Footwear FAQ: Can I Wear Flipflops?
Trust us, you’re not the first to ask this question – it can be tricky figuring out what to wear if you are not used to fast flowing rivers. Here are all the secrets to keeping your feet happy while whitewater rafting. The first step is to leave your flipflops home. If you really can’t let go, leave them in the car at least so you have something easy to wear after your trip. Now, let’s meet our options: Booties Imagine a thick, mid-calf height neoprene sock with a zipper or some Velcro straps to fasten it on and a seriously grippy sole. These things are called booties and are the most popular footwear option among our guests. Booties trap water inside allowing your body heat to warm it up and keep your feet cozy all day. Most of our guests rent a pair of booties directly from us, we have the option to rent them separately or as a part of our “Be Warm!” package. Secure Sandals (AKA Chacos/Tevas) These sandals are a staple of any river rat’s wardrobe. Within this world, the most popular brands are Chacos and Tevas. To an untrained eye, there’s not much of a difference but there are a few subtle differences. Chacos use a loop system where you adjust the strap length to tighten or loosen the sandal. In my experience, the sole is beefier and it takes a few days for your foot to feel comfortable. Tevas are secured with Velcro straps and have a squishier sole. Chacos tend to be more popular on the river since they are a little more rugged. Old Sneakers If you have a beater pair of running shoes you don’t care about, these make a great option for rafting. Old sneakers work well because they have a nice thick sole and the laces fasten tightly to your feet preventing them from getting lost to the water’s currents. Before you don your old shoes, remember these will definitely have some sort of smell from the river water so make sure you’re fully willing to sacrifice them. Bonus: What about socks??? Slap on a pair of wool or neoprene socks and you will be set. Cotton socks are a terrible idea because they will get wet and stay wet throughout the trip keeping your feet cold. Socks are typically a good idea when wearing river sandals or old sneakers. When worn with booties, they do not offer much additional benefit so I suggest skipping them. Definitely stash a pair of cozy socks in your car for afterwards – your toes will thank you!
How to Protect Your Cell Phone
We all know cell phones and water do not go well together, so how does one protect a cell phone for a whitewater rafting trip? Our best advice: You Don’t. This is a bold claim to make, so let’s back it up. The reason I say don’t bother with protecting your cell phone is because there is no good reason to bring it along in the first place. When packing for your trip – ask yourself, “Why do I want this?”. Most folks don’t have the time to snap selfies while paddling (your guide will have a heart attack if you try and pull this off during a rapid). There are professional photographers posted up at the major rapids on our Browns Canyon rafting and Arkansas River rafting trips so you’ll still get your action shots. Slap a GoPro on top of your helmet or pick up a disposable waterproof camera from our gift shop and you’ll be set to capture the memories. With the need for photos eliminated, and inconsistent cell service in most of the areas we raft in, my advice is to leave your phone in the car, but if you must, here are your options: 1. Waterproof If this is your first time rafting, definitely plan on getting wet. Even your secret dry spot in the center of the raft is bound to get wet at some point. With this in mind, waterproofing your phone is a must. There are a few different approaches like waterproof cellphone cases or sealable waterproof pouches – just make sure you do a test at home first to verify water will not sneak in. 2. Secure I almost always keep my cell phone in a pocket. Most of the time this approach is fabulous, except of course, on the river. For whitewater rafting, you’ll want to make sure your phone is physically attached to something else. For example, this can be something like a wearing a necklace style waterproof pouch (available for purchase at our gift shop). These work well because your phone is easily tucked into your PFD where it is both super secure and easily accessible. Another option is storing your phone in a drybag attached to the raft. The main goal is to keep your phone from being loose and easily tossed out of the raft as we go over bumps and rapids. 3. Float People often fixate on buying the best waterproof case and leave it at that thinking they prepared appropriately. This is only half the battle! What will happen if you drop your phone? Unless you are really lucky or have ninja-like reflexes, chances are it will sink. As silly is at sounds, attaching a floatation device could potentially save you hundreds of dollars. Something brightly colored is your best bet since it will easily stand out in the water. If you can confidently say your phone is waterproof, secured, and capable of floating you will be in much better shape for bringing it on the water. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we have been the premier Buena Vista rafting trip outfitter since 1976! We guide Browns Canyon white water rafting trips, which is one of the most popular stretches to raft in U.S.! If you’re looking for a true Colorado adventure, be sure to book a trip with us, we’d love to show a good time on the river.
Staying Warm Outdoors – Infographic
You can buy all the fancy warm clothes you want, but if you aren’t wearing them in the right combination, it can be near impossible to staying warm outdoors on cold days and nights. There’s actually a specific way to layer your clothes for optimal warmth that is also still comfortable for outdoor activities. Find out whether or not you’re doing it right below and what pieces you should pick up on your next trip to the store. What are your favorite layering tips or articles of clothing to stay warm outdoors? Tell us in the comments below! At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we love whitewater rafting and spending time outdoors, even when it’s cold. Rated #1 on TripAdvisor, we offer whitewater rafting trips, horseback rides, zip line tours, and many raft trip packages. Contact us or request a brochure to plan your Colorado trip today.
What it Takes to Be a Rafting Guide
If your love of white water rafting is putting thoughts in your head of becoming a rafting guide, then it would be worth pursuing that dream if you have the passion for it. Rafting doesn’t require you to quit your day job since it’s a seasonal job and it allows you to do what you love while having the opportunity to pursue other goals or have a job that pays the bills. Being a rafting guide is a lot more convenient for those with a more open job schedule like teachers, firefighters and EMS, personal trainers, or people who work part-time, and students. Some are rafting guides during the summer and work at ski resorts during the winter. It is still possible though to have a regular full-time job and work as a raft guide during the weekends. When seriously considering the idea of becoming a rafting guide, these are the things you should know. Step 1: Applying for the Job Essentially, don’t worry about not having experience before applying, you will get on-the-job training. Next, ask yourself if you are up for the biggest part of being a rafting guide besides playing on the river each day—am I up for entertaining and educating guests regularly? Guests expect to have a great time rafting and it is up to the guide to provide that great experience. With Wilderness Aware Rafting, we require a two season commitment and are a drug-free environment. We are also specifically a tobacco-free company. Be sure to thoroughly read through the application before filling it out and remember that even though it is a fun job, professionalism is important. The next step involves a phone interview. If you are chosen to move on after the phone interview, then you will have a 5-day interview river trip. Interview River Trip The interview river trip is a working interview for 5 days where you learn rafting and camping techniques and get the opportunity to do them. This helps us see how well you take working in that environment and allows you to get a real feel for what the job is actually like. This requires you to pay for your trip to Arizona and get to our location on the Salt River and also pay for the cost of the 5-day rafting trip, which is at a steep discount. We do provide meals and rafting gear. Before coming out on this trip, it would be helpful to condition yourself physically since rafting and camping are physical activities. Working out your arms and core muscles will go a long way to making it a fun trip, especially for 5 days. If you can go through the 5 day interview with a great attitude and do well, then likely we’ll ask you to join us during the Guide Training Course. Guide Training Course The guide training course is three weeks long and free. The normal cost of the course is valued at $1,500. There are a couple things to keep in mind though. Trainees must be CPR and First Aid certified so get that before coming to this. Since you’ll be with us for three weeks, we provide housing that requires rent and you’ll be assigned a unit with 2-4 roommates. Here, you’ll learn in more detail what it takes to be a rafting guide from paddle techniques to rope tying to water safety and rescue. Everyone who completes this course is guaranteed employment. Hiring & Working Once hired as a rafting guide, you’ll get to enjoy many days on the river and find out how much fun we have and why we love being rafting guides. Expect the workload at the beginning of the season and end to be lighter. Many rafting guides love rafting season because it’s like play and we all have a good time together. You get to meet new people every day and create lifelong memories for them as their rafting guide. If you’re interested in a whitewater rafting guide job, then check out our Guide Hiring Process and apply. More interested in whitewater rafting trips? Start planning your next rafting and adventure trip with us today.
Tips for Rafting Heavy Rivers
One of the best parts of Colorado white water rafting is gaining the ability to raft harder and more exciting rivers. We love taking on Mother Nature and the various challenges she throws our way. Even if you raft the same river year after year, it’s never quite the same. The various levels of water and time of year changes the shape of the river bends, the currents, and the obstacles. A significant contribution to the water level is the snow we get each winter in Colorado, so pray for snow! In the spring, it melts off the mountains and the runoff feeds into the rivers below. Depending on how quickly the snow melts, June will see heavy waters. If it melts gradually, then the rivers will flow pretty consistently but with a gradual increase, usually peaking in July and low enough to end the rafting season by Labor Day. When it comes to rafting high water, it can mean many things, but essentially, it means deeper water, faster currents, and higher risk. Keep your head in the game at all times. There’s a reason most of the country’s best white water rafters live in Colorado. Maneuvering You would think that with high water levels come more splash zones as you paddle downriver. However, high water usually covers up the boulders and rocks that the water splashes off of, thereby washing it out and creating big hydraulics but each wave is different. The parts of the river that are usually calm end up with new rapids. Faster currents makes maneuvering between each stroke more difficult as you are traveling quickly and will shorten your rafting trip. Sticking with a guide with many years of experience is your best bet at getting the team to be where you want them to be and avoid anybody falling out. They will know how sharp to turn the raft and the best parts to float over. Safety Higher water levels means faster currents and an increased safety risk. Be sure that your life vest is on you tightly, your helmet is covering your forehead, and you have the proper shoes to protect your feet if you were to fall in. It is even more crucial than usual that you get your feet pointed down river and floating on your back while guiding yourself to the nearest shoreline. The swift speed at which you are flowing downriver may lead to an increased recovery time by your raft mates to come rescue you too. If you are paddling with more than one boat, it’s better to stick closer together in case one needs to help the other. It also goes without saying but don’t drink alcohol before or during the rafting trip. Save the brewskies for celebrating afterwards. At Wilderness Aware Rafting we love white water rafting and enjoying the great outdoors. If you’re interested in rafting, check out the Salt River whitewater rafting or Colorado water rafting trips we have available. Want more adventure? We also have many other fun outdoor trips available.
How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse with Rafting Gear
If one of your hobbies is planning how to survive a zombie apocalypse, then you need to know what to do without your bug out bag when you are off having fun rafting and don’t have it on you. After all, if the Centers for Disease Control has a zombie apocalypse plan, then it is definitely worth knowing what to do to protect yourself during an outbreak in order to give you enough time to get back to your car and grab your 36 hour go bag. Sure, The Walking Dead and World War Z has taught you a thing or two on fighting off zombies out to chomp on your flesh, but they all have guns and combat training. What if they were paddling downriver in the wilderness? Here’s what you can do if you find out that dead cannibals are after your lively flesh. Armor First things first, you’re going to want protection from those rotting teeth. You already have a lifejacket on, protecting your core and back. If there’s an extra life jacket, cut it in half and tie each side to your arms to fend off and trick zombies trying to bite them. All rafters must wear a helmet and this protects your brain from being eaten and doubles for ramming through a wall of them. Just be sure to keep your neck straight and arms up to protect neck grabs with your arm armor. Weapons Next, unless you are in Silent Hill and can only run around and hide, a weapon is necessary for survival. Luckily for you, you carry a pocket knife as part of your everyday gear and have a paddle for skull bashing. If you have the time, cut off the end of the paddle to a point to stab zombies with or tie the pocket knife to the end. Taking a cue from the Maori, any wooden paddles would be easier for this purpose and will inflict more damage on the Zeds. The Maori used wooden paddles that came to a point called a hoe and also used them during war. Rest Get some rest from fending off zombies all day. If you are able to find a calm area of water or get the raft onto a lake, navigate it to the middle and drop and anchor to stabilize. Use a paracord rope to tie a large rock present style so it doesn’t slip off easily. Zombies can’t swim or climb ropes but if they could, climbing over the side of a raft is hard enough when you’re not a zombie. Escape If you’re traveling by foot and find yourself cornered, having a paracord or rope from the raft is handy for climbing up or descending down to get away from those biters. Tie it around a tree trunk or throw it over a strong branch with a weight on it to make it easier like a carabineer. Pull the other end of the rope through and you have a brace. Health Lucky for you, when people go rafting, there is almost always a first aid kit on board and at least a water bottle. Avoid dehydration and patch up any easy wounds until you can get yourself to safety. Hopefully, by this point you’ve found other people or made it to a car to get away. Turn on the radio and get away from major cities. At Wilderness Aware Rafting we love white water rafting, survival knowledge, escaping from zombies, and the outdoors. If you’re interested in a Colorado White Water Rafting Trip or Salt River rafting, browse whitewater rafting trips and other fun outdoor adventures we have available.
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.
Grades of White Water Rafting – INFOGRAPHIC
White water rafting usually is rated by classes but they are also referred to as grades. Based on the International Scale of River Difficulty created by the American Whitewater Association, the different grades or classes identifies how difficult each section of a river is and the required skills needed to safely navigate it. Similar to rock climbing scales, there can be easy Class III rapids and harder ones. On a more technical level, a + or – is added to the rating. Find out below what makes each grade/class easy or difficult and what level would be good for you on your next white water rafting trip. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we love rafting and being on the river. Rated #1 on TripAdvisor, we offer exciting Colorado White Water Rafting Trips, and Salt River whitewater rafting. Contact us today 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.
River Rafting Levels in Colorado – INFOGRAPHIC
Carefully planning a whitewater rafting adventure is paramount to not only being safe, but also having a good time. Knowing what to expect on your rafting trip is key to making lasting memories while on the river. Similar to downhill skiing and rock climbing, river rafting uses a scale of difficulty to convey the skill level required to navigate sections of rivers. While a skier is aware that a black diamond run is steeper and is more difficult to ski down than a green or blue run, river guides and rafting enthusiasts are aware that rapids, like ski runs, vary in intensity. The scale to determine the intensity of rivers was developed by by the North Carolina-based nonprofit American Whitewater and is recognized globally by rafters, kayakers and conoeists alike. The classification system, or International Scale of Difficulty, ranges from Class 1 for beginners to Class 6 for the elite. River Classification System Class I: Easy. Mostly flat, slow moving water with the occasional small wave. Clear passages and no severe obstacles. Class II: Mild. Small rapids, low in difficulty with clear passages and a few minor obstacles. Class III: Moderate. Numerous, medium sized waves. Clear, narrow passages requiring maneuvering. Rapids with rocks, creating some severe obstacles. Class IV: Difficult. Rapids are long, with powerful waves and rocks creating potentially dangerous hazards. Precise maneuvering through narrow and/or rock-choked passages. Class V: Extreme. Difficult, long and violent rapids, close together in distance. Big, powerful drops, along a steep gradient through forceful currents. Pinpoint precision maneuvering through tight passages and around frequent severe obstacles. Class VI: Considered unrunnable! Do not attempt. Waterfalls and other unavoidable life-threatening hazards. While the scale isn’t exact, subjective factors such as skill level, season and river conditions at the time the river is paddled can influence the classification system. Before heading out on the river, knowing your comfort and skill level before embarking on your white water adventure will help ensure you and everyone else in your raft has a good time. Arkansas River Rapids Classes We are lucky in Colorado to have a handful of great rivers to raft on. Even better is the fact that the Arkansas River is rated as one of the Top 10 rivers in the US for white water rafting. Take a look at the infographic below for our favorite sections. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we understand how a proper family rafting vacation can create some of the best memories a person can have, after all, we have our testimonials to base that off of. If you are interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip, Denver Rafting, multi-day rafting trip, or want to try rafting the Salt River near Phoenix, AZ, please be sure to contact us and find out what white water rafting trips we have available.
