The Lessons of Rafting: How Rafting Can Be Used as a Business Team Building Exercise
To me, teamwork is the beauty of our sport, where you have five acting as one. You become selfless. -Mike Krzyzewski Good businesses know that team work is important, whereas great businesses know the importance of team building. If you’re looking for a fun and creative way to improve your workplace atmosphere, energy, and synergy, taking your employees for a day of whitewater rafting is it. A 2012 Wakefield Research Study shows that almost 31% of employees dislike team-building activities so skip the typical trust exercises. Let’s take a look at all the reasons why whitewater rafting is great for team building. 1. We Offer Food One of the best ways to improve workplace relationships is to have them share a meal together. If you think about it, anytime there’s a celebration, it involves gathering together for a meal. At Wilderness Aware, we offer deli-style lunches on our full-day trips and free continental breakfasts. There’s even a shaded meeting area and riverside picnic site for groups to gather and reminisce about their day on the river. 2. Team Work at its Best Another effective team-building activity is to have employees participate in fitness or sports activities together. When each person has a critical role in the raft to paddle through eddies and challenging obstacles, it sets up an open environment for bonding and encouragement. Looking back at our roots not 50 years ago when office jobs were uncommon and people physically interacted on a daily basis, you see a huge improvements in relationships. A change of scenery with a common goal gives people a fresh outlook. 3. Nature Therapy is Awesome Being outdoors and working together in Mother Nature spurs nature therapy and an experience that they’ll never forget. Nature therapy can have regenerative powers that diminishes stress, anxiety, and depression. It is a great way for people to relax together and unwind. Being outdoors also improves physical health and mental clarity. People talk and bond more when they are moving, and in this case, paddling their oars through whitewater! 4. Fun is an Option Setting up a getaway that allows employees to enjoy themselves and have fun taps into the most basic way that humans and animals improve their social skills: learning through play. It also lowers blood pressure and increases friendly pats on the back. When co-workers feel more comfortable interacting with one another, workflow and quality improves because people aren’t hesitant about approaching one another for advice or suggestions. When employees can connect to one another, it improves their happiness with their workplace. The workplace culture is taking two directions: companies that care about employee retention and a quality workplace, and companies that have high-turnover, which is usually their best employees leaving for something better. A team-building activity that is actually fun and exciting will spur innovation while also showing your employees that you do care about their overall well-beings and happiness at work. Whitewater rafting is an exciting outdoor activity that encourages team-building in an exciting and unique way. If you’re interested in planning a day on the river for your company, contact us at Wilderness Aware Rafting and we’ll be happy to help you get started.
10 Life Lessons Learned From Whitewater Rafting
If you’ve done a certain activity for long enough, eventually lessons will start presenting themselves to you. The lessons may not always be clear, and they may not even be noticeable at first. But through trial and error, enduring hardships, and endless questioning, the world becomes a little clearer. The life lessons that follow here are based on my experiences of whitewater rafting and being out in nature for extended periods of time. This is not to say some of these lessons wouldn’t have been learned otherwise, it’s just rafting happened to be the teacher in these instances. You Never Know What Lies Ahead Without Scouting Before making any serious commitment or decision, especially one that would be difficult to undue or break, be sure you know exactly what it is you’re getting yourself into. You never know what lies around the bend in the river, or life, unless you first investigate and explore it. The Sun Illuminates and Brings Facts to Light Better Than a Bulb If you ever have a question that needs answering, a concern that needs easing, or a problem that needs solving, many times you’ll find your solutions more easily while contemplating outdoors. Something about the fresh air, wide open spaces, and the suns warm glow allows our minds to wander more freely. It helps to let our emotions calm down and clear any clouds in our judgment. Physical Exhaustion is Often Better than Mental Physical exhaustion is easier for your body to deal with and recover from than being mentally tired. Physically, your muscles may be sore and ache, but after a good meal and full nights rest, your body can recover rather quickly. Being physically tired brings better sleep, the exercise helps to keep you healthy, and overall you may become happier. Your mind on the other hand does not find these benefits of being tired. After working your mind for too hard for too long, stress, anxiety, depression, confusion, and irritation can set in, all of which can be rather difficult to overcome. This is especially true over long periods of time. Your body can rest once you stop moving, your mind is not so easily turned off. Character Is Truly Exposed When Times Are Hard You never know the true character of a person unless their character is tried in some way. Sort of a trial by fire, you never know what someone is capable of until they are faced with difficult times to see how they react. In some cases you’ll be pleasantly surprised; in others you may be sadly let down. But none of this will be known until the person is tested in a trying fashion. To Live Life to the Fullest Means You Have to Fully Live Anyone who is alive can be said to be living. But living fully is entirely different, and of course depends on the person whether or not that is being achieved. People only have one shot through this life and there is no point in not living how you want to live. Living fully means following your heart, doing the things that you enjoy and bring you pleasure. Simply having a heartbeat does not mean you’re living… making your heart skip a beat however does. Many of Our Worldly Woes and Concerns Are Meer Figments of Our Imagination When it comes down to it, if you are truly able to consider it with an objective mind, most problems we face on a daily basis are not necessarily “real”. Many of our negative thoughts and feeling can be easily overcome through proper thought. Our thoughts create our reality, and our beliefs are the filter of our reality. If we think positively and believe fully that our thoughts are true, rarely will such negative thoughts hold any weight or meaning. Long Term Happiness Cannot be Found or Gifted, It’s Personally Created People mistakenly believe happiness is something you can purchase, be given, or even just wake up with. It’s somehow believed that happiness is continual and can transfer over from the day before. But that’s not the case, happiness arises from your daily activities and has to be personally generated and created every day. You become happy by doing things you enjoy, you stay happy be continuing to do those things. Without Hard Work There Is Little to Gain to Be Proud Of Little in the world that has value can be had or achieved for free. Typically, the more something is worth, the more that thing will cost. Hard work certainly isn’t fun, but that’s why it’s called work. Most goals people set for themeselves are valuable and rarely are they easily achieved. This is what makes achieving those goals so meaningful, it’s the fact that it wasn’t easy. Which did you find more pride in when you were in school, getting a B+ on that difficult exam you studied endlessly for, or getting a gold star for your participation in class? Chances are it would be the B+ score, because you worked hard to achieve that which gave it greater value. Failure in Life Teaches More than Success There is more to learn from failure than success. In fact you don’t learn much from doing something perfectly correct because you did it right the first time. The least you’ll learn is to do the same process again as it already worked. Valuable lessons are learned and built upon failure because you realize where you went wrong and figure out how to adjust to make it better. Trial and error is the classroom of life while failure is its teacher. Fear is The Root of All Evils Fear is stifling, cancerous, and can create most of the evils that plague people. Vanity can arise from a fear of physical appearance. Greed can arise from a fear of poverty. Arrogance can arise from a fear of not being important. Gluttony can arise from a fear of there not being enough in the
Essential and Comfort Items You’ll Want on Your Next Multi-Day Rafting Trip
Have you ever noticed that when someone complains about camping or any multi-day trip outdoors in general, they are usually complaining over being ill prepared? Whether they couldn’t sleep, eat, were too hot or too cold, most problems and discomforts are avoidable through proper planning. The only thing that makes being outdoors miserable is not being properly prepared. Having to bear the elements without sufficient gear, or comfort items, makes the difference between an awful trip and a great one. Before your next multi-day whitewater rafting trip make sure you have everything that you need and also make you much more comfortable. One of the greatest benefits of camping while rafting is that you don’t have to physically carry all your gear on your person. The raft bears the weight, you simply have to steer and paddle it along. This allows us to bring many more comfort items, which would otherwise be left behind due to size or weight. That said, let’s go over some items you should consider bringing for your next multi-day rafting trip and ones you should definitely bring. Critical and Essential Items The exact gear you will need depends on whether your rafting trip is guided or not. Typically, rafting companies provide water, food, cooking equipment, rafting and safety equipment, first aid, portable toilets, and waterproof storage bags. Be sure to check with the rafting company itself to make sure that nothing important is forgotten or that you need to provide yourself. If you are not using a rafting guide company, be sure to pack these critical items with your gear. Once the critical items are taken care of, we move on to the essential items needed. Nothing will keep you happier during a rafting trip than having the right outerwear with you for any given situations. These include: Hats: You’ll want a visor or cap to shield you from the sun during the day. You will be thankful for the extra amount of shade when the sun is beating down on you. Also, bring a warm beanie to wear at night. After a full day of being wet, when night falls and the cold sets in, any extra heat you can keep will make all the difference to your happiness and comfort. Footwear: There are three sets of footwear you will need to consider bringing. Sandals and lightweight tennis shoes for wearing in the raft. Hiking shoes or boots in case you take an afternoon hike or need to traverse difficult terrain. Something warm and comfortable for camp such as camp slippers. Don’t rely on your rafting sneaker to hike in or wear all day. Your feet will not be able to take being wet for very long and it’s important to give them a break and dry out when you can. Clothing: Rafting presents various situations to pack clothing for: the potential of getting wet, traveling on land at higher elevations, hot summer days, and cool summer nights. Each of those conditions requires certain clothing items to remain comfortable. While rafting trunks work best, and if the water is cold you may want to bring a wetsuit in order to stay warm. If a wetsuit seems overboard, a splash jacket will help to keep you dry. Bring clothes to wear at camp or when hiking. When night falls, temperatures drop, especially at higher elevations, which means you should bring a warm jacket and/or a sweater and long pants. Considering it might rain, bring a rain jacket or poncho just in case. Finally, bring a pair of the almighty sunglasses. Spending a full day on the river is going to put a beating on your eyes as the sun reflects off the water and canyons. Similar to snow blindness, you can actually burn your eyes due to the waters reflection over a long period of time. Bring a good pair of UV protectant sunglasses with sunglass straps, you’d hate to look over the raft or hit a big wave only to have your glasses fall into the water. Safety Items: Don’t forget to bring sunscreen when you go rafting. Getting sunburnt your first day out is bad enough, continuing to get burnt every subsequent day after is awful. There is also the risk of having a heat stroke. Avoid this pain by ensuring you use sunscreen every day before setting out and periodically applying it throughout the day, especially after you get wet. You will also be thankful to bring bug spray as well. Insects can be a major pain when outdoors, especially when they are persistent and en masse. Developing a blister on your hands from paddling can be painful, having to continue paddling without protection to those areas can be excruciating. Bring a basic first aid kit to treat any scrapes, cuts or blisters during your trip. Camping Gear: At the end of a long day and after you’ve had your fill with dinner, you’ll want nothing more than to slip into a deep and full sleep. Be sure to pack a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat. Your sleeping bag and mat are the most important factors that determine the quality of sleep you will be getting. The sleeping bag should preferably be synthetic in case it becomes wet. Your sleeping mat should also be carefully chosen. You can use simple foam mats, but nowadays they have inflatable sleeping mats which help tremendously by giving you a firm yet soft surface to sleep on. Foam mats help to soften the ground, but any bulges or rocks you sleep on will be felt. Beyond the first aid kit, you should also have a full medical bag. Your medical bag is only as good as you make it, so be sure you take everything into account when creating it. Consider the possible injuries that might occur and plan accordingly. Consider headaches, migraines, sprains, abrasions, cuts, tear, punctures, burns, splinters, specialty medication, and anything else you can fathom and pack accordingly. Finally, the last
Looking for the Perfect Gift? Try White Water Rafting!
In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing.” When it comes to determining a gift for someone, sometimes a physical object or trinket isn’t the best option. How many gifts have you received in the past that you never used? How many gifts have you given that are actually enjoyed? How can a gift be truly valued by the receiver? Well experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing, it doesn’t just occur out of thin air. You have to go and actually do something, or have something done to you, in order to receive it. Sometimes people don’t make an earnest attempt to actually live. They refuse to go outside of their comfort zone to find new and wondrous things in this world. In short, they don’t experience life to its fullest. Before you buy your next gift for someone you should truly consider what that person might enjoy. Chances are you’ll soon realize that whatever toy, widget, or object you were thinking of giving isn’t actually that great of a gift after all. Of course this isn’t always the case, but a great number of gifts can be outgrown, broken, lost, or forgotten. Most people value good memories and positive life experiences much higher than personal possessions and novelty items. A thousand people can have the exact same item, but an experience is personal and one of a kind. Let’s take a surprise birthday party for example. What is remembered most? The surprise of family and friends, the celebration, spending time with loved ones, or the piles of wrapped gifts? If you were asked to tell of a time when you were certainly happy, it probably wouldn’t be when you received that pretty new sweater for Christmas, or even upon being gifted that new car for your 16th birthday. There is no doubt; some gifts are indeed awesome, such as a new car. However, there is no object in this world that can replace good company and life experiences. The purpose of life isn’t to accumulate objects is it? It’s to live. For that reason one of the best gifts you can give is the gift of experience, especially experiences shared with others. 3 Reasons Why Rafting Makes for A Great Experience Gift There are 3 good reasons that make Whitewater Rafting a great experience gift: The inherent adventure of rafting, the valued memories it creates with friends and loved ones, and the real world experience it gives in this digital age. Adventure Without a doubt, whitewater rafting is exciting, thrilling, and gets the adrenaline pumping. For someone who has never experienced it before, chances are it will be one of the most adventurous things they’ve ever done. This is especially true for multi-day trips where they truly get to experience the excitement of the outdoors beyond a few hours and, of course, depends on the actual river chosen. Some rivers or certain sections can be rather lazy in nature, which are great for younger or older folks. But if given the real paddle gripping, white-knuckle experience of a more difficult river, it’s an experience, and a gift, that won’t soon be forgotten. Shared Time and Memories Created One of the best parts about giving experience gifts is that the gift giver can experience them as well. Friends and family can join and this often makes the experience all the better if they do. Time on the river gives people a break from their hectic daily lives, and allows them to fully be in the moment while enjoying themselves in the process. Being able to share in that with them is meaningful. Having fun, trying something new or daring, going outside of what their normal daily expectations may be, is something to be cherished and remembered for a long time. Many times a whitewater rafting trip won’t be forgotten and I’m sure you can recall a few cherished memories yourself. Real World Experience… Not Virtual If the gift receiver rarely ventures outdoors into nature, they will literally sit in awe as they gaze at their surroundings. Some people tend to forget that the natural beauty of this world around rivers is well worth the journey to go view and explore it. Usually, you don’t get the whole picture viewing Earthporn online, such as the sights, sounds, taste, and feel of being present outdoors. Experiencing these scenes in real life is much more moving and meaningful to a person than viewing it through a computer screen. How many hours a day do you typically spend staring at a screen? Most of our daily lives are predominantly virtual, from shopping to banking, and socializing to working. Most of what we experience in a day occurs with a screen no more than a foot in front of our faces. An experience gift of whitewater rafting would change that and perhaps pump a little life back into the people going. Being outdoors and seeing the world with your own two eyes has oddly become something you have to coax people into doing. An experience gift is a great way to coax people into trying something new, different, and outdoors. There is more to giving a gift than wrapping a box and handing it over. Giving a gift is an opportunity to really show that you care for someone, and that they are worth giving a gift to in the first place. Don’t discount that idea and try to consider something that is sure to surprise. A guided whitewater rafting trip is only one such idea, and there are countless others. Horseback riding tours, zip lining adventures, scuba diving lessons, skydiving… there are many options. You just have to be clever, be thoughtful, and you’re gift will no doubt be sure to surprise and amaze. Who knows, perhaps we’ll even see you on the river soon. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, our utmost passion is being the best river rafting guides we can be. This ensures we offer the
5 Insane Facts About Dehydration
So, maybe you don’t drink as much water as you know you’re supposed to. But you aren’t dead yet, and that’s about as much as you’re concerned about. Likewise, every health article you could ever read says something about drinking more water, but the real facts about dehydration are rarely discussed. Turns out there’s a lot to know, and a lot that is misunderstood about staying properly hydrated! 1. 75% of Americans Are Chronically Dehydrated A recent study has shown that roughly three fourths of the country are suffering from constant dehydration, often unwittingly. This is often a result of popular eating and drinking habits, as well as the fact that man’s thirst reflex is often confused for hunger pangs instead. Soda pop, caffeine, sugar, salt, and starchy foods dry out the body and decrease its ability to absorb nutrients, leading to a variety of health complications that are common today. 2. A Portion of Your Water Intake Comes From Your Food While 80% of keeping hydrated requires drinking straight water, you get a surprising amount of hydration from the food you eat. Fruits and veggies are an abundant source of natural hydration, but even rice and dairy products can fuel you with some water. As long as they are not overdone, water-based caffeine beverages like coffee and tea actually do cancel out the drying-out properties and ultimately hydrate you. However, if your diet consists of too much sodium you won’t derive much hydration from your food at all. 3. “8 Glasses of Water per Day” Rule is a Myth It has become the widespread rumor that every person must drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. But considering the amount of water one gets from their diet, as well as the fact that every person is unique, this is obviously not an accurate standard. The Institute of Medicine has narrowed it down, stating that men generally need about 3.7 liters a day where women need about 2.7. Of course this varies from person to person depending on what their diet consists of, their weight, and many other medical factors. It’s important to find your individual water requirements rather than go off a number tailored to someone else. 4. Clear Urine is Not the Goal You may have been taught to try to achieve urine that’s as clear as the water you’re chugging down. But urine this clear is a sign that your body is just passing the water straight through, and you aren’t giving it enough time to flush out any excess minerals along with it. A sign of a healthy and properly-hydrated person is a pale yellow color to their urine. Adjust your water intake accordingly by analyzing your urine and aiming for that color consistently. 5. It Only Take 45 Minutes to Get Hydrated The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research conducted a study on how long it took mildly dehydrated men to become hydrated after drinking water. It was found that after consuming around two bottles of water, it only took roughly 45 minutes for the body to function healthily in a perfectly hydrated state. If you sense that you are dehydrated (or have been chronically dehydrated for some time), it’s not too late for you! Drinking some water now will help you get your body back to a more functional state in under an hour. While there’s plenty you can do to recover from mild dehydration, serious dehydration is no laughing matter. If symptoms have increased in severity to the point where someone is vomiting, cramping up, majorly disoriented, or unconscious, you’ll need to seek emergency assistance. There are many a walk-in clinic in Medford, MA and other major cities that are equipped to handle these cases, and at that point you shouldn’t rely on at-home measures. By understanding dehydration and what it takes to maintain proper hydration, you can avoid these kind of situations and live a longer, healthier life! At Wilderness Aware Rafting, our utmost passion is being the best river rafting guides we can be. This ensures we offer the best service to our customers year after year. If you’re interested in a Browns Canyon white water rafting trip, Dolores River rafting trip, or want to try Salt River rafting Arizona, please be sure to contact us and find out what trip offerings we have available. We look forward to seeing you on the water!
Looking For An Outdoor Job This Summer? Who Makes For The Perfect Raft Guide?
Are you at work right now sitting behind a desk, in front of a computer, hunched over the keyboard, staring out the window wishing for something better? Well you’re a member of the biggest club in America. The I Hate My Job Club! There is little doubt about it, few people nowadays enjoy what they do for a living. Worse yet, there are likely more people who despise their job than those who simply don’t enjoy it. But let’s do a little math to keep this in perspective. Let’s say that you work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year over the course of 40 years (aged 20-60). This would mean that combined, your total hours of being an industrious person would be 83,200. Imagine that, 83,200 hours of essentially pure unhappiness slaving away at a job you abhor. And for what? Good pay, good health insurance, good vacation time off. Is endless misery worth that? Now if you have a family to provide for, than by all means suffer. In that sense, your devotion to familial duty is admirable and expected from you. But for the countless thousands of people who are not beholden to caring for a family, or continuing that rat race, climbing that latter and chasing that cheese, is money a good replacement for sanity and happiness? There are plenty of jobs out there that won’t feel like work for you. Jobs where vacation time feels unneeded. Where you wake up everyday and actually want to rush off to work… skipping and whistling all the way. In the end that perfect and ideal job is dependent on the person, but for many people, and especially those that work for Wilderness Aware Rafting, we have a passion for our profession. We love rafting, the outdoors, meeting new people, and teaching our skills to those willing to learn. We love providing a unique and memorable experience for people, and as such, we love our jobs. So to help perhaps jog your memory of what it is you truly love, let us tell you what it is about our jobs we love and why we are perfect for it. Maybe you’ll be persuaded to perhaps undue your noose of a tie and chase your dream. Because for us… we’ve not only found it, but seized it firmly. Why Being A Raft Guide Is Great There are countless reasons why being a rafting guide is great, and most of these points would probably be the same for any person who provides similar adventure services. For starters our office is outdoors and the wilderness is our boardroom. When we get to go to work, we don’t have to deal with phone calls… but bird calls. We don’t have to listen next to the water cooler about a co-workers thrilling weekend. We make our own thrills and the only thing we have to listen to is the ragging of the river or the babbling of a brook. We never get tired of sitting because sitting is supposed to be a time to relax. Which we do in between the moments of excitement and pure adrenaline rushes that the river provides. We don’t have to look at profit margins or a projects ROI because we are too busy planning for adventure. We don’t have to hit the gym after work because work is our gym and it provides the best workout we could want. We don’t have to deal with pesky and annoying coworkers because everyone we work aside is like-minded and passionate about the same things we are. When we leave work, it is impossible to take any work home with us even though many of us would like to at times, especially in the off-season. We get to not only meet interesting people everyday but also get to educate them as well. Our inspiration begets inspiration in them and we take pride in that. We have the opportunity to provide memorable experiences for those we guide, ones we know will last many years and stories that will be told countless times. Rafting to us doesn’t feel like work because it is a labor of love. Because in the end, and how we see it, we get to play all day every day. How is that even considered work? This is not meant to cause jealousy, but simply remind people that for those that want it, a job you could love is available somewhere. You just have to think hard what it is that makes you happy… and go for it. For us, there is little else we could ask for. Except maybe a river that runs year round… and for those who can’t handle the off months, those are available as well. What is Required To Become a Rafting Guide When it comes down to it, very little is required to become a whitewater rafting guide. The hard essentials are that you must be at least 18 years old and you must be currently 1st Aid and CPR certified. You may never have even set foot in a boat, but don’t be discouraged. Most rafting companies will train you on everything you need to know. How to properly use gear, rafting techniques and jargon,how to read rivers, and how to understand river obstacles/hazards. As far as rafting itself is concerned, no employer will put you on a river if either you or them don’t feel comfortable. You must also be willing to live in the area you will be rafting. Generally this means sleeping in cars, trucks, buses, tents, and cabins for the summer. For those that like to camp anyhow this is usually a benefit as it gives them even more time outdoors. In the end though, the most important traits a person can have if they want to be a whitewater rafting guide is character and attitude. For those that truly love the outdoors, people, and rafting, there is never a problem. But you always have to keep
Various River Terms for Whitewater Rafting
Rivers usually originate from a freshwater source that flows downwards from a higher elevation like atop a mountain towards one or more rivers, which then leads into a lake, a sea, or an ocean. In Colorado, we have four major rivers: Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas, and South Platte. Many small streams and rivers feed into these major rivers, giving us some of the best options in the US for whitewater rafting in Colorado. Some of our exciting whitewater rafting trips at Wilderness Aware Rafting take place on the incredible Arkansas and Colorado River. As you’re navigating downriver during one of our trips, you may wonder how to refer to specific areas along the river. Well, you’re in luck! This is a handy guide to river terms so start studying so you can look like quite the river stud (or studdess) next time you jump into a raft. Whitewater Rafting River Terms Confluence – the point where two rivers meet Dam – a man-made barrier built to hold back water in a reservoir or divert the flow of water Downstream – the direction that the river is flowing Drainage Basin – the area of land where surface water from rain, snow, and ice is drained by river at a lower elevation Eddy – spot where the water headed downstream stops or reverses, usually resulting in a spot to get stuck Estuary – where the tide of an ocean meets the current of the river and mixes, usually at the mouth of a river Flood Plain – the flat land close to the river banks, which is very fertile and often used for agriculture Flooding – when the rivers are overflowing with water and spreads over the bank and surrounding land Rapids – the wavy areas of a river where the current is moving fast and breaks against rocks near the surface Riverbed – the ground at the bottom of the river, which is usually sand and stones The Mouth – the end of the river where it meets a large body of water like a lake or ocean Waterfall – the sudden drop off of a river over a cliff Watershed – the land that drains water into a river or other body of water At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we absolutely love being on the rivers and having a better understanding of their nature and how they work with, well, the rest of nature. Sharing the knowledge and experience with you is an amazing benefit of our jobs. If you are interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip, multi-day rafting trip, or want to try Salt River whitewater rafting in Arizona, please be sure to contact us and find out what trip offerings we have available.
What Every Rafting Survival Kit Should Contain
Items Everyone Should Have In Their Rafting Survival Kit Most people understand that it’s better to be safe than sorry. Preparedness doesn’t just happen by chance alone, and a bit of foresight and planning must go into making any precautionary measures. This is especially true when deciding on what your rafting survival kit should contain. You don’t have to think that by making one you are expecting the worst to happen, just that if it was to, you would be ready. If you are planning a rafting adventure of your own this summer, be sure to go over this list and ensure that you have the contents with you in a dry bag, one that can be lashed to the raft itself. One other note is that this survival kit is big and can be because the raft will be carrying it until it is needed. Most survival kits for other situations would be much smaller as you would be forced to carry it, but since that is not the case here, it’s best to bring anything that could be needed and sift through it when the time comes. With that said, let’s go over this list and explain what the items are needed for. Necessary Rafting Survival Kit Contents Bandana: A bandana is an all around great item to have on you. Can be used to shield your head from the sun, wrap up cuts or abrasions, kept wet and wrapped around your neck to stay cool, or any other number of purposes. Try to have at least one, but two or three could never hurt. Belt Knife: A belt knife is one that should stay on your person at all times, and is kept on your belt so as not to fall out of your pocket. It is also easily accessible in case you need it in the moment. For instance, in the event you are tossed out of the raft and managed to get wrapped up in cords underwater, the knife can be used to cut yourself free. Beyond that, a knife is one of the most crucial items to have as its overall versatility and potential uses are endless. Bug Netting: When in a survival situation, any annoyance is going to be heightened and made worse. For most people, bugs make the top of the list for annoyances outdoors. A proper bug net will shield you from these pesky critters at time when your nerves are already going to be shot. Candle: If you can help avoid sitting in the dark, you will surely be happier. They are also useful for keeping a flame going in case you dont have much dry material around you to use. Metal Cup: Your going to want something to boil water in, and a metal cup is the best option for that without having to carry bulky pots. Hot water will raise your spirits if your cold, as well as your body temperature. You can also steep pine needles and other edible plants to receive a few extra vitamins and calories. Boiled water is also one of the best ways to kill bacteria in water that would otherwise make you sick. Dried Food: Dried food is good for a long time as it doesn’t spoil, and for that purpose is perfect to take in a survival kit of any sort. Duct Tape: If anything in the world breaks, it can be fixed, fastened, or wrapped up in duct tape. Its uses are endless, and you should always have some of it with you. Fire-Starting Device: Magnesium strips and flint, friction starters, or anything really is better than nothing. Even a basic lighter will make you extremely happy when you want to start a fire. Tinder: Tinder of any sort is extremely useful when everything around you is damp or wet. It will be needed to start the base of a fire so that a larger one can be built up on top of that. Even picking up things along the way as you find them is a useful habit to get into. Dry wood chips, moss, pine needles, and the like will all do the trick. First Aid Kit: Should be pretty self-explanatory. An entire article could be devoted to this item alone, and as such, you should research what is best needed for a first aid kit, as often times, they are dictated by the region and climate you will be in. Fishing Equipment: Anything helps when trying to scavenge for and find food. Fishing lines, hooks, lures, and lead weights will all come in handy. The pole itself is not necessary, and if truly wanted, could be fashioned in the field. Flares: No better way to signal for help in the night. Best used if you know a party is nearby or that you hear a plane or helicopter overhead. Flashlight: Again, no one likes being beholden to the dark. Can also be used to flag down emergency responders at night. Wire Saw: Folding saws, hatchets, and any other number of sawing instruments would work. But mainly these are needed for either making shelter, or some other form of device such as a hauling sled or raft. A wire saw though is lightweight, flexible, and gets the same job done in the end without having to worry over carrying a sharp saw in your otherwise waterproof bag. Orange Garbage Bags: Bright colors are best in daytime for allowing emergency personnel the best chance to spot you. You can tied one to the top of a stick and carry that around as you walk as a sort of flag. Garbage bags themselves also have a great number of other uses that make them worthy of being included in this list. GPS Unit: A functioning GPS will be your best friend for telling you exactly how lost you are. It will tell you where you need to go, as well as geographical formations to avoid, such as steep mountains, or sheer ravines. Makes trekking out yourself quite a bit easier. Map & Compass: If you don’t have a GPS, or the one you had has failed you, it’s time to rely on what
5 Things To Avoid When White Water Rafting
At Wilderness Aware Rafting, safety is our foremost and most important concern. Whether you are Salt River Rafting in Arizona near Phoenix, Horseback Riding down one of Colorado’s beautiful trails, or doing a little 4×4 on some scenic jeep trails, we are dedicated to making sure everything goes over smoothly. If you are interested in booking a guided trip with us, be sure to contact us and find out what upcoming events are available. 5 Things Every Person White Water Rafting Should Avoid Doing It’s pretty difficult to have a bad time rafting, in fact you actually have to try pretty hard in order for that to work. But there are a few things that can be done to drastically increase the chance of a bad time being had. If you are thinking of going white water rafting, be sure to avoid the following 5 things. They can either directly put you into harms way, or simply make your experience overall significantly worse. Rafting Drunk Or On Drugs “I can do that. Here, hold my beer…” Few things decrease your attention and coordination skills more than drugs and/or alcohol. As such, it is paramount that you avoid consuming anything that limits your reasoning skills, physical capabilities, and judgement as all three of those are quite necessary in ensuring your trip goes over safely. Liquid courage does not equate into real courage by any means, and it is important for everyone to remember this. You also don’t have to be wasted to enjoy yourself, there is plenty pleasure to be had doing it sober… so don’t be a fool. Failing To Wear Safety Equipment “Wear a helmet… what for bro? I hit the water harder than it hits me!” Your life jacket is to protect you from drowning, and it does a pretty good job at that. Your helmet is to protect you from hitting your noggin on all the hazardous things there are under water, and that as well does a good job. Rocks, logs, and countless other things threaten your pretty little head under the water. It’s not “cool” to forego wearing safety equipment, and that should be remembered. Even if it is lame, it’s better to be lame than dead or seriously injured. Being Concerned With Your Tan “No I’m not paddling. Can’t you see? I’m getting my bronze on, I don’t want tan lines.” For starters, the last thing you should be trying to do while rafting is working on your tan. That is the fastest way to become burnt and dehydrated. After long trips you can even fall stricken to sun strokes or heat exhaustion, neither of which will make that awesome tan worth it. But then there is the concern that while worrying over your tan, you are not paying attention to the river and potential hazards that lay there within. By worrying over your looks, you’re putting both yourself as well as your rafting companions at risk. Not Knowing The Lay Of The River Or The Surrounding Land “No man, don’t worry. It’s going to be easy. My uncle rafted this river back in the 60’s.” Before going anywhere you’ve never been, it’s a good rule of life to try and memorize as much of the intended area as possible. Sure nowadays we have iPhones and GPS, but batteries die and technology can fail. You would hate to be left lost because you were relying on Google maps to get you out of any trouble you might come across, only to realize you don’t have service or any idea where you are. Being lost in the wilderness is not fun for anyone and so knowing the path of the river through the land is crucial. Beyond that, the river itself should be known as certain sections could be more difficult or have specific hazards you should be aware of to avoid. Knowledge is power… so make sure you know the lay of the land and river. Being A Downer Debby Or Sour Stew “No, this is terrible. Between the rain, the heat, and the cold, I can’t imagine why anyone does this.” Any situation, whether good or bad, can quickly be made worse by a downer Debby or sour Stew. Most people understand that weather changes, or that you can become sore or tired from rafting, or any other number of less positive things. But… there is no such thing as bad weather. Just varying degrees of good weather. While most people enjoy pushing themselves, or exerting themselves in a fun activity. Most likely, these Debby’s and Stew’s knew what was in store, and none of what happens should be much of a surprise to them. So rather than bring everyone down to your level, why not try elevating yourself to theirs. In the least, you wont annoy your companions and you might actually find yourself having a good time. No matter the heat, cold, being tired or wet.
10 Reasons To Love Whitewater Rafting
If you have a hankering for adventure, you may very well enjoy rafting Colorado and the beautiful rivers that exist here. If you feel that may interest you, be sure to check out the available rafting trips at InARaft.com! 10 Reasons To Love Whitewater Rafting Exercise Exercise is generally something most people don’t get enough of, and what better way to exercise than by having fun doing it. When whitewater rafting, there are certainly moments when you are paddling hard to ensure your raft takes the right path down a section of river, or when you need to avoid some obstacle. Not to mention the entire time you are in the raft you are continually keeping yourself balanced and centered. These are a few of the reasons why at the end of a long day rafting, you are generally physically spent. The Outdoors Along with exercise, getting outside is something most people aren’t able to do often enough. But for the most part, is thoroughly enjoyed by all. The spray and mist of the river water cooling you down as you sit under a shining sun, the feeling of a breeze licking your skin, drying you off. The smell of the wild teasing your nostrils… all of this is what makes the outdoors literally set a persons soul at ease. There are very few things that can compare to it. Adrenaline Come to think of it, this entire list is made up of things most people don’t get enough of. Adrenaline pumping action certainly not being excluded. The thrill of crashing through waves, being bucked in the air, and going toe to toe against the elements causes your adrenaline to flow and for you to truly feel alive. As we know, motion is life itself, while stagnation is death. So keep moving! Time With Loved Ones It’s hard enough in our day and age to find quality time to spend with loved ones… but that’s not really an issue when you’re all packed onto a raft hucking rubber. These moments are also ones not easily forgotten, and nor should they be. You’ll remember these trips, and others like it, for the remainder of your life. Unique Experience There is much in this life to experience, and there is much in this life you should experience. You only live once and you have to make the most of that limited time. If whitewater rafting was not worth the time spent doing it, you would not have as large of a following as you do for the sport. It’s thrilling, enjoyable, memorable, and entirely worth every second spent doing it. Wildlife The number and variety of wildlife that can be viewed while sitting on a raft in the river would take anyone by surprise that has never experienced it. If you can imagine, the birds soaring over head, the marmots scurrying around on the banks and shore, the chipmunks monkeying around in the trees, and every other form of life found in the water can all be viewed while sitting on a rubber raft floating down the river. Vegetation For those of you with a love for plants, there are fewer better areas to view the vegetation of a region than by the banks of a river. As you can expect, any plant would love to find some prime real estate river side. As such, you can always view a wide diversity of plant life while cruising down a river. This is of course, in between the moments of excitement and pure wonderment over the beauty of the landscape. Sexy Guides There are always additional benefits to doing anything enjoyable,and for those taking guided rafting tours, the guides themselves are sometimes it. The men and women that have the intimate knowledge of the surrounding area and the physique of the gods themselves from endlessly and tirelessly rowing many times make these trips better. It may be a silly thing to say, and even sillier to hear. But when it comes down to it, it’s true. And more times than not, you will have heard a friend go off about how “cute” or “hot” or “stunning” their rafting guide was. This is most certainly an additional benefit. Learning Facts Many people, rather than having a love for beautiful people, or animals, or plants, or scenes, have a love for knowledge. And when it comes to knowing their surroundings, and all that it encompasses, rafting guides are often experts. They know local legends and tales, they know the behavior of the animals, they know almost everything that is to be known of the area in which they guide. This makes it especially easy to learn a lot about certain areas that you would otherwise never think of considering. Enjoyment Beyond all these other factors, whitewater rafting is simply enjoyable, in every sense of that word. Rarely will a moment pass where you are not enjoying yourself, which is the reason many people take yearly rafting trips. It fulfills so many desires and experiences we wish to have that there is no reason not to. If you are looking for a way to enjoy yourself, thoroughly, please, for your own sake, plan a trip and hit the river. It is certainly something you will not soon forget. If after reading through this you finally realize that yes, you would indeed love to go enjoy a rafting trip, and Whitewater Rafting in Colorado would scratch that itch, give us a call or get in touch with us via email. We love rafting, and enjoy sharing that passion with anyone who cares to join!
