What to Do During Off-Season Rafting
White water rafting season usually means that summer is in session and outdoor fun is almost a requirement for enjoying life and fresh air. Once September hits, most rafting outfitters start to close up shop due to low water levels but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer. For many places, including Colorado, the cooler weather is a great opportunity to spend time outside without having to worry as much about overheating and sweating. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and carry snacks and other essentials as you explore nature with these fun, rafting off-season activities. Hiking Many people don’t realize that hiking is an option from fall through next spring but it definitely is. Friends and family can enjoy the changing leaves at this less busy time with less worry for parking and more opportunities to be in touch with nature. This is also a great time to take your dog with you and not worry about him overheating either. Fido can have more fun in cooler weather exploring as dogs love to do. Just be sure to have a collar with ID and current on vaccinations, better yet, keep your pets microchipped as well. Only allow your dog off-leash in legal areas if they are good at recall commands, otherwise keep both of you safe with the dog on-leash. Be sure to use flea and tick preventatives and check your pet afterwards for any clingers. Horseback Riding If you’d rather swap two wheels for a noble steed, horseback riding is also a fun activity to do when rafting is not an option. Horseback riding is actually the second most popular outdoor activity and it’s easy to see why. Horses have a need to wander and explore like every other creature and bonding with these amazing animals while learning about the back woods of Buena Vista is more than memorable. We offer horseback riding trips all year long. Camping Similar to hiking, camping during fall and winter are great times to get a nice, cozy spot without the crowds and mosquitoes. There’s nothing like falling asleep bundled up with the stars overhead and waking up to a brilliant sunrise with a hot cup of coffee in hand in the middle of the woods. Reading Walden by Henry David Thoreau or A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is pretty inspiring to get some wild in your life. Zip-Lining Get a hold of yourself while you wait for rafting season to come back with zip-lining tours. This is another fun year-round activity when you are in need of an adrenaline rush. Zip through the trees and get a great view of the mountains. Relatives and out-of-towners visiting for the holidays love a less than ordinary way to experience the Rocky Mountains. Snowshoeing If you haven’t experienced snowshoeing, this is the year to try it out. Snowshoeing is a wonderful way to enjoy the quiet of the snowy woods by foot, especially if you have an itch to go hiking but it’s too snowy. Be sure to dress in layers with a backpack, water, snacks, and the “10 essentials” (first aid kit, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, map, compass, waterproof matches, flashlight, pocket knife, whistle—and you might as well add charged cellphone). Having a backpack is also essential as most people end up taking off jackets because of the great workout. Definitely don’t wear jeans as kicking up snow will get those pants wet and uncomfortable. Don’t worry about buying snowshoes yet, there are many places to rent snowshoes from. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we love rafting and spending as much time outdoors as possible.. We are rated #1 on TripAdvisor and we offer exciting year-round trips in addition to Colorado Rafting Trips such as Horseback Rides, and Zip-Line Tours. Contact us today for more information.
3 White Water Rafting Movies to Watch
White water rafting may only be available during the summer but we can experience it year round through movies. Many journeys throughout history and books take place travelling down river, from Lewis & Clark to Huckleberry Finn, there are many adventures and life lessons that take place there. These movies may not splash you in the face as you dip into a rapid, but they do give you the convenience of sitting at home on the couch with a bowl of hot popcorn and a story to experience along a river. The River Wild (1994) Directed by Michael Caton-Jones, The River Wild is about Gail (Meryl Streep), an experienced river guide and her husband, Tom (David Strathman), who take their family on a rafting trip along the Salmon River in Idaho and come across two “inexperienced” rafters, one of which is Wade (Kevin Bacon). The two men hitch a ride with them to meet up with their friends downriver when Gail and Tom realize they’ve made a horrible mistake—they’ve taken on two armed robbers. This is a great movie for learning what to and what not to do when you accidentally invite criminals on your family vacation in the wilderness. White Water Summer (1987) Hopefully you like Kevin Bacon because he is also in White Water Summer. Here, Vic (Kevin Bacon) is an experienced guide that takes four friends on an adventure in the wilderness for a coming of age sort of tale. One of the boys, Alan (Sean Astin), doesn’t appreciate Vic’s life lessons he’s teaching them and pushes back. With each push back, Vic tries to drill them harder and ends in Vic breaking his leg. A lesson in humility, Dan and Vic must figure out a way to get down the mountain and find help. The Princess and the Frog (2009) This is a jazz-age fairy tale, is one of Disney’s first showcases of a black, female protagonist set in New Orleans. Tiana is a young woman looking to fund a restaurant that she wants to open and is tricked into kissing a frog Prince, Naveen, to get the cash she needs. Turns out he is broke and she is turned to a frog herself. Tiana and Naveen escape to the bayou and go on a journey down river to find a voodoo priestess to turn them back into humans. They befriend an alligator and lightning bug along the way. While this isn’t exactly white water rafting, two little frogs on a tiny raft is comparable to humans in on one in a river. And who doesn’t like a heart-warming Disney movie with plenty of sing-a-longs? At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is rafting and rivers. If you’re interested in whitewater rafting in Colorado, or Salt River whitewater rafting, browse our white water rafting trips for more information.
Plan Your Bachelorette Party with Whitewater Rafting
If you’re planning a bachelorette party for a friend that is more interested in a less than traditional party to celebrate her last days as a single woman, then a whitewater rafting trip could be right up your alley. For the woman who loves to explore the great outdoors, planning a trip to the mountains with some camping, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, or Colorado zip line tours would be much more memorable and unique for this bride instead of a night on the town. Whitewater rafting is an exciting option that takes your friends on a fun getaway to celebrate the upcoming marriage, which you can easily customize this with another outdoor trip. Many of our trips are budget-friendly and the rivers a rush. We offer great discounts for groups of 10 or more. Plan an Easy and Fun Bachelorette Party Your Maid of Honor duties will be a lot easier when organizing a whitewater rafting bachelorette party since we do all the planning, packing, and cooking. If you’re worried about the camp food, Wilderness Aware provides delicious gourmet meals prepared by our experienced guides. No matter how experienced your guest list is, we can help you choose the right trip that will keep all the girls comfortable while experiencing exciting adrenaline rushes and plenty of laughs. All you have to worry about is bringing the basics: swimsuit, shoes, sunscreen, and water for a day on the river. Don’t worry about taking pictures either, we can capture the best rafting moments for you with professional photography that you get to keep. They would also make a great wedding present. Continue the Party in Buena Vista Buena Vista is a beautiful mountain town to spend the weekend with the Bride and friends. There are plenty of lodging options, hiking trails, good food, shopping, and a hot springs nearby. Start a day off by climbing Mount Princeton, one of the more popular 14ers in the area with beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and wrap it up with a relaxing soak in a hot spring pool. Whether you decide to do a multi-day camping rafting trip or a half day Browns Canyon rafting trip paired with a couple nights at a rustic inn, you can be sure that the whitewater rafting bachelorette party that you plan will be exciting for everyone involved and there will be plenty of stories to share at the wedding. Need some inspiration to get your party planning going? Adobe just launched their free Adobe Express Invitation Templates so that you can create the perfect party invites free of cost. Happy planning! At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is whitewater rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip bachelorette party or a multi-day rafting trip, browse our whitewater rafting trips here or call us at 1-800-462-7238 to plan your trip today.
5 Things to Do With Kids in Buena Vista This Summer
Families are drawn to Buena Vista, which is at the heart of Colorado and appropriately named in Spanish as, “Beautiful View.” This city set between Salida and Leadville is a mecca for outdoor lovers and wildlife. A quiet forest with an abundant ecosystem and habitat for animals, the natural beauty of this area attracts people here for a taste of nature and adventures. With mountains, rivers, forest, inns, restaurants, and shopping nearby, Buena Vista visitors have a huge variety of activities to choose from. Here are our top 5 things you should do with kids (or if you’re a kid at heart) when you visit Buena Vista this summer. Whitewater Rafting Colorado Over 250,000 people come through Buena Vista each year to go whitewater rafting. The Arkansas River is one of the top 10 rivers to raft in the US and the magnificent Browns Canyon and wildlife are well worth the trip. Since the river has various sections available for rafting, people of all rafting levels can enjoy a half day to multi-day trips rafting along the Arkansas here. Rafting is a great way to get the thrill of adventure while also appreciating the nature around you. Camping and Cabins If you’re into laying out under the stars and roasting marshmallows, Buena Vista is the place to do it. Camping near the base of Mt. Princeton or along the Arkansas for the peaceful babble of the river. If hanging out in the trees in a tent isn’t your cup of tea, then choosing a local inn with a rustic feel will keep you in touch with nature while having the ability to lay in a comfortable bed and get a hot shower at the end of the day without sacrificing the feel of the mountain life. Buena Vista River Park This park boasts a dog park, bouldering, ball fields, tracks, skate parks, picnic tables, disc golf, and a great view to see kayakers hitting the rapids. The South Main neighborhood is especially designed for kayakers. The river runs along over half a mile next to River Park and is a great place to explore Buena Vista culture. Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort Kick back after a day of adventure soaking in a hot springs pool. Mt. Princeton has a variety of pools to relax in including a soaking pool, exercise pool, relaxation pool, cascading pools, and Chalk Creek. Sit in each pool surrounded by water from Chalk Creek where you can adjust the temperature by moving rocks around. For the kids and young at heart, there’s a 400 foot hot water slide to ride down on a mat into 75 degree water. Buena Vista Restaurants What is a trip away from home without good food? Buena Vista has a great selection of restaurants available. If you’re into mountain breweries, sit down to a meal and drink at Eddyline Restaurant. More interested in something for breakfast? Get some eggs at Evergreen Café or Gunsmoke Café. Have a hankering for sushi? No worries there, The Asian Palate offers a variety of Asian Fusion meals. Buena Vista is a great place to go for a mountain getaway and a taste of Colorado water culture. If you’re looking to make some memories with your family and kids, look no further. When visitors come to Buena Vista, they can see why so many people want to make Browns Canyon a national monument. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, our passion is whitewater rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip or multi-day rafting trip, browse our whitewater rafting trips here.
Top 10 Rivers For White Water Rafting in America – INFOGRAPHIC
In Colorado, we are very lucky to have the opportunity to raft one of the best rivers in America – The Arkansas River. Set in the magnificent mountains and beauty of the wilderness, we can’t complain much. For those of you living across the US or those interested in traveling to other states, there are so many great rivers to go white water rafting in too. Add these top 10 rivers to your rafting bucket list and get to know a little more of the great outdoors. If you’re interested in rafting the Arkansas River, check out our white water rafting trips we have available. Rated #1 on TripAdvisor, we also offer Colorado horseback rides, and zip-lining tours.
Whitewater Rafting Championship
Think you have what it takes to compete in the whitewater rafting championship? The best of the best compete in the U.S. Whitewater Rafting National Championships each year in three regions of America (Western, Central, and Eastern) and the winners move on to compete internationally. Many of the best teams are from Colorado. The United States Rafting Association (USRA) oversees the Rafting Championships and works with the International Rafting Federation on competition rules so that anybody who competes in the US championships will only win according to IRF rules. Rafting Championship Competition The competition usually takes place in Colorado during the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival in Cañon City since this is where most of the best teams are located but have moved around to different areas of the US in recent years for variety. This year, the U.S. Rafting National Championship took place May 2-4, 2014 at Salmon River, California. There were four different formats that teams had to compete in with only four paddlers per raft. The Rafting Races They began with a Sprint where each raft did an individually timed short race. Then they faced Head-to-Head to knock-out the competition like in a ladder. Those that moved on to the next round were challenged by the Slalom, where each team did two solo timed runs. The best time counted towards their score. Finally, the last event Down River counted for 40% of their scores and was the longest, most technical route of about 7 miles or approximately an hour of intense paddling. 2014 Rafting National Champions For 12 years in a row, Behind the 8 Ball of Colorado won the national championships for the men’s division. This 13th year, Ark Sharks of Colorado won it. The women’s team, Red Lady Rafting, also of Colorado, are the winners this year and will join Ark Sharks to compete in the World Championships of Rafting in Foz de Igaucu, Brazil in October with the honorable title of USA Raft Team. This is Red Lady Rafting’s second national title. Not All Fun & Games Just like other sports, these champs don’t just jump on the river the week before the competition to get ready. Practice begins as early as December hitting the gym several times a week for conditioning until they can get outside. For Ark Sharks, they train throughout the year paddling, working as river guides, and condition with Crossfit. Red Lady Rafting will sometimes drop a raft into an indoor pool to work on their muscle memory and use bungee cords for resistance. Other times it’s practicing in reservoirs where there are still chunks of ice on the banks. It’s hard work but these ladies and guys are living the dream. Next year, nationals will take place again in Colorado so be sure to pencil it in, the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival happens the weekend of the summer solstice. Since June is the start of the spring runoff, it’s also a great time to hit the rapids yourself and join in the celebration of the river and summer. View the river rafting trips we have available or contact us for more information about booking your next trip.
Rafting as Team Building Exercises
Whitewater rafting is an excellent way to encourage camaraderie and strengthen workplace relationships. Team building exercises don’t have to be at a nearby park or in a meeting room of the workplace to be effective. Most employees enjoy team building a lot more when it takes place in a new environment and involves participating in sports and fitness activities together. You don’t have to sit around telling your deepest fears and walking on hot coal in order to build up your team spirit (unless you really want to). Let’s take a look at the top reasons people organize team building activities and how you can carry out those exercises using rafting. Some of these you may prefer to choose a calmer river to use. Improving Communication Each person in the raft will spend 5-10 minutes as the “guide” and direct the group which way to paddle in order to avoid obstacles or make turns along river bends. Work together to reach different markers and rotate among every employee in the boat without falling behind the other rafters. Employees learn to react to the environment and flow of the river while having the ability to foresee upcoming obstacles and quickly respond. Learn Personal Backgrounds Starting with the person in front right side going clockwise, the first person will tell a story from when they were a small child. The next tells a story from their childhood, then preteen, then teenager, then young adult, etc. In this manner, each person gets to share a part of their background from a different stage while remaining part of the team paddling together. The other members practice listening skills and have the ability to engage with the story-teller on a more personal level too. Trust Everyone in each raft except one person is blind folded and the one with sight has to guide everyone to paddle across a river. Teams will race back and forth across the river and rotate guides until each person has guided the raft to shore. This exercise encourages employees to trust the guidance of each other while the person guiding must adjust their instructions and communication to get their team to paddle effectively as they depend on their advice. Collaboration Set up a worse-case scenario such as: the bus forgot to pick up the rafters and they have to stop on a shore and spend the night next to the river. Ask the team to work together to decide what indicators of the river shore would make them choose to stop there, how they would set up a fire, get fresh water, find food to eat, and set up a shelter based on things they see along the river. Have them come up with a list of 10 things they must do in order to survive the night. Using rafting for team building helps to provide a fun and engaging environment for employees to work on their interpersonal and communication skills together while also valuing their individual skill sets. It helps teams to learn in practice instead of in theory alone while experiencing immediate consequences and requiring creativity and critical thinking to respond with. Plan your team building river rafting trip with us at Wilderness Aware Rafting today. Our Browns Canyon Half Day Trip is our most popular on the Arkansas River. Contact us online or call us for more information 1-800-462-7238.
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.
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.
