Wilderness Aware Rafting CEO Joe Greiner has heard it over and over again this year. A customer will call the Buena Vista offices of the Colorado white water rafting company and ask: “Are you open this year?” The answer is a resounding yes. Says Greiner, who’s ran the show at Wilderness Aware for the last 25 years:
“We have had an amazing runoff season so far. With double last year’s snowpack, we have had lower and more consistent flows than last season. It has been perfect conditions for high adventure seekers.”
Yet the myth that Colorado rivers are flooded and unsuitable for white water rafting trips remains strong. Misled by media reports of high water levels and images of roaring rivers following record spring snowfalls, many people have been hesitant to get into the white water this season. The reality is that while the big spring snowfalls have raised the water levels in Colorado’s rivers, cooler spring and early summer temperatures have moderated run-off rates, creating ideal conditions for Colorado river rafting and setting up an extended season. Because the of slow snow melt, the spring storms in Colorado have become a gift that will keep on giving to rafting enthusiasts deep into the summer.
“July and August will be the best rafting conditions we have had since 1995,” says Greiner. “The snow has been melting slowly this summer so that we have the water flows that are often in the river in June combined with great July and August weather.”
Rafting companies across Colorado are gearing up for a extended rafting season, and trying to spread the word about the conditions in Colorado’s rivers.
“The weather has been great for rafting… sunny blue skies and warm temperatures. The unusual thing about this year has been that it has been so dry in the valley that we have a campfire fire ban and at the same time, we have high water in the river…drought and plenty of water at the same time!”
The perception that high water levels were hurting Colorado rafting conditions kept some customers away early in the season, but word is starting to spread that 2011 has become a special rafting season in Colorado. Business has picked up across the state in July, as river conditions and Colorado weather have come pretty close to being perfect.
“The phones are ringing off the hook with people trying to escape the heat. . High temperatures been in the 70’s and 80’s on the Arkansas River.”
For more information or to schedule a white water rafting adventure with Wilderness Aware rafting, view our Colorado white water rafting trips or call 1.800.462.7238.
