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By Brian Ripley
Advancements in equipment and safety standards have made commercial whitewater rafting accessible to just about everyone, and now more than ever, this trend is resulting in an increased number of novice adventurers and weekend warriors on the river. Many first time rafters understandably have questions about the dangers associated with whitewater rafting. Rafting is obviously not without its inherent risk, but serious incidences associated with commercial rafting are infrequent.
For example in 2005, there were 3 fatalities out of 504,622 commercial rafters in Colorado. Most serious incidences occur on non-commercial or private trips. While commercial rafting is typically safe, there are some guidelines to follow that will increase your safety and enhance your overall experience in terms of fun and comfort level.
First, be picky about the rafting company you choose. You can afford to be. With over 70 whitewater rafting companies in Colorado alone, not all companies are equal in terms of keeping you safe. The pertinent things to know are how long a company has been in business, its safety record, what kind of guide retention it has, and what kind of training standards it adheres to?
Choose an experienced rafting company with few or no significant negative incidences to report. Also, seek a company that doesn’t turn over its entire guiding staff on an annual basis like fast-food employees. Find out how many guides it has retained for at least 5-10 years. This sort of stability in the core guide staff allows for consistency of performance and training. Find out what training requirements a company has. In Colorado for instance, state guiding certification requires 50 hours on the river with a certified trainer, but most reputable companies insist on training that exceeds or even doubles state requirements.
Second, when it comes to trip selection, it is very important to find your comfort zone. Although your rafting trip will be guided by a professional guide, rafting is an interactive sport meaning you will typically be asked to paddle under your guide’s supervision in order to help navigate rapids successfully. The major factor to consider in determining what rafting trip is appropriate is rapid classification. Water levels, or CFS measurements, do characterize a rafting experience, but not to the degree that rapid classification does.
Novice rafters are often curious about the classification system for rapids. Basically rapids are classified in terms of levels I-VI, I being mild with no obstacles and VI being impassable without serious risk of injury or death.
Most beginner and family trips are geared towards rapid levels I-III. Class IV rapids are usually reserved for advanced rafters and occasionally thrill seeking athletic novices that are confident in their abilities. Class V rapids are for experienced athletic rafters that are confident in their abilities, and Class VI rapids are not rafted commercially.
Water levels do have an impact on your rafting experience as well. Water levels are measured by Cubic Feet per Second. The higher the CFS, the higher the water and the faster the water is moving. Higher water is typically associated with spring and early summer when snow melt-off is at its peak, but higher water is not always an indication that rapids will be harder to navigate even if the river is moving faster. Even though most people associate higher water with increased excitement, sometimes high water will wash rapids out making them less technical or non existent while lower water will expose rocks and obstacles that make a rapid more technical to navigate.
Your level of excitement is not necessarily dependant on water level, but water level does indicate how fast the river is moving, something to be considered in the event that you end up in the river. Water levels decline as the summer progresses, but many rivers have dam release programs that periodically release water throughout the summer to fulfill agricultural and recreational needs. Therefore quality whitewater is available throughout the summer.
It should be noted that even after selecting an appropriate rafting option for your comfort zone, the danger of your boat flipping and/or you getting thrown into then river does exist. This situation is rare with beginner and moderate trips, but the likelihood increases as the rafting gets more technical. I have personally been thrown from a raft on three separate occasions, but these occasions have always involved level IV-V rapids.
It follows suit that people wonder whether the ability to swim is a requirement for rafting. In fact, the United States Coast Guard certified personal flotation device or PFD that you will be wearing at all times while on the river is designed to keep you on your back with your head above water regardless of swimming ability and is relatively easy to maneuver in for swimmers and non swimmers alike. Your guides will instruct you on the proper safety protocol to follow in the event that you find yourself swimming. You will typically need to be prepared for “self rescue”, or actively maneuvering towards safety, in this event. If you have major concerns about your athletic ability you should consider a moderately technical rafting trip.
Third, Dressing for comfort is important. Dress in a comfortable bathing suit that you can put a wetsuit over if conditions warrant. Wetsuits and booties are standard complimentary issue if requested with most commercial rafting outfitters. Do not wear cotton. Cotton retains moisture and will keep you cold once it gets wet. Use a Croakie or similar sunglass retention device to avoid losing your sunglasses. Bring a change of clothes to change into after the trip.
Fourth, wear plenty of sunscreen. Not only are you exposed to the sun at a high elevation simply by being outdoors, on the river you are also exposed to the reflection of the sun’s rays off the water creating a double exposure. Bring waterproof sunscreen and lip protection and apply it multiple times throughout the trip. Avoid sunscreen application on your forehead so that it doesn’t drip into your eyes. A hat or visor is also helpful to shield your face.
Incidents involving serious injury and death are rare and infrequent on commercial whitewater rafting trips. Statistically speaking it is more dangerous to drive your family to the rafting ‘put-in’ than it is to engage in a commercial whitewater rafting trip. That being said, you will be required to sign an acknowledgement of inherent risk prior to your rafting trip basically stating that you realize that rafting is inherently dangerous and that serious injury or death might occur as a result of participating.
You can minimize your risks by researching the outfitter in terms of longevity in the industry, safety record, guide retention, and safety training standards. It should not be difficult to get answers from your outfitter. Pick a rafting trip that suits the comfort zone of all of your participants in terms of rapid classification. Know that rafting always involves the possibility of finding yourself in the river and the need for you to maneuver through the water in your life jacket. Increase your comfort level by dressing appropriately and protecting yourself with sunscreen and lip protection.
With careful planning, you can ensure a safe and exhilarating Whitewater rafting experience.
By eliminating any potential difficulties related to your trip, you can go out and enjoy your whitewater rafting adventure with friends and family.
Author: Brian Ripley founded Ripley’s Mountain Adventures in 1999 as the culmination of a lifetime of experience in and around the adventure sports industry. As the son of a competitive ski racer and professional ski instructor, Brian is an avid adventure enthusiast and enjoys skiing, rafting, mountain biking and other outdoor activities near his home in Colorado. Website: Ripley's Mountain Adventures
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