The Colorado Boy Scout Troops Guided Rafting Trips with Wilderness Aware
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1685118754576{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”] Whitewater Merit Badges with Wilderness Aware Rafting Wilderness Aware Rafting offers guided rafting trips in Colorado and Arizona for Troops of the Boy Scouts Club of America. We take great pride in being able to help provide youths with the knowledge, experience, and appreciation for rivers and whitewater sports. We offer essential rafting and kayaking skills and training, as well as actually guiding the trips ourselves. This is a great benefit as our guides are as experienced as they come, and their intimate knowledge of rafting safety, techniques, and rivers in general greatly enhances the understanding of both scouts and scout leaders alike. Founder and owner of Wilderness Aware Rafting, Joe Greiner, was once a boy scout himself. His passion and love of the outdoors and that of teaching others has made it an easy decision to set up rafting trips for Boy Scout troops. Joe is aware, because he had the same experiences himself, that the outdoors can help develop a boy and grow him into a man. The lessons learned through being a Boy Scout greatly define a child’s overall character and how that child will be when they are older. Their love, appreciation and respect for nature, knowledge of wilderness survival, and all other benefits of Scouting stems from the training they receive. It builds upon the merits and badges they’ve garnered. Boy Scout Whitewater Merit Badge Considerations Canoeing, kayaking and overall whitewater rafting can be a thrilling and memorable experience. In order for rafting to be considered safe, every Scout participant needs to understand how to use and maintain equipment, as well as specific rafting techniques that are important to know on the river. The end goal is obviously to teach scouts to have a strong respect for the power of all of nature’s vast waterways. Beyond that, that if that power is respected and understood, it can then be enjoyed in any number of ways. There are a number of requirements that should be understood before attempting to receive your whitewater merit badge (view the full list of requirements). Once a Scout earning his Merit Badge has a full understanding of the risks associated and precautions to take prior to any water expedition, and they know their own ability and limitations, they can begin working to receive their Badge. However, if a Scout leader does not believe the risks are appreciated, or that the Scout does not understand fully the equipment or techniques, they will be told to wait. There is nothing more dangerous than allowing someone to raft who thinks they know of all the inherent dangers and in actuality to do not. Appreciation comes with understanding, and understanding is the first step towards safety. Why a Whitewater Merit Badge Is Worthwhile Over the years, we have worked with many different Boy Scout Troops and have had the privilege to witness firsthand the benefits whitewater rafting can offer to youths. Testimonials can be seen on our video page on site, and also here. But in sum, these trips teach Scouts to first and foremost respect nature and her vast power inherent in our nation’s waterways. Beyond respect, a love for the outdoors amongst our nation’s youth has been dwindling rapidly over the years. Fewer and fewer people have a want for going outdoors as every other distraction available keeps their eyes fixed to a screen rather than on the horizon. They’re understanding and respect for nature is absent save in the sense that they’ve been taught its worthiness. However, very few are able to appreciate it fully as they haven’t had the opportunity to experience it. Now as far as this goes for Boy Scouts, it’s probably not an issue. They’ve been taught why nature ought to be respected, and have learned through their numerous lessons that it is indeed deserved of their love. If your Boy Scout Troop wants to offer whitewater badges to their scouts, be sure to contact us to see what trip offerings are available. Wilderness Aware Rafting We will work hard to make your trip the best and most memorable possible, all while ensuring the requirements to receive a badge are met. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we understand how a proper family rafting vacation can create some of the best memories a person can have, after all, we have our testimonials to base that off of. If you are interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip, Denver Rafting, multi-day rafting trip, or want to try rafting the Salt River near Phoenix, AZ, please be sure to contact us and find out what white water rafting trips we have available. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
The Ultimate Outdoor Colorado Trip
Plan Your Colorado Outdoor Adventure in Buena Vista Backpacker Magazine announced that 4 Colorado cities made the list as, “The Best Cities to Raise an Outdoor Kid: The Winning 25.” Those cities are: #1 Boulder, #3 Durango, #7 Colorado Springs, and #9 Fort Collins. Luckily for us, Colorado is an amazing state for outdoor adventures and Buena Vista is one of the top destinations for a beautiful outdoor retreat. No matter how old you are, we are all children at heart when we’re walking among nature and this is our recommended list of outdoor adventures for your weekend or week-long getaway to the mountains. Camping Start by picking out one of the many camp sites in Buena Vista as your home base. Anywhere you choose will likely have immaculate views of the mountains as Buena Vista, Spanish for, “good view,” sits at the base of the Continental Divide. Camping is a great way to get away from technology and enjoy the basics of building a fire and cooking your own food with the stars overhead. We also offer multi day rafting trips that combine the camping and rafting adventures into one. Whitewater Rafting Known for world-class whitewater rafting, this is a memorable and exciting adventure to take with friends and family as there are different levels available for everyone. Browns Canyon is rated #1 on TripAdvisor for a whitewater rafting trip and conveniently, we have trips to choose from here. Whitewater rafting is not only thrilling but builds camaraderie and trust among your raft mates. Hiking Spend the morning or afternoon hiking around the Continental Divide. Two 14ers are located near Buena Vista, Mt. Princeton and Mt. Yale. Mt. Princeton is 14,197’ tall with one 13 mile route on the east slope rated at a class 2 difficulty. Mt. Yale stands at 14,196’ tall and can be accessed by the southwest slope (standard route) or east ridge; both routes are about 10 miles long and a class 2 difficulty. As always, it’s important to pack appropriately for hiking of any type and bring plenty of water and snacks, as well as notify people where you’ll be in case you get lost. Horseback Riding Not long ago, Colorado was the home of cowboys on the Front Range. The majestic horses are still a valuable companion of humans provide a relaxing way to bond with animals and nature while wandering into the wilderness. As Colorado’s second most popular outdoor activity, friends and family will enjoy a horseback riding trip along the Arkansas River with spectacular views of Mt. Princeton, the Chalk Cliffs, and Mt. Antero. Canoeing and Fishing Nothing is more peaceful than floating on a lake or canoeing and kayaking down a lazy river. There is an abundance of lakes and creeks to choose from nearby. Cottonwood Lake is popular for fishing with mountain goats in the backdrop. For a hike-in area, Brown’s Creek has a 5 mile trail to a scenic waterfall. Anyone over 15 will need a fishing license and length minimums vary from location to location. Any combination of these trips will make for an exciting outdoor escape among friends and family. Buena Vista is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts due to the breath-taking views of the Rocky Mountains and the variety of outdoor activities just a few minutes away.
Games For Kids To Play While Outdoors and Camping
Fun Kid Games To Play Outdoors For children, sitting and contemplating in the quite calmness of the wild isn’t generally their idea of a fun time. When outdoors, especially while on a multi-day camping trip, there can be a lot of down time. This is when adults would well sit and relax, take in the scenes, and unwind. However, this is the exact opposite of what children want to do. So before taking these little balls of energy into the wilderness, you had better have a few fun games in mind that can be played, otherwise the kids could very well drive you crazy. To help with that, we’ve created this list of a few fun games that can be played and generally don’t require any specific pieces or parts. Having them in mind can make the difference between having some organized fun, or a chaotic stressful time as the kids run amok around camp. So for a few ideas, read on, and have fun this summer with your kids! Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves This game mixes singing and follow the leader. A group sits in a circle and sings Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, while performing some action. Standing on one foot, patting your head, rubbing your belly, really any action that can be done without moving from the circle. Whoever is leading the group changes their action after the first repetition, and the next person beside him/her repeats the leaders action.The action is changed after every repetition while still repeating the phrase, and every time it changes, the action is to be performed by the next person in line. Eventually, everyone will be doing a different action while repeating the phrase. The phrase itself doesn’t matter, but the game is to see if your initial action will make it’s way back to you. It’s a bit like Simon Says or telephone. Any number of changes can be made to this to make it more difficult or easier if need be. Bola You’ll need some string, and a few socks or something very soft to tie at the end of the string that wouldn’t hurt someone if struck with it. You simply fill a sock with other socks (or whatever soft weighted material) and tie it off with a stretch of string. Decide what the radius of the sock is and have everyone stand outside of that. Begin to swing the sock slowly close to the ground and have the group close in around you. Everyone jumps over the sock as it comes by them, and if you’re struck with it, you’re out until the next round. The final person remaining wins! To make this game a bit more difficult, you can alter between ground level and overhead making the kids change between jumping and ducking. Elves, Giants, and Wizard This game is essentially rock, paper, scissors but more interactive. Elves beat wizards, wizards beat giants, and giants beat elves. You divide the group into three separate groups, each group assigned with one of the race classes. Once the teams are decided, it turn into a game of tag, where for instance if you are a wizard, you are going to be trying to tag giants while avoiding elves. If you tag someone they join your team, and if you are tagged you join the taggers side. The object of the game is to get every player on a single team. Lots of Knots Make the group of kids stand in a circle facing the center. Then tell the kids to shake and hold hands with whomever is directly across from them. Then they must join hands with a different person in the group. The object of the game is to untangle their hands, the human knot, without having to let go of their hands. Quick Count This game is relatively easy. All you need are a bunch of objects which can be tossed into the air, and something to hide the objects as they lie on the ground, such as a towel or backpack or something. The idea is that you decide on a number of objects to thrown, and see who can count the exact number of objects as they are let loose into the air, and before they fall behind your covering object. Whoever guesses the correct number get to become the tosser. Sleight Of Hand Have the whole group save for one person lay on the ground in a circle with their hands in the center. The one person not lying down looks away as a ring or some small object is given to the group. Once a person has hold of the object and its kept hidden in their hands, the other person turns around to watch. The object is for the group to pass the ring around 5 times without the person watching knowing where it ends up. After it has been handed off 5 times, the person not laying down is to guess who has hold of the ring. Objects You’ll need a few bags, or pieces of cloth to put multiple small objects into or under. The idea of the game is to gather a bunch of objects, the same types of objects for the each team or player. Let everyone know what those objects are, and then place them into the bag or under the cloth. Then you call out the object and without looking at them, the players must pick the objects out. If an object is incorrectly picked, that player is out. With multiple players, the player who is last to pick is out. Repeat this in larger groups until a winner is determined. To make the game more difficult, pick similar objects to put into the bag. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we understand how a proper family rafting vacation can create some of the best memories a person can have, after all, we have our testimonials to base that off of. If you are interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip, Denver Rafting, multi-day
2013 Looks To Be A Great Year For Colorado Rivers
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1530976742079{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”] Great Water Levels Signal For A Great Rafting Season In Colorado With all of the late snow fall and rain Colorado fortunately received this spring, water levels in Colorado are looking healthy! Compared to the excessive levels in 2011, and the dismally low levels in 2012, the water levels in 2013 seem to have hit the nail directly on the head. This is going to make for an epic season of white water rafting for rafting enthusiasts throughout out the state. From the Poudre and Yampa, to the Colorado and Arkansas Rivers, water is finding its way into our streams and Coloradans are getting excited to play in the water this summer. To better explain this anticipation, it needs to be understood why the perfect water levels are so important. How Water Levels Affect Rafting Conditions It should go without saying, but water levels directly affect rafting conditions as after all, water is what makes up a river. When water levels are too low, rafting companies operations are drastically inhibited. Areas where you can enter your raft as well as exit from a river are restricted, the duration of trips are often cut short, and the overall appeal of the activity is decreased. When water levels are too high, similar problems exist as when they are too low. Some entering areas may be moving too fast to set the raft up, and exiting spots may be difficult to navigate to if the water is moving too quickly. Not to mention, when the water is high, sections of rivers where hazardous obstacles persist become even more dangerous as it is increasingly difficult to navigate when moving at quicker speeds. So when it comes down to it, depending on specific rivers, the height and volume of water directly impacts what can be done. In essence, there is a sweet spot for the amount of water that is needed in a river to make it both enjoyable and navigable Granted, some would prefer to have more water than less if they want the thrill of paddling through some big rapids. But this season seems to be in line with hitting that sweet spot for most of Colorado’s rivers. Things Looking Up Compared To Years Past As mentioned before, the past few years have seen both dramatic ends of the water level spectrum for Colorado rivers. 2011 witnessed extremely high water levels, and as a result, many trips were probably cut short or never started because of the special dangers high water levels create. Where the exact opposite occurred in 2012, where water levels were so low, unless you wanted to raft down a lazy river, there were few options for exciting rafting unless you cared to navigate some of Colorado rivers toughest sections. This hopeful perfect water height has come as a great relief to many rafting companies throughout the state. When comparing 2011 to 2012, the rafting industry as a whole was down around 20 percent in Colorado. This equates to roughly $30 million lost in tourism revenue for the state. If that seems like a lot for the state to have lost, it’s equally if not worse for river rafting companies. Losing 20% for any business in any industry is difficult to deal with, and for rafting companies it’s particularly hard to forecast and take precautions against. The reason being rafting companies are completely and entirely beholden to the weather. Which depending if it’s good or bad, can spell boom or gloom. This creates special stresses for rafting businesses as in all reality, for a business which is reliant entirely on proper weather, there is nothing you can do but hope in the off-season that the rain will come, and not too much of it. That said, many rafting companies are more than elated that this season is appearing to be a perfect one, where the drought has passed, and it hasn’t exactly flooded like a few years prior. This should help many rafting businesses generate some extra revenue which can be saved up for the uncertain times in coming years. Because if anything can be said about Colorado weather, it is that it is uncertain. Which would be one of the reasons for the states motto: If you don’t like the weather, just wait a little bit. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we’re excited for Summer to finally reveal itself in Colorado. If you are interested in epic Colorado Rafting Trips, scenic Arizona Salt River Rafting, memorable Land-Based Adventures such as Horseback Riding, be sure to see what white water rafting trips are available, or contact us to speak with a representative. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Ways To Get Your Kids Outdoors This Summer
Ways To Get Your Kids Outside Summer for kids is one of the more exciting times of the year. School is out, the weather is beautiful and they have nothing but time on their hands. But if your kid is like most others, much of that time is going to be spent indoors, and most likely staring at a computer screen or playing video games. If you intend to pry your child’s gaze and attention away from these electronic entertainment machines, you’re going to have to be clever. In fact, very clever, because every year that passes, the number of ways we can entertain ourselves indoors not only grows, but increasingly becomes better and better. Making it so we don’t even care that 10 hours was just spent being in an electronic daze. Drastic times call for drastic measures, and to help you get your kids out of that digital stupor, here are some ideas that may well excite them, and convince them that there is indeed a worthy physical world to enjoy outside of the Matrix. White Water Rafting Seeing as how we’re a rafting company, we know full well the enjoyment and excitement kids of all ages find from hucking some rubber on the river rapids. It makes for a full day out in nature, enjoying the sun, scenes, and adrenaline created. it also creates great lasting memories, and often times, these types of trips turn into something a family does every year as it allows for some of the best quality time possible. No phones, emails, or IM, just fun in sun with friends and family. Camping There should never be a reason outside of health that a kid would not want to camping. The problem with selling this idea is that camping alone means sitting and sleeping outdoors, that’s it. In order to spur some interest, you need to offer ideas that are to accompany the camping trip. Mountain climbing, fishing, spelunking, archery shooting, horseback riding, anything really. Kids inherently love the outdoors and this need to be remembered, the only reason they choose to not go outside is because the things they can do are limited, and when compared to what they can do online, it is drastically overshadowed until they are older and more independent. So it is up to parents to offer fun and exciting ideas. Get Wet Beyond whitewater rafting, there are numerous other things kids can do which are sure to get them excited. Kayaking and canoeing, wake boarding, paddle boarding, fishing, even finding an area where “The Blob” can be utilized will be sure to make your kids eyes widen. You can couple this idea with camping, and make a really enjoyable weekend out of it. Mountain Biking One of the easiest ways to explore the wilderness is to go trail riding or mountain biking. It gets you outside, and allows you to cover a great amount of ground that would otherwise not be seen if having to hike it on foot. For those that are really wanting to get out there, you can attach a trailer to your bike with camping gear and take an extended multi-night trip. These generally aren’t for the feint of heart, but if you are feint of heart, its a good way to make it stronger. Astronomy Oddly, many people think there isn’t much to do at night outdoors. But they often forget perhaps one of the coolest things that can be done overall… and that is to star gaze. Now many people may scoff at the idea, but if you’ve never brought a pair of binoculars or a smaller telescope with you when camping, you are doing yourself a disservice. With the lack of light pollution, you can see more out in the wilderness than in any other place. You ought to take advantage of that the next time you plan any trip outdoors. Weather permitting, you will be pleasantly surprised to stare into the heavens. Hunt For Plants, Animals, or Minerals When speaking of hunting, most people usually think of poor Bambi being slain, but you can hunt without killing. There are a whole slew of plants, animals, and minerals worth hunting for, and all that need be done is to find them. Geo hunting can be surprisingly gratifying, spotting a soaring condor hundreds of feet in the air leaves you breathless, and finding edible plants to make for a light salad at lunch will excite your taste buds. There are a lot of things in this world worth exploring and experiencing, you just have to make the effort to prove that to your children. If done correctly, you may well find your children begging you to go outside next time, rather than the other way around. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we know that summer is finally arriving, and that means its time for some summer adventure. One fun summer activity that the family and your friends are sure to enjoy is White Water Rafting! The best Denver Rafting can be found with us, and if you’re interested in Colorado River Whitewater Rafting, or even a Whitewater Arizona River Rafting trip, be sure to check what trips are available or contact us to speak with a representative.
How Rafting Can Create Lasting Family Memories
If you are looking for the best Family Rafting Trips Colorado has to offer, then look no further. At Wilderness Aware, we know what it takes to excite and have fun, after all we are lucky enough to do it every day. Be sure to check and see what trip offerings are available and contact us to plan a trip that your family is sure to remember! Creating Lasting Family Memories… With a Little Help From Nature Most people will know it is very difficult to conjure, plan, and put into action a proper family vacation because people want different things from a vacation. Some want to relax, others want to explore, others want to simply get away, while still some are seeking a thrilling experience. This list can go on and on, but in the end, the point that no two people are the same still exists. Meaning that very few things can fulfill everyone’s wants and desires. Now when you take into account that this rarely occurs where everyone gets what they want, people can become sour and unpleasant because, well… they aren’t enjoying themselves. This only lessens everyone else’s experience. So for a great family vacation, consider a whitewater rafting trip! By no means take this as a sales speech and consider what is going to be said here as if it wasn’t enjoyable, no one would be doing it. Rafting Is Both Relaxing and Thrilling It may seem to be polar opposites, but rafting is indeed both relaxing and thrilling. Simply stated, there are moments of both throughout any trip. There are going to be stretches where your only concern is the sound of the water trickling and babbling, viewing landscape scenes most others will never set eyes on, basking in the warmth and glow of the sun, watching the birds fly and chipmunks play. There are few occasions and instances in life where you could be more relaxed. And though this won’t be the rafting trip entirely, there are certainly enough moments where even the most tumultuous souls will be put at peace. Now on the other end of this spectrum, is the excitement. The thrill of shooting through rapids, crashing and fighting against the waves. The battle of controlling what would otherwise be an uncontrollable object, guiding it through obstacles like a thread through a needle. At some points, you may feel you’ve been going for an eternity when in actuality it’s only been a few moments. Your heart will be pumping, your senses heightened due to the adrenaline, and muscles tired from fighting the current. Fortunately, just around the bend is another section of lazy river. So rafting certainly covers the full spectrum of relaxation and excitement. Rafting Is Adventurous There is nothing more adventurous than being beholden to the current of a force outside of yourself. You may be able to guide where in the river you are, but the river in the end is leading the way. Along the way, if you saw something of interest, get out and go explore. Most people will never set foot in these places, they will never see what is seen, or experience what is experienced. Rafting is naturally and inherently adventurous, absolutely no doubt about that. Rafting Involves The Outdoors This should go without saying, but for some a proper vacation involves the outdoors and even being active. While in the river, you are literally following and flowing through the veins of the world. You will be smack dab in the middle of the outdoors, there is no doubt about that. Meantime, as far as being active is concerned… there is no concern. At the end of a day you are going to be spent, as you will have been outdoors in the sun, breathing fresh air, and fighting a formidable force. Rafting As A Great Escape There is no better way to escape than getting out into the wild. If losing yourself for a moment is the goal, rest assured that while rafting you will forget all about yourself. The unadulterated beauty of nature and the serene sense while present in it is without any better way to say, magical. For a long time man has though there to be healing properties to rivers, sometimes physically, but certainly mentally and spiritually. Rafting Creates Great Memories With all that said above, it should be apparent now that it would be hard for any person not to find some enjoyment from white water rafting. Whether you remember how relaxing, thrilling, beautiful, or adventurous your trip was, you’ll have stories and memories to share for a long time. As far as allowing a family to do something together where everyone has something they can enjoy, there are few things that beat rafting. Most likely your favorite memories won’t be the same, but that’s a good thing. That means you’ve each taken something different and special from the experience, but what would be important was that you’ve experienced it together. And it is these moments as a family that matters most, when everyone is happy and enjoying each others company without the stresses of normal daily life. We hope to see you soon someday, and to help make any of your Family Rafting Trips memorable. Be sure to contact us with any questions, and be sure to consider rafting as a great family trip. You can rest assured, it would certainly be more interesting than a trip to Disneyland!
Family Friendly Adventure Expeditions
If you have children and you were to tell them that this year, you were all going to go on an Colorado adventure. They would probably laugh, snicker, and scoff at the idea. Assuming perhaps that it meant the usual trek through the hills, or a bike ride through some trails. But would you blame them if that were actually the case? Has our meaning of adventure lost its allure? Or have we simply overused the word to cover anything that is outside the norm of everyday life? Adventure once meant a daring and unusual experience that required enthusiasm from those participating. It took a bit of enterprise and planning, it also took some courage. Not that danger had to be inherent, but the possibility of danger does add to the excitement. Now for a family trip, you would want to lessen any possibilities of danger. But precautions can be made for any form of expedition, even to the extent that you can almost alleviate any potential for trouble to arise. Countless families go rock climbing, camping, trail riding, even hunting together. All of these have some form of danger involved in their activity. However, none of those could be considered an adventure if they have done them before, especially if it is in the same area that you have always been to. Remember that adventure must contain a few key components if it is to be adventurous. It first must be a daring and unusual experience. The daring aspect of it may be easy to cover as many activities are daring, but for it to be unusual means that you must not be familiar with it. This is hard as it leads to the second point which is that it must take a bit of planning and enterprise. This is where enthusiasm rises from, the idea of doing something you have not done before and preparing yourself to do that. This then leads into the last point which is that it must take courage. Courage doesn’t have to mean you must risk life and limb. But simply that you have the courage to try something you have yet to experience, to plan it out, and set your mind to completing it. You can’t go on an adventure if where you are going you have already ventured. Thats why its an addition to venturing… an adventure. So when a child doesn’t feel the weekend trail ride in the mountains is as fun as it once was. It’s probably less the fact that they’re getting older and more that there is no thrill in it any more. There is no other time in life where people are more adventurous, and can possibly be so, than when they are children. They epitomize the spirit of adventure, which undoubtedly is still in all of us. We just lose touch with it as we age and fall into the routine of everyday life. But I would assume that we all miss that care free adventurous spirit we once possessed, and would not want our children to lose theirs as well. To help avoid this, ensure that your next trip is an adventure in the purest form. Perhaps take a family friendly rafting trip to a river you have not been to, or go spelunking and explore a cave that you had not known of. If you want to keep the spirit of adventure alive in your children, you must help it to grow as anything else. Also, if you care to reawaken your own spirit, all you have to do is try. If you would care to go on a Colorado rafting vacation, or raft the Colorado River, visit www.inaraft.com to see what options are available. Rafting the Colorado river has never been made more simple.
Facebook 2-Day Giveaway Winners Are Ready to Raft!
Last summer Wilderness Aware Rafting ran a contest to giveaway a Free 2-Day Arkansas River rafting adventure to the group that posted the best story as to why they should win. Sara Kranz and her friends won the trip after posting a fantastic and touching story about friendship and adventure. Now the group is gearing up for their trip and wanted to catch up everyone on their plans. From: Sara Kranz, ie “the Instigator” Hermosa Beach, CA The countdown is on! July 6th and 7th, 2012, our group of “home grown friends” will be embarking on an adventure of a lifetime! Unfortunately, Andrea will not be with us in person due to an unexpected turn of life events (damn those life events :), however she will be near and dear to us in spirit.Watch for upcoming blogs, as we have a “surprise” for her to see… lol! The trickery does not end just because you are not there to defend yourself! As for who is taking Andrea’s place, we have Tracy McGoldrick flying in from Texas. Tracy is a dear friend of mine, and we go way back; we both lived in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin at the same time, and Tracy is married to one of my husbands’ best friends from college (did you get that? No worries, as this is only 1 of a million intertwining events that have occurred in our lives.) Tracy is an outdoor enthusiast, but has never been white-water rafting. She will fill you in more during her “blog post”. As for me, I cannot wait to hit the wild rapids with my closest friends in tow, laughing till it hurts (it usually hurts badly!) Sharing life stories, reminiscing about the past, discussing the present, and laughing about the future is what we do best! I am up for anything, quite honestly, so pictures beware, you never know what you may see! Hopefully Wilderness Aware can “handle” our group of crazy women, as we are more than ready to make memories that we will never forget! THANK YOU, Wilderness Aware, for making this happen! From: Kim Linz The trip is so close I can hardly believe it. It is pretty chilly today in Southern California, so it is hard to believe I will be rafting in the sun (hopefully) with my favorite girls in 6 short weeks. From our application you know I am a cancer survivor. What you may not know is that I still live with cancer and take chemo daily. Despite this I am an avid hiker, runner, and biker. I do not let my illness slow me down. After a scare this fall and surgery that had me believing I might not be able to make this trip, I am recovered and more ready than ever! I am an elementary school principal. I still have 4 weeks of school left before I leave for this exciting trip and work is keeping me crazy. I put the countdown for summer up in my office window today and have the countdown for this trip on my mirror at home. My students and their families know that I am leaving soon after summer starts for this trip and I am getting a lot of advice! I have never been white water rafting, but love the water. Everyone tells me this will be the trip of a life time! I am sad Andrea won’t be joining us, but am excited to have Tracy jump on board. I think we have a great group that will laugh the entire time. I hope you are ready for us because I can’t wait! See you in July! From: Tracy McGoldrick Cheers! As you may have read, I am the newest recruit for the July rafting ‘extravaganza’! Or shall we re-name it: Rafting-palooza? I say this because there will be not only wild waters but wild times over these few days together. A bit of background: As Sara noted, we met because our husbands were college roommates. The interesting part is that I have not met the other 2 gals- and this truly echo’s my current mantra and journey in life. At 42 years of age, I had never moved out of my zip code (except 3 years away at college). My husband and I had been aching for a change (weather related mostly) and we took a risk as a family (three young kids) and moved cross country to McKinney, Texas one year ago! I have never looked back. I find the new friendships, business connections (oh, did I note that I started my own business venture 6 months ago?), and everyday newness refreshing ~ just plain ole’ good-for-my-soul. So, with this new adventure put at my feet (thank you, Sara), I say namaste and bring it on! My mantra: I believe life is about enjoying and believing what you do…whether that be family or professional.
Don’t Fret! There is Great Rafting Near Denver!
If you’ve ever considered rafting near Denver, you may have also considered that there are no good rivers to raft near Denver. Though with a little planing, and a small drive, there are a number of awesome rivers in which to wet your appetite with. Denver white water rafting itself may not be possible, but who would actually want to raft a river in Denver anyhow? Could you imagine how filthy the river would be? How many people would be watching you scream as you cascade over that huge wave? Do you really want a crowd hoping you will ejected from the raft? Well some people may answer yes to those questions, but most would prefer to leave the crowds in Denver. There are many white water rafting trips that can be made within Colorado, which can also be made on a variety of rivers. Lets discuss some of these rivers which will help to get the city dwellers out of Denver, and into the heart of Colorado where the rivers run wild! The Arkansas River can be found around and near to Buena Vista, Salida and Canon City. This is one of America’s most popular white water river destinations. This river has suitable routes for any class of river-rat, ranging from mild to intermediate all the way up to extra challenging. The best times to raft this river are from the start of May to early September. The Gunnison River is both an isolated river and one with awe-inspring beauty. It runs adjacent to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The river flows near Delta, Grand Junction and Montrose, which those areas themselves are also sections of Colorado which are unforgettable. The best time of the season to raft this river is from the start of May to early September. The Upper Colorado River is one of the more pleasant rivers to raft on in Colorado. The river gently flows allowing for any level of rafter to enjoy and take in the surrounding beauty of the ranch meadows that run along the river, and the high cliffs that line it as well. There are also riverside hot springs that can be taken advantage of if one feels so inclined. The river runs near Steamboat Springs and Kremmling. The best part of the season to experience this river is during early May and the beginning of September. The North Platte River is one of the least rafted rivers in Colorado. If you are looking for a bit of seclusion and a true backcountry feel, than this is the river for you. There are a large number of animal that can be seen along this river, without a doubt you will see more animals than people. The river runs near Walden and Kremmling and the best time to try and raft this river is during mid May and late June. The Dolores River can only be done as a multi-day trip as it is located deep within Colorado’s southwestern desert. It runs near Durango, Cortez and Telluride. There are certain sections of rapids which range in difficulty from beginner to advanced. This river is a great option if you are truly looking to get away. The best part of the season to attempt to raft this river is in May. If you are interested in rafting Colorado rivers, than check out the various Colorado rafting trips available through Wilderness Aware Rafting. There are a number of options available depending on the length of the trip as well as te difficulty.
Extreme rafting adventures on Royal Gorge and Numbers
Many of our guests gravitate towards our trips that combine a wilderness rafting experience with a healthy degree of safety. But if you’re looking for a wilder experience while Colorado white water rafting, we have the perfect trips for you, too. Wilderness Aware has been rafting Class V rapids in the most challenging sections of river around the state for years, and we’ve used that experience to create the best extreme Colorado rafting trips. Are you an experienced rafter looking for a more intense adventure? Take a look at our extreme Colorado white water rafting trips in Royal Gorge or Numbers, and get ready for the ride of a lifetime. Rafting Royal Gorge on the Arkansas River is the most popular extreme trip in the state for good reason. Drop after drop of pounding whitewater framed by stunning sheer cliffs means heart-pounding excitement for you and your friends—and stories you’ll be talking about for years to come. If you’re worried about getting thrown into the fray too quickly, don’t: we spend the morning warming up for Royal Gorge rafting in the scenic Lower Bighorn Sheep Canyon, a picturesque stretch of whitewater where the rapids are similar to those found in Browns Canyon. After a picnic lunch, we’ll take the plunge into one of the most exciting spots for white water rafting in Colorado. Don’t miss the views of the world’s highest suspension bridge (1,053 feet!), the world’s longest single-span Aerial Tram, and the world’s steepest incline railway. If you want to take your experience rafting Colorado a step further, consider our trip down the Numbers section of the Arkansas River. The trip begins in a steep, rocky upper section of the river, where precision paddling and maneuvering are musts. The rapids come hard, fast, and close together in this section, while your guides scout for resting spots. After lunch comes the Narrows section of the river, where the action mellows out a bit but continues to put your rafting skills to the test. The trip ends at the beach where your car is parked, which means you’re just a short walk away from our office, a steaming mug of hot chocolate, and photos from your trip. Both trips test your skills and amp up the adventure of your rafting experience. For more information on the best spots for rafting in Colorado or Buena Vista whitewater rafting, visit www.www.inaraft.com. Whether it’s a family vacation or an extreme rafting adventure, we have everything you need to make your Colorado rafting trip the memory of a lifetime.
