- Nov 1, 2001
- 61,504
- 12
- 56
anyone ever go white water rafting?
- Thread starter moshquerade
- Start date
I'd do it again in a heartbeat We've been trying to get a group together to go the last two summers, but schedules never work out for us. This year we probably won't go because I don't want to spend the gas money to drive down to WV (easily $150 in gas - which doubles the cost of the trip for me).
It's the most fun with a group of at least 5 other people. 6 in a boat is pretty good, you can do 8 though. Any more than that you need to split up into two boats.
It's the most fun with a group of at least 5 other people. 6 in a boat is pretty good, you can do 8 though. Any more than that you need to split up into two boats.
i rafted the snake river when i was a kid and it was an amazing experience. unfortunately there are no rivers on the east coast that compare.
i go kayaking several times a year on the broad river but i dont think that counts as whitewater
i go kayaking several times a year on the broad river but i dont think that counts as whitewater
I've done it a few times as well, highly recommended to go on something that's category 2 (first time at least - then go up to 3 or 4 once feeling comfy). Otherwise it's a bit too calm and boring really.
Yeah it was lots of fun, although our guide was an idiot. He thought that it would be funny to flip the raft, so he spent most of the trip trying to accomplish this lofty goal. Well we were coming up on some three's and he told us all to get in the back of the raft for stability, which we obligingly did only to find out that he intended to flip the boat. He succeded. I got sucked into this semi-vortex where water was gushing over a large rock, my life vest prevented me from being sucked out the bottom and shot back to the surface, so I was held about a foot underwater with fvck all I could do about it. I was under for about a minute or so and was on the verge of giving up when another raft came over the rapid and went right over me, which thankfully dragged me out. If I weren't so weak from nearly drowning I should have kicked his pot smokin hippy ass.
skyking
Lifer
- Nov 21, 2001
- 22,521
- 5,559
- 146
I've been kayaking, whitewater rafting with everybody paddling, and whitewater where the guide has oar frames and does all the paddling.
Of all of them, I liked the last one best. We were on some ass-kicking stuff on the middle fork of the Salmon in Idaho. Our guide deftly negotiated everything, we just hung on. We also plucked some unguided self paddlers from some bad spots along the way
Of all of them, I liked the last one best. We were on some ass-kicking stuff on the middle fork of the Salmon in Idaho. Our guide deftly negotiated everything, we just hung on. We also plucked some unguided self paddlers from some bad spots along the way
GagHalfrunt
Lifer
- Apr 19, 2001
- 25,284
- 1,997
- 126
The rivers are fairly shallow. You can't get whitewater in a deep river, it's caused by a lot of water volume being funneled into a small space. Swimming is irrelevant because you can't. The water is too fast and too powerful for that to make much of a difference. The river dictates where you go and how fast you get there. You wear lifejackets and if you fall in the river carries you downstream to a slower section where you can be scooped up.
I've been about 15 times and have done all the major rivers in the northeast (Hudson, Moose, Kennebeck, Penobscot and Dead) and the good ones in West Virginia (Cheat, New and Gauley). It's a blast, my friends and I try to schedule one trip per year.
You'll have a vest on, but you really should know how to swim in case you fall out of the boat. Where we went (New River in WV), there were areas between rapids where we could get out and swim around in the water.
I don't ever recall touching the bottom during the times I was swimming in the water - I think it was fairly deep.
Do it at least twice every year. hit up some class IV for the first time last year. It's exhilarating. fun fun fun
its fantastic. Do it. Gauley River in West Viginia for the win!
(first time rafting, class 5's and 5+'s all the way down. Ridiculous. I swam a few of them, but I survived.)
(first time rafting, class 5's and 5+'s all the way down. Ridiculous. I swam a few of them, but I survived.)
Yes!
I've done Browns Canyon and the Royal Gorge several times. Tons of fun. Cool little towns you end up staying at in the area too.
The Gorge is a BLAST. Very intense high walls up on both sides for most of the run. When you pass under the bridge everyone waves at you n stuff.
I'd love to go do it again.
edit: Also, PADDLE! Don't go for one of the big oar boats where the guide does all the paddling. Sucks a whole lot for your guide, and you won't be able to do as much cool stuff, like surfing rapids. You'll also move slower and you'll be more likely to get stuck.
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 18K
-
-
-
Facebook
Twitter