and companies that have high-turnover, which is usually their best employees leaving for something better. A team-building activity that is actually fun and exciting will spur innovation while also showing your employees that you do care about their overall well-beings and happiness at work. Whitewater rafting is an exciting outdoor activity that encourages team-building in an exciting and unique way. If you’re interested in planning a day on the river for your company, contact us at Wilderness Aware Rafting and we’ll be happy to help you get started.
Colorado Things to Do: Experiencing the Best of Colorado Outdoors
If there were two words that sum up Colorado, they would be: adventures outdoors. Whether you’re a tourist or a native, people expect their free time in Colorado to be spent outside in the sun with endless things to do. At 5,280 miles above sea level, a vacation in Colorado would be wasted if you don’t take a trip into the majestic Rocky Mountains. If you’ve been to or you live in Colorado, I’d bet a nickel for every time you were asked, “What are the best things to do in Colorado?” or “My friend/relative is visiting Colorado, where should I take them?” These are the best things to do in Colorado and they surely will not disappoint. Whitewater Rafting Ok, ok, maybe we are being a little biased here with whitewater rafting, but seriously, how many people do you know said they had a bad time rafting in Colorado? People who paddled in the mighty Arkansas River (the world’s most commonly rafted river) with one of our experienced and friendly tour guides leave exhilarated and wanting more. There are 95 miles of river here and plenty of experience levels and challenges to choose from; it’s like being a kid in a candy store. Another benefit of rafting with us besides the delicious gourmet meals is the amazing views of Browns Canyon where Colorado wildlife are often spotted alongside the river and up the canyons. Hiking & Biking Colorado? Mountains? Outdoors? Hiking is one of our favorite pass times and being out in the wilderness bonding with Mother Nature is one of the ways that keeps Colorado laid-back. Some of us that like to go a little faster and harder prefer mountain biking and, quite frankly, our knees thank us for it. There’s nothing quite like cruising with the wind through your hair and the smell of fresh air and pine trees. We’ll help you remember what it was like to be young while exploring the great outdoors on two wheels. Horseback Riding Horseback riding is Colorado’s second most popular outdoor activity because it’s a great taste of the Wild West with an elevated view of the beautiful landscape as you bond with a magnificent creature. A peaceful ride along Chalk Creek to a railroad bed or to a waterfall is just what the doctor ordered. A journey through the wilderness with your trusty steed is an exciting yet calm way to explore Colorado outdoors. Just a little bit of nature-therapy to nourish your soul. Zip-Lining For those looking for a more thrilling taste of Colorado zip line tours, soaring through the forest’s tree tops will get your heart pumping. This is a great way to spice up family vacations while also lowering your blood pressure and burning calories. Feelings of accomplishment, bravery, excitement, and being like a bird soaring through the trees are included. Excited to head to the mountains yet? Check out our Whitewater Rafting & Adventure Trip Packages and plan your Colorado outdoors trip with us today.
10 Life Lessons Learned From Whitewater Rafting
If you’ve done a certain activity for long enough, eventually lessons will start presenting themselves to you. The lessons may not always be clear, and they may not even be noticeable at first. But through trial and error, enduring hardships, and endless questioning, the world becomes a little clearer. The life lessons that follow here are based on my experiences of whitewater rafting and being out in nature for extended periods of time. This is not to say some of these lessons wouldn’t have been learned otherwise, it’s just rafting happened to be the teacher in these instances. You Never Know What Lies Ahead Without Scouting Before making any serious commitment or decision, especially one that would be difficult to undue or break, be sure you know exactly what it is you’re getting yourself into. You never know what lies around the bend in the river, or life, unless you first investigate and explore it. The Sun Illuminates and Brings Facts to Light Better Than a Bulb If you ever have a question that needs answering, a concern that needs easing, or a problem that needs solving, many times you’ll find your solutions more easily while contemplating outdoors. Something about the fresh air, wide open spaces, and the suns warm glow allows our minds to wander more freely. It helps to let our emotions calm down and clear any clouds in our judgment. Physical Exhaustion is Often Better than Mental Physical exhaustion is easier for your body to deal with and recover from than being mentally tired. Physically, your muscles may be sore and ache, but after a good meal and full nights rest, your body can recover rather quickly. Being physically tired brings better sleep, the exercise helps to keep you healthy, and overall you may become happier. Your mind on the other hand does not find these benefits of being tired. After working your mind for too hard for too long, stress, anxiety, depression, confusion, and irritation can set in, all of which can be rather difficult to overcome. This is especially true over long periods of time. Your body can rest once you stop moving, your mind is not so easily turned off. Character Is Truly Exposed When Times Are Hard You never know the true character of a person unless their character is tried in some way. Sort of a trial by fire, you never know what someone is capable of until they are faced with difficult times to see how they react. In some cases you’ll be pleasantly surprised; in others you may be sadly let down. But none of this will be known until the person is tested in a trying fashion. To Live Life to the Fullest Means You Have to Fully Live Anyone who is alive can be said to be living. But living fully is entirely different, and of course depends on the person whether or not that is being achieved. People only have one shot through this life and there is no point in not living how you want to live. Living fully means following your heart, doing the things that you enjoy and bring you pleasure. Simply having a heartbeat does not mean you’re living… making your heart skip a beat however does. Many of Our Worldly Woes and Concerns Are Meer Figments of Our Imagination When it comes down to it, if you are truly able to consider it with an objective mind, most problems we face on a daily basis are not necessarily “real”. Many of our negative thoughts and feeling can be easily overcome through proper thought. Our thoughts create our reality, and our beliefs are the filter of our reality. If we think positively and believe fully that our thoughts are true, rarely will such negative thoughts hold any weight or meaning. Long Term Happiness Cannot be Found or Gifted, It’s Personally Created People mistakenly believe happiness is something you can purchase, be given, or even just wake up with. It’s somehow believed that happiness is continual and can transfer over from the day before. But that’s not the case, happiness arises from your daily activities and has to be personally generated and created every day. You become happy by doing things you enjoy, you stay happy be continuing to do those things. Without Hard Work There Is Little to Gain to Be Proud Of Little in the world that has value can be had or achieved for free. Typically, the more something is worth, the more that thing will cost. Hard work certainly isn’t fun, but that’s why it’s called work. Most goals people set for themeselves are valuable and rarely are they easily achieved. This is what makes achieving those goals so meaningful, it’s the fact that it wasn’t easy. Which did you find more pride in when you were in school, getting a B+ on that difficult exam you studied endlessly for, or getting a gold star for your participation in class? Chances are it would be the B+ score, because you worked hard to achieve that which gave it greater value. Failure in Life Teaches More than Success There is more to learn from failure than success. In fact you don’t learn much from doing something perfectly correct because you did it right the first time. The least you’ll learn is to do the same process again as it already worked. Valuable lessons are learned and built upon failure because you realize where you went wrong and figure out how to adjust to make it better. Trial and error is the classroom of life while failure is its teacher. Fear is The Root of All Evils Fear is stifling, cancerous, and can create most of the evils that plague people. Vanity can arise from a fear of physical appearance. Greed can arise from a fear of poverty. Arrogance can arise from a fear of not being important. Gluttony can arise from a fear of there not being enough in the
Looking for the Perfect Gift? Try White Water Rafting!
In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing.” When it comes to determining a gift for someone, sometimes a physical object or trinket isn’t the best option. How many gifts have you received in the past that you never used? How many gifts have you given that are actually enjoyed? How can a gift be truly valued by the receiver? Well experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing, it doesn’t just occur out of thin air. You have to go and actually do something, or have something done to you, in order to receive it. Sometimes people don’t make an earnest attempt to actually live. They refuse to go outside of their comfort zone to find new and wondrous things in this world. In short, they don’t experience life to its fullest. Before you buy your next gift for someone you should truly consider what that person might enjoy. Chances are you’ll soon realize that whatever toy, widget, or object you were thinking of giving isn’t actually that great of a gift after all. Of course this isn’t always the case, but a great number of gifts can be outgrown, broken, lost, or forgotten. Most people value good memories and positive life experiences much higher than personal possessions and novelty items. A thousand people can have the exact same item, but an experience is personal and one of a kind. Let’s take a surprise birthday party for example. What is remembered most? The surprise of family and friends, the celebration, spending time with loved ones, or the piles of wrapped gifts? If you were asked to tell of a time when you were certainly happy, it probably wouldn’t be when you received that pretty new sweater for Christmas, or even upon being gifted that new car for your 16th birthday. There is no doubt; some gifts are indeed awesome, such as a new car. However, there is no object in this world that can replace good company and life experiences. The purpose of life isn’t to accumulate objects is it? It’s to live. For that reason one of the best gifts you can give is the gift of experience, especially experiences shared with others. 3 Reasons Why Rafting Makes for A Great Experience Gift There are 3 good reasons that make Whitewater Rafting a great experience gift: The inherent adventure of rafting, the valued memories it creates with friends and loved ones, and the real world experience it gives in this digital age. Adventure Without a doubt, whitewater rafting is exciting, thrilling, and gets the adrenaline pumping. For someone who has never experienced it before, chances are it will be one of the most adventurous things they’ve ever done. This is especially true for multi-day trips where they truly get to experience the excitement of the outdoors beyond a few hours and, of course, depends on the actual river chosen. Some rivers or certain sections can be rather lazy in nature, which are great for younger or older folks. But if given the real paddle gripping, white-knuckle experience of a more difficult river, it’s an experience, and a gift, that won’t soon be forgotten. Shared Time and Memories Created One of the best parts about giving experience gifts is that the gift giver can experience them as well. Friends and family can join and this often makes the experience all the better if they do. Time on the river gives people a break from their hectic daily lives, and allows them to fully be in the moment while enjoying themselves in the process. Being able to share in that with them is meaningful. Having fun, trying something new or daring, going outside of what their normal daily expectations may be, is something to be cherished and remembered for a long time. Many times a whitewater rafting trip won’t be forgotten and I’m sure you can recall a few cherished memories yourself. Real World Experience… Not Virtual If the gift receiver rarely ventures outdoors into nature, they will literally sit in awe as they gaze at their surroundings. Some people tend to forget that the natural beauty of this world around rivers is well worth the journey to go view and explore it. Usually, you don’t get the whole picture viewing Earthporn online, such as the sights, sounds, taste, and feel of being present outdoors. Experiencing these scenes in real life is much more moving and meaningful to a person than viewing it through a computer screen. How many hours a day do you typically spend staring at a screen? Most of our daily lives are predominantly virtual, from shopping to banking, and socializing to working. Most of what we experience in a day occurs with a screen no more than a foot in front of our faces. An experience gift of whitewater rafting would change that and perhaps pump a little life back into the people going. Being outdoors and seeing the world with your own two eyes has oddly become something you have to coax people into doing. An experience gift is a great way to coax people into trying something new, different, and outdoors. There is more to giving a gift than wrapping a box and handing it over. Giving a gift is an opportunity to really show that you care for someone, and that they are worth giving a gift to in the first place. Don’t discount that idea and try to consider something that is sure to surprise. A guided whitewater rafting trip is only one such idea, and there are countless others. Horseback riding tours, zip lining adventures, scuba diving lessons, skydiving… there are many options. You just have to be clever, be thoughtful, and you’re gift will no doubt be sure to surprise and amaze. Who knows, perhaps we’ll even see you on the river soon. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, our utmost passion is being the best river rafting guides we can be. This ensures we offer the
How A Bad Day Fishing Beats A Good Day Of Channel Surfing
Inspirational author William Arthur Ward once observed, “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.” However not everyone plays sports to keep score. Some people consider their best chance at playing a sport to be something others might classify as a recreational pastime, like fishing! When you see someone sitting in a boat in a body of water, relaxing on the bank of a river or lake, or standing on the beach with fishing pole in hand, it is easy to assume that this person is just lazing away the day. However fishing carries some pretty hefty health benefits, in some cases as much as playing a team sport! Health Benefits of Fishing The National Hunting and Fishing Day website reports that on the average, each year more than 44 million Americans who are age 6 or older spend time fishing. They might the country’s many lakes, rivers, and streams, or along the coastal areas, such as in an ocean or a bay. And that is good news, because that means 44 million Americans are getting off the couch and taking part in some kind of physical activity! This hobby is not just for sportsmen, as entire families spend time fishing together. Here are a few of the health benefits frequently associated with this recreational pastime. Low Impact – Fishing is not physically demanding, which means it does not take a lot of stamina or strength. This makes fishing the perfect sport for people of all ages, in most cases even ones faced with some type of health challenge. Heart Friendly – Walking from your vehicle to the fishing spot and reeling in the fish at the other end of the line both exercise your heart, while the stress-free times of waiting in between bites allows you to relax which helps lower your blood pressure. Fresh Air and Sunshine– Being outside means breathing in fresh air and soaking up some extra Vitamin D from the sun. Even if you suffer from seasonal allergies, there are steps you can take to enjoy being outdoors any time of the year to fish. Relaxing – When you are outdoors taking part in a recreational activity like fishing, you leave the stress of work and home behind. Stress free fishing allows you to clear your mind, relax, and perhaps even inspire your creative juices. Recreational fishing has no deadlines. Nobody keeps score about how many fish you caught or the details about the ones that got away. And unless you are taking part in some type of fishing contest, there is no clear winner or loser when it comes to recreational fishing. It is not just everyday, average Americans who enjoy fishing. Some of the biggest names in sports also enjoy recreational fishing as a way to kick back and relieve stress, including former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, major league pitcher Mat Latos, PGA champion Tiger Woods, andNHL defenceman Ian White. Fishing Benefits – Not Just for Humans As you can see, who you are and the details of your lifestyle matter very little when it comes to this sport. While can enjoy the benefits of fishing just the same as anyone else, you are not the only one reaping the benefits! Fishing is as good for the environment as it is for the humans that take part in the sport. When you go fishing, you are supporting wildlife and fish management. Fishing often requires buying a license, and the fees for purchasing one go towards funding programs that contribute to conservation. Most importantly, fishing generates millions of dollars in taxes alone which supports jobs and boosts the economy. Finally fishing improves your diet. When sitting on the couch surfing the television channels, the refrigerator and kitchen are nearby, stocked with all sorts of foods. An afternoon of fishing limits you to what you pack in the cooler. Make sure you stock plenty of healthy treats and bottled water to avoid becoming dehydrated. And if you are up for the adventure of cleaning your catches, there is nothing like eating fresh fish that you catch yourself at the end of the day. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, being river runners we love fishing, but our passion is rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip, multi-day rafting trip, or want to try whitewater rafting the Salt River in Arizona, please be sure to contact us and find out what white water rafting trips we have available. Freelance writer Benjamin Baker loves camping and fly fishing in the wilderness around his home in Denver, Colorado. He even ties his own flies! Benjamin shares his home with his wife and their busy, growing teenage children.
