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It’s that time of year again when the mountain snowpack begins to melt and run through the canyons of the west, sometimes languidly, sometimes a torrent. Where there is whitewater, you will find the people who enjoy the thrills and challenges it brings. If a whitewater trip is in your near future, use these tips to be safe and maximize your fun. In this guide I’ll detail some overall safety concerns, some specific “watch out” scenarios, and how to deal with them.
I’ve been a whitewater guide in Colorado for nearly 20 years and it has been one of my favorite pastimes and seasonal jobs. Whitewater offers some amazing fun but it should always be respected. When people see a boat filled with smiling rafters running the rapids, they rarely consider the powerful forces at work.
Rapids are classified by their level of difficulty to traverse with Class I being the easiest (think float trip) and Class V being a harrowing experience.
1. Gear Up Accordingly
You should always wear at least a Type III personal flotation device (PFD), even for Class I forays. In some Class V descents, I’ve worn a wetsuit, two PFDs, a crash helmet, and updated my will before I left.
2. Gauge the Water’s Swiftness
The power of moving water is deceptive. Water flow in rivers is measured by cubic feet per second or CFS, and a cubic foot of water weighs 60 pounds. Having 1,100 CFS could be a lot of force depending upon the shape of the river. If you equate a seemingly calm river with a bath or pool and walk in, you may be surprised at how quickly your foot is swept out from under you. Try to gauge the water’s swiftness and avoid getting in above your knees.
3. Be Cautious of Foot entrapment
The riverbed of any watercourse you may be enjoying has likely been forming for millions of years. There are a lot of rocks at the bottom of mountainous streams and you may not be able to see them. Getting your foot trapped under a rock and having the river push you down face first is a horrible way to go, but it happens. It only takes a few inches of water to drown. Carefully feel your way along the riverbed floor with your feet to avoid entrapment.
4. Beware the High Side
Essentially, a high side occurs when a boat collides with a rock and gets pushed up on it. The water keeps pushing and may grab the low end of the boat, potentially tipping it upside-down. This may happen depending upon your rapids and guide experience. The best way to deal with this is to scramble to the high side. I have found self-preservation usually motivates people to climb to the side further away from the roaring water, but sometimes people freeze. A good guide will have explained this procedure beforehand and will be yelling “High side!” at the top of their lungs to remind you what to do.
(Photo courtesy Sean Curtis)
5. Hang On
I cannot recall how many times I told people to hang on and they didn’t. Even the most exciting rivers aren’t usually 100 percent nail biters. During the calm stretches people would relax, and it’s easy to forget how fast you’re going downstream. Hitting a rock can cause the boat to stop suddenly and unsecured passengers can spill overboard.
To this end, don’t permanently affix yourself to a boat, either by clipping into a perimeter line or wrapping your wrist in a rope. Quitting the boat is never plan A, but if things go horribly wrong, you don’t want your fate literally tied to the boat.
6. Get Back Onboard without Injury
If you find yourself in the water and can grab the boat, do so. This may expedite your immediate rescue. Keep in mind the last thing you want to do is get between any downstream obstruction and the boat. Approach the boat from upstream if possible. The larger surface area of a raft amplifies the applied force and could crush you between it and an immoveable object. People onboard should grab your vest by the shoulders and fall inboard while pulling you up. Do not pull a person in by the arm(s) as this may cause injuries.
7. Swim on Your Back
If rescue is not immediately available, do not begin your best freestyle stroke toward the boat. Lay on your back, point your feet downstream, and use your arms to steer. If you are going to collide with a rock, use your feet to make contact and try to push away. This saves your head from the collision. Keep an ear and eye out for a rope bag.
8. Catch the Rope!
Rope! This delightful word is a shouted warning that someone is about to try and hit you with a rope bag. These brightly colored bags have a floating, coiled rope within them. Do your level best to make eye contact with the thrower and catch the bag. Grab the rope as quickly as possible and maintain your back float position. Put the rope over your shoulder and with any luck, you will be gently pulled to the boat or shore. Rescuers pulling too hard on the rope or having the rescued party roll over on their stomach may cause them to enter the water like a torpedo due to the opposing forces.
9. Avoid Strainers
Strainers are a nasty threat. A strainer is any object that is arrayed across the water that can knock you off a boat if you’re in one, and it can force you underwater if you’re not. Strainers can be logs, certain rock formations, or bridges that are low due to high water. Avoid them at all costs. If you can’t, do your best to navigate the obstruction any way you can. Your guide may have you portage, or go around the strainer.
10. Protect Yourself Against Weather
The sun’s effects are greatly intensified by reflection on the water. Cover up and use waterproof sunscreen. Bring a change of dry clothes — especially wool socks — and possibly rain gear. Usually your guide will have a dry bag to keep these items in. Also keep in mind that thunderstorms are common in the summer, though the fact that the river is usually the lowest geographical spot helps with lightning.
Whitewater rafting is an amazing recreational activity that can provide different experiences based upon difficulty. Some may enjoy a lazy float trip while basking in the sun. Others may crave screaming mania coupled with frenetic paddling to save their own lives. Rafting can offer glimpses of unique territory and wildlife otherwise not easily seen. By communicating with your guide and minding these safety tips, your trip should be wonderful and provide many great memories.
