Tips for Rafting Heavy Rivers
One of the best parts of Colorado white water rafting is gaining the ability to raft harder and more exciting rivers. We love taking on Mother Nature and the various challenges she throws our way. Even if you raft the same river year after year, it’s never quite the same. The various levels of water and time of year changes the shape of the river bends, the currents, and the obstacles. A significant contribution to the water level is the snow we get each winter in Colorado, so pray for snow! In the spring, it melts off the mountains and the runoff feeds into the rivers below. Depending on how quickly the snow melts, June will see heavy waters. If it melts gradually, then the rivers will flow pretty consistently but with a gradual increase, usually peaking in July and low enough to end the rafting season by Labor Day. When it comes to rafting high water, it can mean many things, but essentially, it means deeper water, faster currents, and higher risk. Keep your head in the game at all times. There’s a reason most of the country’s best white water rafters live in Colorado. Maneuvering You would think that with high water levels come more splash zones as you paddle downriver. However, high water usually covers up the boulders and rocks that the water splashes off of, thereby washing it out and creating big hydraulics but each wave is different. The parts of the river that are usually calm end up with new rapids. Faster currents makes maneuvering between each stroke more difficult as you are traveling quickly and will shorten your rafting trip. Sticking with a guide with many years of experience is your best bet at getting the team to be where you want them to be and avoid anybody falling out. They will know how sharp to turn the raft and the best parts to float over. Safety Higher water levels means faster currents and an increased safety risk. Be sure that your life vest is on you tightly, your helmet is covering your forehead, and you have the proper shoes to protect your feet if you were to fall in. It is even more crucial than usual that you get your feet pointed down river and floating on your back while guiding yourself to the nearest shoreline. The swift speed at which you are flowing downriver may lead to an increased recovery time by your raft mates to come rescue you too. If you are paddling with more than one boat, it’s better to stick closer together in case one needs to help the other. It also goes without saying but don’t drink alcohol before or during the rafting trip. Save the brewskies for celebrating afterwards. At Wilderness Aware Rafting we love white water rafting and enjoying the great outdoors. If you’re interested in rafting, check out the Salt River whitewater rafting or Colorado water rafting trips we have available. Want more adventure? We also have many other fun outdoor trips available.
Nestle Expands Water Bottling to Arkansas River
Nestle bottles and sells spring water, which is normally sourced from California and other locations but as a result of the severe drought, now takes their water from the Arkansas River near Buena Vista, another drought area. Nestle is the umbrella company for many bottled water brands including Perrier, San Pellegrino, Ozarka, Poland Spring, Callistoga, Deer Park, Ice Mountain, and Zephyrhills. The water that is sourced from Colorado is labeled as Arrowhead, a name many are familiar with. Nestle Approved to Extract Water in Colorado Chaffee County approved Nestle’s application to extract water despite not meeting the criteria back in 2009 and Nestle can legally draw water from these Colorado aquifers. This means that Nestle draws anywhere between 250-510 million gallons of water each year from the Colorado River Basin and Arkansas River. Ecosystems at Risk for Profit Depleting crucial water from an ecosystem like the one surrounding Salida and the Arkansas River has deep impacts on the plant, wildlife, locals, and tourism around the area. The Colorado River Basin also supplies water to 40 million Americans. Where people usually get water for free or at a minimum cost, Nestle extracts this basic need for survival, bottles it, marks it up, and pockets about $4 billion per year in sales. Why buy bottled water when you can get it for free? On their website, Nestle states that they manage about 14,000 acres of natural watershed around 50 spring water sources and monitor the levels to ensure that they are replenished. Springs are where water first emerges from the earth but Nestle is known to pump ground water too. Unethical Behavior of Nestle Although Nestle says they are concerned with the environmental impact of removing spring water, they are frequently under fire for their questionable ethics. While obtaining the land around water sources, Nestle limits the access of the water by locals. In 2003, one of their brands, Poland Spring, was sued for false advertising as their “spring water” was actually pumped ground water that is heavily treated. Although it’s called Poland Springs, the water comes from multiple sources around Maine, one of which is the city of Poland. In addition, the water source stands over a former dump and below an illegal disposal site that was fertilized using sprayed human waste. When water is already pretty much free and sourced ethically, why buy water from a company that just moves from one drought area to another with deceptive marketing? Reusable water bottles are very affordable and filling up from the tap or filtering with a pitcher at home cuts back drastically on costs and keeps plastic bottles out of the streets, nature, and landfills. In 2012, only 9% of plastic waste was recycled. Let’s keep our planet healthy, sustainable, and a beautiful place to enjoy outdoors. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we love rafting and being on clean, healthy rivers. We are rated #1 on TripAdvisor and we offer exciting Colorado Rafting Trips, and Salt River whitewater rafting trips. Contact us today for more information.
What to Pack for an Overnight Rafting Trip
An overnight white water rafting trip seems easy enough to pack for as it’s not that long of a stay. However, with a trip like this, not over packing and bringing the right things is essential. A big part of what to consider packing depends greatly on where you will be geographically. For example, it may be really hot during the day in the desert but freezing at night so packing light gear on opposite ends of the temperature spectrum is imperative to a comfortable trip and for your survival. If you go with a river guide outfitter, you won’t need to worry about bringing meals but snacks will probably be a good idea. If you have any food allergies, it’s important to let them know beforehand so that you don’t go into anaphylactic shock. On that note, anything crucial to your well-being that is not included on this packing list is a must. Packing List for Overnight Rafting Trip Clothes to paddle in Shorts T-shirt Long pants Long-sleeved shirt Light or fleece jacket Underwear Swimming suit Plastic trash bag Small towel Toiletries Lip balm Rain jacket Bug repellant Head lamp Hat Canned beverages Water bottle Sleeping bag Small pillow Nylon tent Closed toed shoes Sunscreen Sandals with velcro straps Camp shoes Socks Camera (optional) Ziplock plastic bags for phones, keys, etc. At Wilderness Aware, we provide professional photography of your rafting trip so you don’t have to bring a camera if you don’t want. Most river guides will have dry bags you can use and first aid gear. You just need to think about what else would make your trip more enjoyable like bringing a deck of cards, a book, a Frisbee or your lucky socks. At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is white water rafting and the outdoors. If you’re interested in an overnight Colorado Rafting Trip, or Salt River whitewater rafting, check out which whitewater rafting trips we have available for more information.
Grades of White Water Rafting – INFOGRAPHIC
White water rafting usually is rated by classes but they are also referred to as grades. Based on the International Scale of River Difficulty created by the American Whitewater Association, the different grades or classes identifies how difficult each section of a river is and the required skills needed to safely navigate it. Similar to rock climbing scales, there can be easy Class III rapids and harder ones. On a more technical level, a + or – is added to the rating. Find out below what makes each grade/class easy or difficult and what level would be good for you on your next white water rafting trip. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, we love rafting and being on the river. Rated #1 on TripAdvisor, we offer exciting Colorado White Water Rafting Trips, and Salt River whitewater rafting. Contact us today for more information.
Plan Your Bachelorette Party with Whitewater Rafting
If you’re planning a bachelorette party for a friend that is more interested in a less than traditional party to celebrate her last days as a single woman, then a whitewater rafting trip could be right up your alley. For the woman who loves to explore the great outdoors, planning a trip to the mountains with some camping, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, or Colorado zip line tours would be much more memorable and unique for this bride instead of a night on the town. Whitewater rafting is an exciting option that takes your friends on a fun getaway to celebrate the upcoming marriage, which you can easily customize this with another outdoor trip. Many of our trips are budget-friendly and the rivers a rush. We offer great discounts for groups of 10 or more. Plan an Easy and Fun Bachelorette Party Your Maid of Honor duties will be a lot easier when organizing a whitewater rafting bachelorette party since we do all the planning, packing, and cooking. If you’re worried about the camp food, Wilderness Aware provides delicious gourmet meals prepared by our experienced guides. No matter how experienced your guest list is, we can help you choose the right trip that will keep all the girls comfortable while experiencing exciting adrenaline rushes and plenty of laughs. All you have to worry about is bringing the basics: swimsuit, shoes, sunscreen, and water for a day on the river. Don’t worry about taking pictures either, we can capture the best rafting moments for you with professional photography that you get to keep. They would also make a great wedding present. Continue the Party in Buena Vista Buena Vista is a beautiful mountain town to spend the weekend with the Bride and friends. There are plenty of lodging options, hiking trails, good food, shopping, and a hot springs nearby. Start a day off by climbing Mount Princeton, one of the more popular 14ers in the area with beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and wrap it up with a relaxing soak in a hot spring pool. Whether you decide to do a multi-day camping rafting trip or a half day Browns Canyon rafting trip paired with a couple nights at a rustic inn, you can be sure that the whitewater rafting bachelorette party that you plan will be exciting for everyone involved and there will be plenty of stories to share at the wedding. Need some inspiration to get your party planning going? Adobe just launched their free Adobe Express Invitation Templates so that you can create the perfect party invites free of cost. Happy planning! At Wilderness Aware Rafting our passion is whitewater rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip bachelorette party or a multi-day rafting trip, browse our whitewater rafting trips here or call us at 1-800-462-7238 to plan your trip today.
5 Things to Do With Kids in Buena Vista This Summer
Families are drawn to Buena Vista, which is at the heart of Colorado and appropriately named in Spanish as, “Beautiful View.” This city set between Salida and Leadville is a mecca for outdoor lovers and wildlife. A quiet forest with an abundant ecosystem and habitat for animals, the natural beauty of this area attracts people here for a taste of nature and adventures. With mountains, rivers, forest, inns, restaurants, and shopping nearby, Buena Vista visitors have a huge variety of activities to choose from. Here are our top 5 things you should do with kids (or if you’re a kid at heart) when you visit Buena Vista this summer. Whitewater Rafting Colorado Over 250,000 people come through Buena Vista each year to go whitewater rafting. The Arkansas River is one of the top 10 rivers to raft in the US and the magnificent Browns Canyon and wildlife are well worth the trip. Since the river has various sections available for rafting, people of all rafting levels can enjoy a half day to multi-day trips rafting along the Arkansas here. Rafting is a great way to get the thrill of adventure while also appreciating the nature around you. Camping and Cabins If you’re into laying out under the stars and roasting marshmallows, Buena Vista is the place to do it. Camping near the base of Mt. Princeton or along the Arkansas for the peaceful babble of the river. If hanging out in the trees in a tent isn’t your cup of tea, then choosing a local inn with a rustic feel will keep you in touch with nature while having the ability to lay in a comfortable bed and get a hot shower at the end of the day without sacrificing the feel of the mountain life. Buena Vista River Park This park boasts a dog park, bouldering, ball fields, tracks, skate parks, picnic tables, disc golf, and a great view to see kayakers hitting the rapids. The South Main neighborhood is especially designed for kayakers. The river runs along over half a mile next to River Park and is a great place to explore Buena Vista culture. Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort Kick back after a day of adventure soaking in a hot springs pool. Mt. Princeton has a variety of pools to relax in including a soaking pool, exercise pool, relaxation pool, cascading pools, and Chalk Creek. Sit in each pool surrounded by water from Chalk Creek where you can adjust the temperature by moving rocks around. For the kids and young at heart, there’s a 400 foot hot water slide to ride down on a mat into 75 degree water. Buena Vista Restaurants What is a trip away from home without good food? Buena Vista has a great selection of restaurants available. If you’re into mountain breweries, sit down to a meal and drink at Eddyline Restaurant. More interested in something for breakfast? Get some eggs at Evergreen Café or Gunsmoke Café. Have a hankering for sushi? No worries there, The Asian Palate offers a variety of Asian Fusion meals. Buena Vista is a great place to go for a mountain getaway and a taste of Colorado water culture. If you’re looking to make some memories with your family and kids, look no further. When visitors come to Buena Vista, they can see why so many people want to make Browns Canyon a national monument. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, our passion is whitewater rafting. If you’re interested in a Colorado Rafting Trip or multi-day rafting trip, browse our whitewater rafting trips here.
Top 10 Rivers For White Water Rafting in America – INFOGRAPHIC
In Colorado, we are very lucky to have the opportunity to raft one of the best rivers in America – The Arkansas River. Set in the magnificent mountains and beauty of the wilderness, we can’t complain much. For those of you living across the US or those interested in traveling to other states, there are so many great rivers to go white water rafting in too. Add these top 10 rivers to your rafting bucket list and get to know a little more of the great outdoors. If you’re interested in rafting the Arkansas River, check out our white water rafting trips we have available. Rated #1 on TripAdvisor, we also offer Colorado horseback rides, and zip-lining tours.
Gold Mining Blocking Colorado Wilderness Protection Around Browns Canyon
Anyone who’s visited Browns Canyon would agree that the 20,000 acres of natural landscape surrounding it is beautiful, magnificent, and worthy of becoming a national monument as Colorado State Senator Mark Udall proposed in a bill. However, this bill is getting stalled by two groups who staked their claims on gold mines in December 2011 when the ban on gold mining lifted in this area. More Wilderness, Less Mining From 1980 to 2011, the Federal Bureau of Land Management designated this area for wilderness study, which prevented anyone from mining there. As soon as the ban expired, the two groups filed for five mining claims along the Arkansas River. Mining would lead to new roads, more development, runoff and more. In 2005, Republican Congressmen Joel Hefley and Republican Senator Wayne Allard tried to protect this area as well but their bills fell through. Why Gold Mining is Bad Gold mining these days is not shifting a pan in a river. Retrieving enough gold to make an 18-karat wedding band means extracting 20 tons of ore and waste rock. This ore and waste rock needs to be placed somewhere so trees are cut down to make room. Mining produces toxic mine drainage, which comes from unearthing rocks that have been buried long ago, releasing trapped air and moisture that leads to chemical reactions resulting in acid production. These acids then leach toxic metals such as arsenic, copper, mercury, and sulfuric acid, which then runs off into various bodies of water, the closest here being the Arkansas River. Gold mining runoff is very toxic for fish and other aquatic creatures. Non-aquatic animals then eat those in the water or drink the water, and you can see the snowball effect from there. In addition to polluting the water and grounds, extracting gold reveals mercury and when gold is roasted, mercury is shot off into the atmosphere. If they don’t roast the ore, then it’s doused in cyanide, which is very lethal. Mercury with all of its negative health effects, never degrades but at least cyanide does. Unfortunately, during the degradation process of cyanide, lots of byproducts then contaminate the groundwater. Browns Canyon a Wildlife Haven Browns Canyon is home to a large variety of animals and referred to as a mecca for wildlife. Visitors can often see bighorn sheep, golden eagles, elk, peregrine falcons, bobcats, black bears, mule deer, mountain lions, bats, and more. There are 100 miles of the Arkansas River designated as Colorado’s longest stretch of Gold Medal Trout Water. The flora, fauna, and adventures around Browns Canyon attract over 250,000 rafters, 100,000 anglers, hunters, hikers, and other guests each year, generating over $55 million in revenue for Colorado. Gold mining would not only pollute the water, ground, and air, it also results in erosion, sinkholes, and loss of biodiversity by destroying fragile ecosystems and wildlife habitat. In order to prevent this bill from dragging along in Congress, sponsors are thinking of asking President Obama to help rush this and declare Browns Canyon a national monument. Find out how you can help support the protection of Browns Canyon by visiting Friends of Browns Canyon.
Multi-Day Whitewater Rafting & Camping Vacations
Enjoy a multi-day White water rafting, camping, and outdoor adventure We have specialized in running multi-day rafting adventure trips in Colorado since 1976. This experience gives us the competitive edge when it comes to organizing your river rafting adventure. There is something special about spending more than one day, camping on a river rafting tour. There is time to unwind, forget about your schedule, and really sit back and remember why it is we work so hard… to savor life, adventure, friends, food and mother nature. Very few sports, other than perhaps sailing, allow you to cruise through the countryside effortlessly and without the aid of motors. Pack your wallet away, because your guides have thought of everything, and you can be worry free with all expenses covered. Your biggest decisions will be where to sit on the raft, and whether to take a hike, go fishing or just hang out at camp. When you raft with us, you will enjoy comforts that are not normally associated with backcountry camping. After a great day on the river, imagine yourself enjoying a cold drink by the campfire while your guides prepare a delicious multi-course meal. Guides will even deliver hot drinks to your tent in the morning! Backcountry camping in a remote setting can only be this comfortable on a Wilderness Aware trip! Why our Multi-Day Camping Trips are Special: Every Wilderness Aware multi-day whitewater rafting trip is assigned a special gear boat to carry the group’s camping equipment down the river. This gives us the flexibility to stop at secluded campsites in the canyons, where we have stunning views of the river, mountains and canyon walls. Many companies in Colorado and especially on the Arkansas River don’t offer this wilderness-style white water rafting trip. Our first time guests are thrilled by the quantity and quality of the food served on our multi-day camping trips. Hearty meals from our extensive menu are prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients. A meal with us is an event to remember. Our top-of-the-line equipment allows unparalleled comfort in camp after a day of whitewater rafting. Equipment includes reliable self bailing rafts, comfortable and clean wetsuits and paddle jackets, heavy duty chairs with backs and arm rests, huge dining canopy for evening campfire in the event of rain, portable privacy enclosure shelters a clean and comfortable chemical toilet. Why is each river different and how do I choose? Arkansas River white water rafting trips are close to Denver and Colorado Springs in central Colorado. It is located at the crossroads of almost any trip to Colorado. Great alpine scenery, nearly continuous action, a long season, and a wide range of white water trip difficulties make this river our most popular destination. Larger groups often choose this river due to generous maximum group size limits allowed by the managing agency. The Salt River located just east of Phoenix and north of Tucson, Arizona is one of the nation’s premier wilderness rafting trips. It is a unique experience to float past towering saguaro cactus with their arms reaching toward the sky. This is a perfect springtime trip beginning in March when Colorado is still locked in snow. Gunnison River trips also have a long season, offer spectacular black granite gorge scenery, and are some of the most remote wilderness trips in Colorado. Small group size limits and limited launches keep the crowds away from this wilderness wonderland. Located adjacent to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The Upper Colorado is a great family trip and offers gentle, but fast moving water suitable for very young children. This river is close the many Summit County and I-70 resort areas in Colorado. The Dolores River near Cortez, Colorado and Mesa Verde National Park offers a brief chance in May and early June to experience springtime in Colorado’s canyon country. The North Platte is Colorado’s hidden jewel in northern Colorado near Steamboat Springs. Exciting White water, a forested wilderness, miles of wildflowers and abundant wildlife make this river a great choice in May and June.
Colorado 2014 White Water Rafting
Thanks to a great ski season in Colorado, we have a lot more water for an earlier and longer rafting season this year. This past ski season in Colorado saw record snowfalls of 38.4 inches of snow in Denver whereas Arapahoe Basin saw 404 inches and Loveland received 419 inches. All of the record snow levels means a lot more runoff and higher water levels for river rafting. More water melting also means more rapids. Consistent Snow Melt High water doesn’t just affect rafting, it affects the environment and buildings flanking rivers too. If nature works by our side, the snow pack should melt at a consistent and gradual rate so that water levels don’t quickly overflow or cause a drought later in the season. We expect that mild temperatures will remain in the high country so snow melt won’t be too extreme and the rafting season to last through Labor Day. Colorado River Rafting Levels For rafters, more rapids are definitely an exciting bonus to an earlier season but there are a number of things to consider. June saw some rivers running at 50% above recommended levels. Here we have a shot of the Zoom Flume of Browns Canyon at the beginning of June where it was at 3,700 cubic foot per second (cfs) on the left. On the right is the average water level at the end of the rafting season flowing at 250-300 cfs. The rivers are swollen and much wider than usual for this time of year. Higher Water Levels Can Lead to Higher Dangers In addition to faster water, the higher water levels make it more difficult to identify features along the river and creates new routes. There is always a danger when it comes to outdoor sports and the faster rapids and currents means everybody should be more aware of what they’re doing while rafting. Our guides work to learn these new routes quickly so that navigation down the river is safe and successful for everybody. We make sure all rafters are outfitted with a helmet, life jacket, and knowledge of what to do in case you fall out of the boat and how to prevent yourself from falling out. You can be sure that safety and fun is at the top of our minds and the higher water levels means better splashes through rapids and more excitement for all involved. Those coming back for another rafting season will be pleased to see a new river, landscape, and more thrills. . Check out the white water rafting trips we have available and Colorado rafting packages to make the most of your stay with us.
