Tips For Your First Independent Whitewater Rafting Trips
Usually when people go whitewater rafting, they do so with a guide. The guide directs the raft, gives commands to the rowers, and navigates down the river. After you go out rafting a few times, you may feel confident enough to take an independent trip without a guide. Here are some tips to help ensure your first non-guided, independent rafting adventure is a success.
Choose your crew wisely.
Find people to accompany you who have been whitewater rafting before. They do not have to be experts, but they should have at least gone out on one or two guided trips before. This ensures they are familiar with the basics, like how to hold a paddle and how to tuck down in the boat during really rough patches. Not having to explain these basics to your participants means you'll have more time and attention to focus on other things, such as navigating and steering.
Look far ahead.
As the leader of the rafting crew, you'll be at the front of the raft. Take advantage of the good view offered from this position. Don't just look at the water right in front of the rafters. Look further ahead. This will allow you to call out commands and directions a little earlier, which gives your crew more time to respond.
Keep it short.
You may not want to play a four or five hour expedition your first time out without a guide. Plan a one-hour trek, see how it goes, and go from there. If you finish initially planned segment and still have energy to go further, you can always head back out. But you don't want to lose steam halfway through a long rafting trip and have to slog it back home.
Research the route, first.
Take the time to read about the segment of river you plan to raft. Check out the topography so you have an idea of where the rapids will be. Read reviews and posts from others who have rafted that section of river, too. You can also forward the information you find to others in your rafting crew. This way, everyone will have a better idea of what to expect and can plan to work together.
Your first trip out on the river without a guide is bound to be memorable. Follow the tips above, and it is more likely to be memorable in a good way.