Nestle Expands Water Bottling to Arkansas River
Nestle bottles and sells spring water, which is normally sourced from California and other locations but as a result of the severe drought, now takes their water from the Arkansas River near Buena Vista, another drought area. Nestle is the umbrella company for many bottled water brands including Perrier, San Pellegrino, Ozarka, Poland Spring, Callistoga, Deer Park, Ice Mountain, and Zephyrhills. The water that is sourced from Colorado is labeled as Arrowhead, a name many are familiar with. Nestle Approved to Extract Water in Colorado Chaffee County approved Nestle’s application to extract water despite not meeting the criteria back in 2009 and Nestle can legally draw water from these Colorado aquifers. This means that Nestle draws anywhere between 250-510 million gallons of water each year from the Colorado River Basin and Arkansas River. Ecosystems at Risk for Profit Depleting crucial water from an ecosystem like the one surrounding Salida and the Arkansas River has deep impacts on the plant, wildlife, locals, and tourism around the area. The Colorado River Basin also supplies water to 40 million Americans. Where people usually get water for free or at a minimum cost, Nestle extracts this basic need for survival, bottles it, marks it up, and pockets about $4 billion per year in sales. Why buy bottled water when you can get it for free? On their website, Nestle states that they manage about 14,000 acres of natural watershed around 50 spring water sources and monitor the levels to ensure that they are replenished. Springs are where water first emerges from the earth but Nestle is known to pump ground water too. Unethical Behavior of Nestle Although Nestle says they are concerned with the environmental impact of removing spring water, they are frequently under fire for their questionable ethics. While obtaining the land around water sources, Nestle limits the access of the water by locals. In 2003, one of their brands, Poland Spring, was sued for false advertising as their “spring water” was actually pumped ground water that is heavily treated. Although it’s called Poland Springs, the water comes from multiple sources around Maine, one of which is the city of Poland. In addition, the water source stands over a former dump and below an illegal disposal site that was fertilized using sprayed human waste. When water is already pretty much free and sourced ethically, why buy water from a company that just moves from one drought area to another with deceptive marketing? Reusable water bottles are very affordable and filling up from the tap or filtering with a pitcher at home cuts back drastically on costs and keeps plastic bottles out of the streets, nature, and landfills. In 2012, only 9% of plastic waste was recycled. Let’s keep our planet healthy, sustainable, and a beautiful place to enjoy outdoors. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we love rafting and being on clean, healthy rivers. We are rated #1 on TripAdvisor and we offer exciting Colorado Rafting Trips, and Salt River whitewater rafting trips. Contact us today for more information.
What to Pack for an Overnight Rafting Trip
An overnight white water rafting trip seems easy enough to pack for as it’s not that long of a stay. However, with a trip like this, not over packing and bringing the right things is essential. A big part of what to consider packing depends greatly on where you will be geographically. For example, it may be really hot during the day in the desert but freezing at night so packing light gear on opposite ends of the temperature spectrum is imperative to a comfortable trip and for your survival. If you go with a river guide outfitter, you won’t need to worry about bringing meals but snacks will probably be a good idea. If you have any food allergies, it’s important to let them know beforehand so that you don’t go into anaphylactic shock. On that note, anything crucial to your well-being that is not included on this packing list is a must. Packing List for Overnight Rafting Trip Clothes to paddle in Shorts T-shirt Long pants Long-sleeved shirt Light or fleece jacket Underwear Swimming suit Plastic trash bag Small towel Toiletries Lip balm Rain jacket Bug repellant Head lamp Hat Canned beverages Water bottle Sleeping bag Small pillow Nylon tent Closed toed shoes Sunscreen Sandals with velcro straps Camp shoes Socks Camera (optional) Ziplock plastic bags for phones, keys, etc. At Wilderness Aware, we provide professional photography of your rafting trip so you don’t have to bring a camera if you don’t want. Most river guides will have dry bags you can use and first aid gear. You just need to think about what else would make your trip more enjoyable like bringing a deck of cards, a book, a Frisbee or your lucky socks. At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is white water rafting and the outdoors. If you’re interested in an overnight Colorado Rafting Trip, or Salt River whitewater rafting, check out which whitewater rafting trips we have available for more information.
Survival Tools to Keep on Hand
You don’t have to be out in the middle of the woods to keep a survival kit on you. On the other hand, it’s great to have a few tools on yourself without going overboard, just in case. While we can go into depth about to keep in a daypack or a go bag, we’re going to go the Hatchet route and cover the bare necessities here. These are the survival tools to keep with you with you wherever you go and you’ll wonder why you ever left home without them. Pocket Knife The classic pocket knife is definitely an essential multi-purpose tool. Of course, you can cut your apple at lunch with it but it also can be used for many forms of defense. A knife alone is better than nothing, especially if you aren’t familiar with defensive tactics. You can also use a knife to whittle down the end of a stick for a spear either to defend or to spear fish with if your aim and dexterity are good enough. When tied to the end of a stick, your pocket knife is a primitive bayonet minus the bullets. Aside from being a sharp weapon, knives come in handy for digging, harvesting food, cutting up fabric for bandages, hammering, as a screwdriver, a stake, and creating tinder. Also, you never know when you want to cut the price tag off a new shirt you got so you can wear it right away. Paracord A paracord bracelet may not be your style of choice, but for the utilitarian, its uses are endless. Although the paracord is a bit bulky, they tend to be 8-20 feet of rope that you can unravel. Use the finer pieces for many things like sewing torn clothing, repairing broken equipment, make a clothes line, use as floss, and create a trip wire. For larger pieces, use it to replace broken shoe strings, hang a bear bag, tie down items, or tie yourself to a friend when crossing rivers, caught in the snow, or traveling in the dark. While you can lower yourself with paracord, it is not a good replacement to climbing rope. You can save yourself though by using it to make a shelter, use as fishing wire, as a tourniquet, or to mark your path for efficiently than Hansel & Greta. Flint, Steel, & a Tuna Can Flint and steel come together in a small rectangle that is easy to keep anywhere like your keychain or bag. The tuna can though should have fire starting materials in it though like cotton balls, shredded paper, or wood shavings. There are two ways to use the tuna can, you can either make a small fire inside it or you can make a fire on the ground, collect water in your tuna can and boil it over the fire. Whether you’re lost in the woods or your car dies on the side of the road, you can be sure that you’ll have some heat and clean water if there’s a water source nearby. Water Staying hydrated is no laughing matter and unfortunately many people neglect water. Keeping a water bottle with you at all times is a good reminder to drink up and if you’re stuck in traffic, just ran a mile, or it’s just really, really hot out, you’ll be able to save your own sanity and will to live with every sip you have on hand. In other cases, water can be used to rinse out a cut, cool yourself down, or to wash off. At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip, multi-day rafting trip, or want to try Salt River whitewater rafting, browse our white water rafting trips here.
The Best Waterproof Cameras for Whitewater Rafting
We love taking action shots on the river whether it’s with a digital camera or the CableCam and guests often wonder, what’s the best waterproof camera to take along for rafting trips? Deciding on the best all-around waterproof cameras requires considering the integrity, construction, durability, and actual waterproof ability of the camera. We also focus on those can also take fantastic movement shots as rafting is a sport continually in motion. Other activities in motion that you are likely to take your waterproof camera on are trips like hiking, kayaking, off-roading, to the beach, and more. Having a camera that you can rely on through each adventure is all that we ask for. Optical zoom, pixels, design, shock absorbance, size, anti-motion blur, and price are important to consider when choosing the right camera. Here is our list of the best waterproof cameras for whitewater rafting. Panasonic Lumix TS5 Why It’s Awesome: Built with WiFi technology, there are many features on this camera that allows you to utilize your smartphone or tablet to make things easier. For example, once you snap an image, you can quickly view and share it on your smartphone or tablet using Near Field Communication or edit with effects on the camera. Record videos using the camera or control it from a distance too. Take pictures in and out of water or under water. Another bonus is a built-in GPS allowing you to identify your location. Average Price: $279.99 Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.65 x 1.14 inches Weight: 214 grams Megapixels: 16.1 megapixels Optical Zoom: 4.6x LCD Size: 3 inches Waterproof: 13 m/43 ft Shockproof: 2 m/6.6 ft Dustproof: Keeps out sand or dust particles Freezeproof: -10°C/14°F Pressure Resistance: 100 kgf Anti-Motion Blur: Available Nikon COOLPIX AW110 Why It’s Awesome: A camera meant for exploring, the COOLPIX has a built-in GPS and Electronic compass, which also shows nearby Points of Interest. Using the Nikon View NX2 software, you can share your adventures online. Sensitive images CMOS sensors allow you to take low-light photos without a flash but not necessarily the best at this trick. Average Price: $249.95 Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.0 inches Weight: 6.9 oz/193 g Megapixels: 16.1 megapixels Optical Zoom: 5x LCD Size: 3 inches Waterproof: 18 m/59 ft for 60 minutes Shockproof: 2 m/6.6 ft Humidity Resistance: Less than 85% Freezeproof: -10°C/14°F on land & 0°C/32°F underwater Crushproof: 100 kgf/220 lbf Anti-Motion Blur: Available with Lens-shift Vibration Reduction & Automatic Motion Detection Olympus TG-2 iHS Why It’s Awesome: This camera is built around underwater shooting, including an ultra-bright, high-speed f2.0 lens for low light action. The water-repellent lens coating lets you focus on shooting rather than wiping off droplets. Also and adventuring camera, it includes a GPS and e.Compass with the ability to mark your location on a map using a manometer that detects and records elevation, water depth, and warns you when you get too deep. Give your images a quick edit using 11 filters and beauty makeup mode. Average Price: $379.99 Dimensions: 4.4 x 2.6 x 1.0 inches Weight: 6.9 oz/193 g Megapixels: 12 megapixels Optical Zoom: 4x LCD Size: 3 inches Waterproof: 15 m/50 ft Shockproof: 2.1 m/7ft Dustproof: Yes Freezeproof: -10°C/14°F Crushproof: 100 kgf/220 lbf Anti-Motion Blur: Available with Lens-shift Vibration Reduction & automatic Motion Detection Pentax WG-3 GPS Why It’s Awesome: This rugged-looking design appeals to adventurers with a fast lens. It includes 6 LEDs for macro mode shooting that can get as close as 1 centimeter from the lens. The close zoom is effective with underwater shooting as targets need to be as close as possible for clarity. However, it does struggle with low-light shots. A plus for charging is its ability to utilize inductive charging (aka “wireless charging”). Like the other cameras, it has a built-in GPS for geotagging and a digital compass with pressure sensor, altitude, and direction sensors. Average Price: $299.95 Dimensions: 2.5 x 4.9 x 1.3 inches Weight: 8.4 oz/239 g Megapixels: 16.0 megapixels Optical Zoom: 4x LCD Size: 3 inches Waterproof: 13.7 m/45 ft Shockproof: 2 m/6.6 ft Freezeproof: -10°C/14°F Crushproof: 100 kgf/220 lbf Anti-Motion Blur: Available with Lens-shift Vibration Reduction & automatic Motion Detection Nikon 1 AW1 Why It’s Awesome: The most expensive of these cameras, it comes with a 11-27mm kit lens, the world’s first interchangeable underwater lens. All Nikon lenses are also compatible with this sleek camera. It’s WiFi compatible with a built-in GPS and lets you share images on your smartphone. Average Price: $749.95 Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.9 x 1.5 inches Weight: 11.1 oz/313 g Megapixels: 14.2 megapixels Optical Zoom: 5x LCD Size: 3 inches Waterproof: 14.9 m/49 ft Shockproof: 2 m/6.6 ft Dustproof: Yes Freezeproof: -10°C/14°F Crushproof: No Anti-Motion Blur: Available Once you’re ready to take your future new waterproof digital camera on its first adventure, be sure to check out our whitewater rafting trips for your camera’s first rafting trip.
5 Must Haves For Outdoor Enthusiasts
The great outdoors gives people a chance to enjoy nature and wildlife. Particularly as people grow older, they appreciate more the serenity and peace that being around nature provides. Whether someone is hiking or going on a camping trip, they will be able to immerse themselves in a world different from the manmade one that they live in most of the time. But outdoor enthusiasts also need to come prepared for the great outdoors, because they often have to deal with less than hospitable terrain. So here are five must-haves that an outdoor enthusiast should have. One: A Portable Shade Canvas Even the most ardent outdoor enthusiast will need a break from the sun, and may also want to enjoy a meal under the shade. Bringing a portable shade canvas on a camping excursion makes this all the more possible. Lightweight and easy to transport, portable shade canvases can be quickly set up to provide a much needed respite from a hot sun. Being under the sun too long isn’t just about discomfort either, sometimes people can have serious heat strokes when staying in the sun too long, and a shade canvas can give an outdoor enthusiast temporary shade and protection. Two: Hiking Boots Another must have for outdoor enthusiasts is a durable and high-quality pair of hiking boots. This is particularly important for people who are serious hikers, and travel through rough terrain. To avoid injury having a pair of reliable hiking boots will go a long way towards navigating through a forest or park. Three: Jerky Jerky is a dried meat that is perfect food for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s lightweight, easy to transport, and basically non-perishable. Jerky is easy to store in ziplock bags to take as a snack anywhere someone wants to go with no mess. Jerky comes in a variety of flavors such as teriyaki, and can either be made with turkey or beef. Found at pretty much any gas station around the world, jerky is a typical and convenient hiking food. Four: Lightweight Backpack Having a durable and high-quality lightweight backpack is essential to any outdoor excursion. It will be needed to store the basic essentials someone will need, particularly if they are planning on going on an extended hike or camping trip. The backpack will have to be lightweight, so that it will be as easy as possible to carry water and other items that may be needed in the outdoors, such as bug repellant to keep the outing as enjoyable as possible. Five: First Aid Kit A portable first aid kid is absolutely essential for every outdoor enthusiast to have. Accidents always seem to happen when least expected, and they easily can happen when trying to navigate tricky terrain. First aid kits are especially important to have when someone gets hurt far away from the nearest doctor’s office or hospital. Prompt treatment can help an injured person until he is able to get professional medical care. Enjoying the great outdoors is a wonderful way to reconnect with the natural world, and many people love spending time with nature and wild life. By being prepared, outdoor enthusiasts will have an even better time enjoying the outdoors. At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is truly rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip, multi-day rafting trip, or want to try whitewater rafting on the Salt River in Arizona, please be sure to contact us and find out what trip offerings we have available. Burt Thompson is an outdoorsman who enjoys hiking, camping and fishing in his time off from work. He works for Quik Shade designing products.
The Family Mountain Biking Checklist
Apart from being a great individual sport, mountain biking is also a fun and healthy activity for the whole family. As mountain biking is quickly becoming one of the most popular family activities around the world we decided to write this simple five point checklist to help you plan your first or next family mountain biking excursion. This is in no way an exhaustive list, but will give you a good idea of what’s important to remember. 1. Essentials The two things on the checklist you’re most likely not to forget, but frequently do, the bikes and helmets. Get your bikes out of storage, and put them where they belong before you doing anything else to avoid having to explain to mom and children how you forgot to bring little David’s bike to the biking trip. If you don’t have helmets yet, get them, most trails will require that everyone in your group wear helmets and it’s a good thing to teach children to wear helmets from a young age. 2. Personal Health A helmet will protect you and the family from a hard fall, but as mountain biking is inherently an outside activity you’ll be exposed to the elements throughout the trip. These items aren’t required, but will save you a lot of problem later on. A hydration pack or water bottle for hydration, gloves, eye patches or face mask, first aid kit, weatherproof clothing, sunscreen and footwear made for biking! 3. Protection If you’re really serious about protecting yourself and willing to go full out with your kit, you can look at taking some of the following items with you. Insect repellent if you’re in an insect prone area, camoi cream for sores or inflammation, a full face helmet for complete face protection, cell phone to call emergency services, extra food in case you need to survive somewhere for a while and toilet paper to protect your dignity. 4. Navigation Mountain biking is great because it takes you into nature away from the bustling city, but this also means that there won’t be signs showing you where to go, so knowing where to go is up to you. If you can afford it take along a GPS with your route planned out beforehand, but if you don’t get the GPS at minimum you should have a compass which you know how to use. Also take a taillight, headlight, emergency whistle and lock if you plan on sleeping over somewhere. 5. Repairs There’s a 99% chance you’ll have to stop somewhere to do repairs to one of the bikes, that’s just part of mountain biking, fortunately, if you have the right gear, you can repair nearly anything right there next to the road. Some of the most important repair items to take along include a spare tube, pump, multi-tool and patch kit. If you want to be over prepared, which is a good thing, you can also take along brake cables, chain tool, pressure gauge, and replacement chain links and spoke wrench. Jason O’Reilly is an avid bicycle rider, professional product reviewer and all-around outdoorsman.
What Every Rafting Survival Kit Should Contain
Items Everyone Should Have In Their Rafting Survival Kit Most people understand that it’s better to be safe than sorry. Preparedness doesn’t just happen by chance alone, and a bit of foresight and planning must go into making any precautionary measures. This is especially true when deciding on what your rafting survival kit should contain. You don’t have to think that by making one you are expecting the worst to happen, just that if it was to, you would be ready. If you are planning a rafting adventure of your own this summer, be sure to go over this list and ensure that you have the contents with you in a dry bag, one that can be lashed to the raft itself. One other note is that this survival kit is big and can be because the raft will be carrying it until it is needed. Most survival kits for other situations would be much smaller as you would be forced to carry it, but since that is not the case here, it’s best to bring anything that could be needed and sift through it when the time comes. With that said, let’s go over this list and explain what the items are needed for. Necessary Rafting Survival Kit Contents Bandana: A bandana is an all around great item to have on you. Can be used to shield your head from the sun, wrap up cuts or abrasions, kept wet and wrapped around your neck to stay cool, or any other number of purposes. Try to have at least one, but two or three could never hurt. Belt Knife: A belt knife is one that should stay on your person at all times, and is kept on your belt so as not to fall out of your pocket. It is also easily accessible in case you need it in the moment. For instance, in the event you are tossed out of the raft and managed to get wrapped up in cords underwater, the knife can be used to cut yourself free. Beyond that, a knife is one of the most crucial items to have as its overall versatility and potential uses are endless. Bug Netting: When in a survival situation, any annoyance is going to be heightened and made worse. For most people, bugs make the top of the list for annoyances outdoors. A proper bug net will shield you from these pesky critters at time when your nerves are already going to be shot. Candle: If you can help avoid sitting in the dark, you will surely be happier. They are also useful for keeping a flame going in case you dont have much dry material around you to use. Metal Cup: Your going to want something to boil water in, and a metal cup is the best option for that without having to carry bulky pots. Hot water will raise your spirits if your cold, as well as your body temperature. You can also steep pine needles and other edible plants to receive a few extra vitamins and calories. Boiled water is also one of the best ways to kill bacteria in water that would otherwise make you sick. Dried Food: Dried food is good for a long time as it doesn’t spoil, and for that purpose is perfect to take in a survival kit of any sort. Duct Tape: If anything in the world breaks, it can be fixed, fastened, or wrapped up in duct tape. Its uses are endless, and you should always have some of it with you. Fire-Starting Device: Magnesium strips and flint, friction starters, or anything really is better than nothing. Even a basic lighter will make you extremely happy when you want to start a fire. Tinder: Tinder of any sort is extremely useful when everything around you is damp or wet. It will be needed to start the base of a fire so that a larger one can be built up on top of that. Even picking up things along the way as you find them is a useful habit to get into. Dry wood chips, moss, pine needles, and the like will all do the trick. First Aid Kit: Should be pretty self-explanatory. An entire article could be devoted to this item alone, and as such, you should research what is best needed for a first aid kit, as often times, they are dictated by the region and climate you will be in. Fishing Equipment: Anything helps when trying to scavenge for and find food. Fishing lines, hooks, lures, and lead weights will all come in handy. The pole itself is not necessary, and if truly wanted, could be fashioned in the field. Flares: No better way to signal for help in the night. Best used if you know a party is nearby or that you hear a plane or helicopter overhead. Flashlight: Again, no one likes being beholden to the dark. Can also be used to flag down emergency responders at night. Wire Saw: Folding saws, hatchets, and any other number of sawing instruments would work. But mainly these are needed for either making shelter, or some other form of device such as a hauling sled or raft. A wire saw though is lightweight, flexible, and gets the same job done in the end without having to worry over carrying a sharp saw in your otherwise waterproof bag. Orange Garbage Bags: Bright colors are best in daytime for allowing emergency personnel the best chance to spot you. You can tied one to the top of a stick and carry that around as you walk as a sort of flag. Garbage bags themselves also have a great number of other uses that make them worthy of being included in this list. GPS Unit: A functioning GPS will be your best friend for telling you exactly how lost you are. It will tell you where you need to go, as well as geographical formations to avoid, such as steep mountains, or sheer ravines. Makes trekking out yourself quite a bit easier. Map & Compass: If you don’t have a GPS, or the one you had has failed you, it’s time to rely on what
What to Wear White Water Rafting
Clothing Items To Be Brought On A Multi-Day Rafting Trip It doesn’t matter what endeavor is being undertaken, the proper clothing can make unpleasant conditions bearable, while having improper clothing can even make pleasant conditions nightmarish. Bellow is going to be a short list of the absolutely necessary clothing items that should be taken when going on a multi-day rafting trip. Shoes Most people might think that when you’re going rafting, you’re not going to need any shoes at all considering you will sitting in a raft all day. If that was the case, then yes, the no shoe rule would apply. However, that is probably not the case in 99% of instances. You will want shoes for when you are both boarding and exiting the raft, as many times you will have to walk across rocks. Also, if you are ejected from the raft while going through rapids, having shoes on will help to protect your feet from rocks and debris you will be passing over. Ideally you would want a water shoe, but if you do not have that, sandals with straps will suffice. You can also wear sneakers, you just want to make sure the shoes you wear are not heavy in themselves, and can allow water to escape. Shirts It is critical to keep yourself covered while whitewater rafting as you will most likely be exposed to the sun the most of the time you are on the river. Being exposed to the sun for that long can cause sun stroke, heat stroke, sun burns, and dehydration. Also, the river water will reflect much of the sunlight that wouldn’t have hit you, so you are receiving much more sun than is normal. You will want to pack shirts that dry easily, which means they shouldn’t be cotton. But rather, polyester or nylon. Anything that wicks easily will be useful, you may think having a shirt thats wet will keep you cool, which is true. But come nightfall, if your shirts cannot dry, you’re gonna be cold. Pants/Shorts It is probably wise to cover your lower half equally as much as your upper. But considering it will be more difficult for the sun to reach your lower half when you’re sitting, you can probably get away with wearing shorts over pants. Though, you will want to be aware of the weather conditions that will be present. If it’s going to be cooler, you may want to wear pants. You will want to wear shorts/pants that dry quickly as you will not want them to remain wet come nightfall. If the weather is cooler, it will also be better during the day if your pants are dry to keep your body warmth up. You will want to avoid cotton for this reason, and stick with a canvas type or polyester. Eye Wear You will be very happy if you remember to bring your sunglasses whilst river rafting Colorado as the water will be reflecting the light into your face no matter which way you turn. It will also keep the water from splashing into your eyes, which will help to keep you focused on paddling. You are going to be in direct sunlight most of the time, so unless you don’t care to be squinting the entire day, you would be wise to remember your sun glasses. Hopefully this will help to show that you cant roll out to go rafting a Colorado river in whatever you woke up in. It is essential to wear clothes that dry quickly, and cover your upper body well enough to avoid as much direct sunlight as possible. The clothes that have been described are solely for the rafting bit of a trip. You will want warmer clothes to wear come nightfall as your body will be chilled from rafting all day. So fleece pants and a sweater will make you very happy when you are trying to warm up and enjoy the evening. Colorado River rafting and white water rafting the Arkansas river present a unique problem. You are going to be hot during the day but cannot be exposed to the sun, you will want the water to cool you off, but you’ll need to dry out. So if these issued can be addressed and handled prior to beginning the trip, you will have a much more pleasant time overall.
The Various Types Of WhiteWater Craft
If you haven’t spent much time near a river, then you may only know of a few types of whitewater crafts that are available for whitewater rafting. Or you may only have seen certain ones in photos or in videos, but you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that there are quite a few different types. Just as with any other activity, there have been numerous innovations over the years to handle specific needs. We are going to touch on a few of the more common crafts found in rivers these days and why they are in use. Kayaks First we should mention the most well known of all white water rafting crafts, the Kayak. There are two types of Kayaks, Sea Kayaks and Whitewater Kayaks. Sea Kayaks are traditionally longer, less maneuverable, and handle better in water that is not flowing quickly. Whitewater Kayaks are better specialized to deal with water that is flowing up over and onto the deck. They are also shorter and more maneuverable, and stable in turbulent water. If either style of Kayak is flipped, they can be righted by means of an Eskimo Roll. Whitewater Kayaks are easier in this manner, as there is simply less boat to muscle. Rafts Rafts are by far the most common of all water crafts, they are what you normally see rafting companies use for whitewater rafting trips. They are significantly more stable than Kayaks, but equally less maneuverable. Rafts are inflatable, and made from high strength fabric coated with PVC, Urethane, and Neoprene. Most rafts are large enough to carry multiple passengers, though there are single person whitewater rafts available. Catarafts Catarafts are built from the same material as Rafts. Though specialty Catarafts can be made with a metal frame and are called Shredders. Typically, they are made from two inflatable pontoons on both sides of the craft and are bridged in the middle by a frame. In the middle, upon the fram, is where the seats are located and usually only hold a few passengers for whitewater rafting purposes. There is only one person rowing at a time, called the oarsman. The passengers are usually just along for the ride, having no real responsibilities. At times the oarsman will be guided by a spotter, but this is only when traversing difficult rapids and through areas where multiple obstructions persist. Catarafts can be any size, but generally they are smaller than rafts which helps to be more maneuverable. Canoes There are some people who prefer to keep it traditional upon a rafting vacation by using one of the oldest means to go rafting, the Canoe. Canoes were first created from tree trunks, but now a days they are made from fiberglass, Kevlar, and plastic. Spray covers can be added to keep water out from the hull, which then begins to resemble a Kayak, but generally they are left open. Often times, open Canoes have large airbags or foam pieces placed to the sides to help displace water in the boat when it becomes swamped. There are also holes towards the top rim of the Canoe, so if the raft does become swamped, the raft can be tipped towards one side to allow the water to escape. If a Canoe is rolled, it can be corrected just as a Kayak can, but it is quite a bit more difficult to accomplish. C1s C1s are very close in design to whitewater Kayaks, except rather than sitting as you do in a Kayak, in a C1 you kneel. The paddles used are also smaller, and only contain a single paddle rather than the double sided ones normally seen. They are a little shorter than Canoes, but a little longer than Kayaks. As you could assume, this means its more maneuverable than a Canoe, but less than a Kayak. McKenzie River Dory The McKenzie River Dory is a more traditional hard sided craft. It is generally wide with a flat bottom, flared sides, a narrow and flat bow, and pointed stern. This design allows the craft to spin about on its center which makes it extremely maneuverable. These crafts are used specifically for running rapids where maneuverability is paramount, where positioning is important when entering difficult and turbulent stretches. River Bugs River Bugs are by far the most minimalist of all whitewater crafts. They are essentially a glorified tire tube. The raft is shaped as a horseshoe, where the rafter is positioned in the middle with their feet pointed toward the open end. A mesh or plastic seat is provided in the middle to keep you in place, and an inflated back rest to lean against to avoid being struck by rocks. You paddle with your feet and hands which makes them less maneuverable than you might imagine. However, there really isn’t much steering required, you essentially hold on for the ride as your shot through the rivers torrents. If you intend to go on a salt river rafting or a Colorado river rafting trip, then you are going to want to familiarize yourself with the types of crafts available as they are not all the same, nor can they be handled the same. If you wanted to take an Arizona whitewater rafting or Colorado whitewater rafting trip that is planned by experienced tour guides. Then visit www.inaraft.com to see what options are available.
The Necessary Equipment Needed When Venturing Into The Wild
If you are intending to make your way into the wild, be sure you are prepared. Whether you are taking a white water rafting trip, a 4×4 jeep tour, or are simply going horseback riding, there are certain items that you will be thankful to have if for some reason the circumstances turn against you. For example, if you went on a mountain bike trip and after traveling 30 or 40 miles into the wilderness, your tire goes flat and cannot be repaired. Or even if you get lost, and cannot find your way back to your car or camp before nightfall, you are not going to be too pleased to realize that in your backpack all you brought was a litre of water, your camera, sunscreen, and a few energy snacks. Normally this would suffice a less adventurous afternoon outing. But when the fun ride turns into a situation of survival, you will be very let down when you realize you do not have the necessary items which would make your position significantly easier. These core items are the same regardless of the activity you are engaged in. We will discuss these items, why they are important, and how you can have them on your person without adding to much weight to your load. Because these items should always be with you, no matter the outdoor activity. If you are in the wild for any reason, it is better to be prepared now than wishing you were later on. It is recommended that you have a survival bag containing all of these items, and that bag is with you all the time when venturing into the wild. That point cannot be stressed enough. Potable water is a critical component to any survival situation. So a means to purify and store water is necessary. Water storage is easily assured by always having an indestructible water bottle with you. Though for extra safety measures, having a collapsable larger container can help, as litre of water doesn’t go all that far in the desert. Also, an extra lightweight means to store water in case of an emergency are condoms. The larger magnum condoms can hold a decent amount of water, and the plastic is durable enough that it wont break if stored safely. To purify water, there are many options available. Iodine tablets should always be in your bag, but there are also water purification pumps, and even light sticks which kill bacteria, but leave debris and particles behind. The choice of water purification is up to you, but you should always have some means to purify water. Fire is another important component to a survival situation. The means to create that fire then is critical. Water and weather proof matches will do the trick, so have a few stored in your bag, preferably in a ziplock baggy to protect it from water. To make them more reliable, melt wax and dip the tip of the matches into the wax. This will help to keep them dry if exposed to water and reduces the wear on the match head over time. A magnesium strip with an attached flint can be purchased at most outdoor stores, and is by far the safest measure you can take to ensure that you have a reliable means to create fire. The reason for this is that the magnesium is guaranteed to create a decent quick flare of fire given enough magnesium shavings. Where as a lighter can become wet, or run out of fluid, and matches can age or not work entirely if they become wet as well. If you want to be extra clever, you can carry a small magnifying glass which can create a fire with the aid of the sun. It doesn’t hurt to have safety measures for your safety measures, so having multiple means to make fire should be considered. It should be noted that fire has multiple purposes beyond warmth, it can help to purify water, it bolster moral, but most important it can be used as a signal to rescuers as to your whereabouts. Making a fire and burning fresh growth from trees will create much more smoke than that of dead and dried branches. It wont burn as long, but as a signal, it is preferable. A utility tool, such as a Leatherman, can come in handy for any number of circumstances. These tools can come in a wide array of useful configurations. They can contain knives, saws, files, screwdrivers, tweezers, pliers, almost anything your mind can imagine. Browse through a few before purchasing one as they are expensive and you will want to find a utility tool that will suit you best. Though, a knife, saw, and pliers are probably the most important. After that, it all depends on the persons wants and what they think will help them best in their endeavors. First Aid kits are useful depending on if they are equipped properly. But how they are equipped is entirely up to you. A lot of weight can be saved by skipping out on a few items, but that of course is all dependent on what the person feels safe going into the wild with. Bandages, Wraps, Gauze, Disinfectant, Advil, Anti-Histamines, essentially anything can be added which you feel may be useful in case of an emergency. The last thing needed in your light survival kit is the means to find your way out, or to bring attention to your location. This can be accomplished with many brands of compasses that have a signaling mirror attached to them. The compass is only good if you know how to use it, so educate yourself on the many uses a compass can have. The site mirror is to signal low flying rescue planes. At times you may be difficult to spot from the air, so signaling a plane with a mirror by reflecting sunlight at the aircraft will help to bring attention to your position. So to
