Has anyone ever gone White Water Rafting?

[cats7494]

I have wanted to do this for a while... but just have never tried it....

Has anyone ever tried it? What was your experience? Scary, fun, safe?

 

[cats7494]

or know of any place great to try?

 

[tar heel]

Fun. A little bit scary but not much. I'm not a big water person, so I would never go without a guide from a reputable company.

I grew up on the New River in North Carolina, which is a good place to go. My kids have been to West Virginia a couple times. We rafted on the Colorado River with a family reunion group -- easy course b/c our group included children.

 

[snoopy]

I've been several times, but haven't been in many years. We used to go to West Virginia for white water rafting. My best friend went to WVU and she was a big whitewater rafter.

My cousin died in a white water rafting accident about 15 years ago, and since then, I haven't had the desire to go back. But before that happened I enjoyed it very much and found it quite exhilirating.

 

[onecoolmama]

It is not scary at all. It is a blast!! Go you will love it.

 

[gshoemate]

We went in New Mexico down the Rio Grande. It was fun but water was low so there were only a few areas that had rapids. I have heard of alot of people going in the Jackson Hole, WY area. But you would want to make sure to go in the middle of summer when it is still warm there. We originally had reservation there but it was the beginning of June and it was way to cold.

 

[Mercy]

OMG.... we went about 20 years ago in Pennsylvania. I was scared to death!!

Our raft got stuck on a rock at one point, I had to get out of the raft and sit on a rock in the middle of the river till this guy in a kayack (sp?) came to rescue me and take me to dry land. I was never so happy to be back on land in all my life!!!!

Hey but if you go... have fun!

 

[piratesmate]

I went down the Youghiogeny River in western PA back in the 60s. It was a Girl Scout sponsored thing, so I doubt we did any that would be rated too high. My experience was influenced by the fact that I was about 14 at the time.

Although I'm an excellent swimmer, I found it a bit scary. I didn't realize beforehand that you had to sit up ON the balloon, not down IN the raft. I had great fun until the girl behind me freaked out when we went over some rapids, stopped paddling, tried to climb into the bottom, hit me with her paddle & knocked me out of the raft. After a ride in the water that seemed like at least a couple miles but was probably only about a 1/4 to a 1/2, I climbed out - right where we were stopping for the night.

At that point, everyone else was given the opportunity to try what I'd just done - except that they were all put in a harness.

The guides were very knowledgable & overall I felt safe - except at that one point. (Although I was more afraid of losing my glasses I think. I'm blind as a bat w/o them!) I got back in the next morning & finished the trip. I still remember it as one of the best experiences of my youth.

 

[TimeforMe]

DH took my DS last year and this year took DD and DS up to Maine--they all loved it! My niece's DH took their 9 year old and he did just fine. I think the company that runs them in Maine is called Northern Outdoors.

 

[Mary Ellen]

We went whitewater rafting a few years ago in the mountains of Colorado with a guide from a reputable company. My dentist was very thankful we did - 2 crowns and root canals. I was scared to death - no way they should have taken novices on class IV rapids.

Short version - Once I was in the water, I was pleased I was able to keep calm and think - yes, I was missing teeth, but first I needed to breathe. Not knowing which way was up, I was able to think - relax and the lifejacket will take me up - only I was under something. I had nighmares after for weeks/months.

It has been about 5-6 years and I may (finally) give Kali River Rapids a try this December.

 

[MScott1851]

It is so much fun.. We have rafted in West Virginia and also near the Smokies in Eastern Tennessee. The water is always freezing cold, though, even in the summer!

 

[chyam]

Mary Ellen..............
I so agree with you! I too went in Colorado with a reputable outfitter (close to the Royal Gorge) It was great ...........for awhile,until we were"surfing" in front of a rock and someone got knocked off their perch and landed in mine and I landed in the water! I saw the underside of that raft 3 times before I was pulled out! It seemed like an eternity and all I could think of was hitting my head on one of the rocks and becoming a goner! The water was 52 degrees and that night I remember we were camping in Gunnisson and there was frost outside the tent..............I didn't thaw out for 3 days! I don't think I could ever garner enough nerves to try it again.

 

[EdiePA]

I'd also suggest helmets and life jackets that have a strap that holds them that goes through your legs (so that it can't slip up and off your body).

I went once with a church group in PA. Also, on the Youghiogeny River. A year later, the group went back and one of the 17 y.o.'s was killed in a particularly dangerous part of the river -- she hit her head and her life jacket slipped off. This company is still rafting on this river and not detouring around this area -- and another death has occurred there since.

I'm not trying to scare you -- just be careful!

Edie

 

[SC Minnie]

WE've been several times all with a good rafting co. In eastern TN, French Broad river in NC, and the New river in WV. The last 2 trips I didn't fall out at all! The first one I feel out twice.

There are different levels of rapids and a good tour co has different tour packages that will take you on slower/ lower classes of rapids. It was so much fun. Being out on the river with only nature surrounding you. It was actually very humbling.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Originally posted by piratesmate
I went down the Youghiogeny River in western PA back in the 60s. It was a Girl Scout sponsored thing, so I doubt we did any that would be rated too high. My experience was influenced by the fact that I was about 14 at the time.

Although I'm an excellent swimmer, I found it a bit scary. I didn't realize beforehand that you had to sit up ON the balloon, not down IN the raft. I had great fun until the girl behind me freaked out when we went over some rapids, stopped paddling, tried to climb into the bottom, hit me with her paddle & knocked me out of the raft. After a ride in the water that seemed like at least a couple miles but was probably only about a 1/4 to a 1/2, I climbed out - right where we were stopping for the night.

At that point, everyone else was given the opportunity to try what I'd just done - except that they were all put in a harness.

The guides were very knowledgable & overall I felt safe - except at that one point. (Although I was more afraid of losing my glasses I think. I'm blind as a bat w/o them!) I got back in the next morning & finished the trip. I still remember it as one of the best experiences of my youth.

I've rafted on the Youghiogeny river too. Although I had absolutely no idea how to spell that! I had a pretty good experience. I'm really used to being on a boat, so it didn't bother me being on a raft. I've been on rough seas in the open ocean before.

piratesmate- You got knocked out of the raft!! Now that sounds scary! Atleast you didn't panic. Good for you for getting right back in!

 

[tkd lisa]

I went while I was at Young Life Camp back in high school. We were on the Colorado River. It was a blast! Cold, but fun.

DS and DH went with the scouts on the Youngaheny River (I know that's not spelled right). They also had fun. They did the class I/II run, while the older scouts did the 3/4 run.

It is an adventure trip, but I never felt unsafe.

 

[pjlla]

I went in Maine in the Spring of about 1989 or 1990 in I belive the Kennebeck and the Dead Rivers. It was FREEZING, even with a full wet suit, but fun! Glad to say I have done it (category 4 I believe), but probably wouldn't do it again. Wish I could post my pictures (that the tour company sold us).... they are great! It was scary at times, and I'm SURE if I had fallen out of a boat I wouldn't sound so enthusiastic, but again, glad to say.... been there, done that!..............P

 

[castlegazer]

I have been several times in Tennessee and on a four day trip out on the Snake river in Utah. As you can see by everyone's posts, it is not without risks. But I find it to be one of the most exhilirating experiences I have ever been a part of. I loved every minute of it. It has boring moments and totally nail biting crazy moments. But overall, you will have the experience of a lifetime.

I want to point something else out too - on the Snake River we got to take some side hikes out into the canyons that allowed us to see scenery that there was no way to see anywhere else in the world - it was spectacular. We saw cave drawings, hidden waterfalls, and camped in canyons while listening to coyotes. We also got to see rock formations and vistas from the river that were awe inspiring. It was a trip I will never forget.

On the scary side, I have been on a river where a man died shortly prior to our setting out. I have also been thrown out of the boat but I was wearing full safety gear and I had listened very closely to the lessons prior to setting out of pulling my legs in and letting the current take you. It is scary, but when you are with a very experienced firm, you will get pulled out rapidly. They will spend a long time prior to setting out making sure you know what to do when you hit rapids and in the event of an emergency and in the event of going overboard - something not to be scared of, but to be extremely sure you have listened to their advice on what to do in the event it does happen.

Go and have a BLAST!!!!!

 

[mountaineer]

I've been rafting on the New and also fell out. I couldn't figure out why I didn't pop right up. I went under the boat and kept kicking up and our guide's wife who was 4 mos pregnant (dr okayed) caught me by my feet on the other side. I had my eyes open and can still remember the bottom of the raft. I didn't lose my contacts though.

I used to work at the WV tourism dept--you can find companies by calling 1-800-CALL-WVA or www.callwva.com.

 

[RadioNate]

I went about 15 years ago on a 4 day trip. I think this is the one
http://www.westernriver.com/trips/cataract/itinerary.php

It was awesome. No one fell out of the boats either! The one we went on used the oar boats instead of the huge rafts.

I would love to do it again someday when my son is older.