from WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
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| A
Moment of Calm Before Venturing into the Rapids |
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Nothing can compare to the
thrill of whitewater rafting. The adrenalin-pumping rush that is experienced while
rolling down foaming rapids is indescribable. Few places in the world offer such
a splendid location for this sport than the Canadian
Rockies and Foothills of Alberta's
Heartland. The combination of rushing waters surrounded by lofty snow-topped
peaks, or craggy canyons totally enhance the experience. Whitewater rafting is
unique in that it offers the thrills of hard adventure, and yet even the most
non-athletic individual can participate and undergo the supercharged excitement
that this activity provides. The sport of whitewater rafting is available at all
levels, the more background in rafting you have, the more challenging and breathtaking
the rapids you can take. But even the ‘lightest’ rapids provide a true adventure.
The Experience
In the Canadian Rockies and Foothills, whitewater rafts are usually constructed
from rubber-like materials. They range in capacity from around 6 to 10-seater
paddle-controlled or assisted rafts to larger 20-seat oar-powered ones. On smaller
rafts everyone helps with the paddling, but the guides undertake the actual steering
procedure. The trip usually begins with a bus trip from the operator’s base to
the point of departure. Participants, particularly first timers, may be somewhat
apprehensive, but the enthusiasm of more experienced rafters on the trip and of
the guide staff soon alleviates any nervousness.
After arriving at the departure point, the raft or rafts will be seen tied to
the riverbank and the party will assemble and walk down to board. This is when
excitement takes over. Wet suits, life jackets and other waterproof gear are changed
into - usually with a combination of eagerness and some trepidation. The guides
will check and double check that everyone has their safety equipment properly
attached. Full safety instruction will have been given out before the beginning
of the trip, and after everyone climbs aboard the raft, the staff will ensure
that everyone is well secured for a safe, but spectacular ride. In no time at
all, the rafts are launched out into the middle of the river and begin the ride
downstream. On smaller rafts everybody (except young children) paddles the boat.
At this time most guides will get all the participants to practice certain maneuvers
with their paddles and this enables everyone to feel comfortable quickly.
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| Challenging
Whitewater Takes Strength and Stamina |
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Part of the ride will consist
of peacefully floating down a relatively calm river; this gives participants a
chance to view the scenery, take photographs, or just to wallow in the fresh moist
mountain air and hopefully feel the sun on their face (sunblock is a must no matter
how cloudy it seems). As rapids approach, the crew will make preparations to navigate
the raft across the wild waters. The crew will steer and shout out instructions
for the appropriate paddling maneuvers. Any certified raft operator knows how
to carry his or her passengers safely through rapids, but the necessarily inherent
emphasis on safety does nothing to deter from the amazing buzz everyone experiences.
Be prepared to get very wet indeed. The raft seems to blend with the river in
its effort to get through the rapids; those on board will feel total exhilaration
as the forces of nature propel them through the waters that almost seem to be
boiling over.
Some operators allow for stops along the route. At this time various optional
activities can take place including swimming, rock diving and team sports. Depending
on the duration of the trip, snacks and meals ranging from simple alfresco picnics
to somewhat elaborate BBQs, are often provided.
Each trip is a combination of relatively smooth passages along the quieter parts
of the river and traversing rapids of varying intensity. Some trips are definitely
for more experienced rafters, some for beginners, and some are designed to be
appreciated by novices and experts alike. Whatever type of trip you take, everybody
comes away from his or her raft experience exhilarated and often mentally refreshed.
A whitewater-rafting trip is something that will long be remembered.
Who May Participate
The basic whitewater experience is available to just about everybody. There are
minimum weight requirements. Depending on the operator, children over five years
old are allowed to participate in the mildest raft trips that are designed for
the uninitiated. A lot depends on the child, but even if an operator allows children
to participate it should be left to the parents discretion and knowledge of their
own child. Remember the child will get very wet and the experience could be very
frightening for some, especially younger or more sensitive kids. On the other
hand a more arduous course can be quite suitable for an older child who feels
comfortable in the water. The raft excursions that cover more complex rapids require
experience and physical fitness. Anybody with a heart, orthopedic, or certain
other medical conditions should consult their physician before committing to anything
but the most basic float experience.
Locations, Duration and Costs
When selecting a location for a whitewater rafting experience, the Canadian Rockies
and Foothills offer an amazing choice. Half-day, full-day, or multi-day tours
are available. Whitewater rafting is becoming increasingly popular, and despite
the large number of companies and locations, the demand for the activity almost
outpaces the availability. Therefore it is important to plan well ahead and make
reservations. For a complete list of rafting operators in the area please click
here. This will also provide all the essential information pertaining
to the trip including what to bring, what is provided and of course costs. Costs
range from about $35 CDN for a short trip to several hundred dollars for a two
or three-day excursion. Reductions are available for children. Rafting is also
available in conjunction with other activities, including hiking
and horseback
riding.
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Whitewater Rafting is an Exhilarating
Adventure |
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Locations include nearly all
the major rivers in the area. These can be divided up as follows: In the north
close to Jasper are the Athabasca,
Sunwapta
and Fraser
Rivers. Even further north between Grande
Cache and Grande
Prairie, Alberta there
is rafting available on the Kakwa
River. In the foothills of the Rockies various levels of rafting are available
on the Red
Deer River at Sundre,
northwest of Calgary, and
the Bow,
Elbow
and Kananaskis
Rivers accessed from Calgary, Bragg
Creek, Canmore and
Banff. In the Rockies
of British Columbia there is rafting
available at Golden on the
Kicking
Horse River, in the Kootenays
on the Columbia
River and further south on the Elk
River in the Purcell Range. This list is certainly not a total one of
all the different rafting locations in the area, but it provides a rough idea
of where to look.
Expertise Levels
As previously mentioned, one of the best things about whitewater rafting is that
it is available to everybody from advanced to beginners. Many rafting operators
will take young children over a certain weight guideline. Each rafting excursion
is rated for beginners, intermediate or advanced. A beginner’s trip can still
include some incredible rafting experiences and substantial rapids. The more advanced
courses include more turbulent rapids and require more active participation from
all onboard the raft. With the more advanced courses the chance of ending up in
the water is greater, but safety and preparedness are always of the utmost priority
to a good whitewater raft operator.
International Grading of Rapid
There is an international system of grading rivers and rapids. Whitewater rafting
operators use this as a guideline for their trips and to indicate the expertise
level expected for a specific run. This scale can be misleading in that river
conditions change all the time and a particular rapid’s category can also change;
it should also be noted that there can be sub categories within a particular category.
A good whitewater operator will always judge the conditions just before the commencement
of the trip.
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| Whitewater
Rafting in the Rockies |
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The official scale rates rapids
from one through to six. One being the simplest and basically of little use in
providing a serious whitewater experience, but for some its an excellent introduction
to paddling down a river and good preparation for a higher level river. An example
of this would be a river ‘float’ down the Bow in Calgary or the Upper Kicking
Horse near to Golden. Most novice trips include some whitewater rapids of levels
two or at the most three. Intermediate trips tend to include more rapids but within
the same categories. Advanced trips try to include a large amount of level three
and sometimes even four. Levels five and six are not usually within the capacity
of an organized rafting tour six being almost impossible to navigate and therefore
involving an extremely high level of danger. Some whitewater trips in the Rockies
portage (the rafts get carried overland) past some level six rapids, just to enable
participants to see them.
Safety and Equipment
In Canada safety standards are very strict and operators must be licensed. Guides
have to have taken part in a rigorous and thorough training program that includes
first aid and lifesaving procedures. Ideally select a raft operator that is experienced
and has been in the business for at least a number of years. Full safety procedures
should be explained to all participants before boarding the raft. This should
include instructions on what to do in the unlikely event (except in more advanced
itineraries) that the raft tips.
Operators usually provide safety equipment, including specialized life jackets,
helmets, and wetsuits. Some provide extras like booties to protect personal footwear,
extra sweaters for warmth, spray jackets and gloves. Check with your raft operator.
In all cases rafters should bring a swimsuit, a change of clothes, waterproof
footwear, a bag for personal belongings and a waterproof camera.
A rafting trip is a phenomenal travel experience. Rafting provides a unique opportunity
to personally partake in a fast-paced adventure without any prior knowledge or
skills. Any whitewater rafting trip will always provide the feeling of a very
significant accomplishment, and often to a future addiction to the sport.
Accommodation Directory Shortcuts:
| Canadian Rockies
| Banff (townsite)
| Canmore | Calgary
| Fernie | Field
| Golden | Valemont
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- A Moment of Calm
- Challenging Whitewater
- An Exhilarating Adventure
- Rafting in the Rockies
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