| In the United States there are a plethora of | | | | availability of river permits. |
| rivers with whitewater sections. Some of the | | | | Overnight Trips |
| country's most beautiful places can only be seen | | | | Overnight trips can be a lot of fun for friends and |
| or accessed via a river. Chances are that you | | | | family as well. They are appropriate for private |
| have a river nearby that has some level of | | | | boaters and outfitters. Make sure you have the |
| whitewater on it. However, buying all the gear and | | | | proper equipment, gear, food, kitchen, bathroom |
| equipment can be extremely costly. Knowing how | | | | (called a groover) and permit if applicable. You |
| to navigate rapids properly is a learned skill and | | | | should be experienced in daytrips and know your |
| must be properly taught in order for you to have | | | | limitations for overnights. They can either go very |
| a fun, exciting and most of all, a safe experience. | | | | smoothly or horribly wrong. Weather is usually the |
| Hiring a whitewater outfitter/guide will increase | | | | reason they go wrong, so be prepared. |
| your chances of having a memorable experience | | | | Multi-Day/Expedition Trips |
| and living to tell the tale. | | | | Multi-day trips can also be loads of fun for friends |
| River Classifications | | | | and families. Multi-day trips can last anywhere |
| There are basically four different kinds of rivers in | | | | from three days to a month in duration. They can |
| the world. Rivers are classified by their respective | | | | also be done either privately or serviced by |
| age which will inherently affect the gradient the | | | | outfitters. If you love rivers, multi-day trips may |
| river has. We will be dealing almost specifically with | | | | be for you. If you are a private boater, make |
| rivers in the US in this instance. | | | | sure you have successfully accomplished several |
| - Youthful: A youthful river will generally have a | | | | overnight trips before attempting a multi-day. |
| steep gradient with few tributaries and numerous | | | | Many multi-day trips will require at least two or |
| sections, if not continuous sections of rapids. (e.g. | | | | more boats, as one of them will most certainly be |
| Trinity, Animas, American, Rogue and Arkansas) | | | | a "gear" boat. Also, take some time to know |
| - Mature: A mature river will have a shallower | | | | some things about the area. Adventurous side |
| gradient and a slower flow than a youthful river | | | | hikes, games and other activities should be |
| and will be wider, with tributaries flowing into it. | | | | planned out before hand. This helps with the |
| (e.g. Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Colorado) | | | | "down" time when you are not on the water or |
| - Old: An old river will have a very shallow | | | | you may be spending two or more nights at the |
| gradient with a slow and easy flow. Usually old | | | | same camp. |
| rivers are very wide and deep with numerous | | | | Having meals and chores pre-planned will help the |
| tributaries including all other classifications of rivers. | | | | trip run smoothly if you are boating privately. |
| You'll have to travel outside the US to find these | | | | Knowing who is doing the cooking and cleaning as |
| rivers. (e.g. Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Amazon and | | | | well as post trip routines will make life easier for |
| Ganges) | | | | all involved. Eating three squares a day is |
| - Rejuvenated: A rejuvenated river is the result | | | | important-you'll use a lot of energy while on the |
| of tectonic uplift and will typically have a steep | | | | water. |
| gradient with little or no tributaries. | | | | If you and your group are not seasoned |
| Whitewater areas are generally found on youthful | | | | overnight boaters, hiring an outfitter is the ideal |
| or rejuvenated rivers due to steep gradients, | | | | choice. Outfitters will do all of the trip set-up, |
| constriction points and obstacles such as rocks. | | | | cooking, cleaning, set-up and take-down of the |
| However, some mature rivers will also have | | | | campsites and of course, they will have all of the |
| whitewater areas. | | | | appropriate gear, equipment and river permits. |
| Classification of Rapids | | | | Riparian Environment |
| In the whitewater rafting, kayaking, and canoeing | | | | The riparian environment is a fragile one. The |
| industry there are six classes of rapids. Each one | | | | term "riparian," in this instance, is used to describe |
| has its own characteristics and no two are ever | | | | the river itself, as well as the flora, fauna, geology |
| the same. | | | | and just about everything else surrounding, or in, |
| - Class I: Placid, slow moving, pretty much like | | | | a river. Any decent river guide or even you as a |
| your bathtub. Good for learning the basics such as | | | | private boater should have a working knowledge |
| how to get back in the raft, flipping the raft or | | | | of the riparian environment and be able to provide |
| practicing your kayak roll techniques. | | | | its interpretation. |
| - Class II: Some ripples and low waves. Good for | | | | Care should be taken to make as little impact or |
| inner-tubing or learning how to navigate and steer | | | | imprint as possible at all times, while you are on |
| your raft, kayak or canoe. | | | | your river trip. As the sayings go; 'Take nothing |
| - Class III: Now we're talking! Swift moving water, | | | | but pictures and leave nothing but footprints' and |
| low drops and bigger waves. Good for learning | | | | 'Pack it in, pack it out.' Gear and Equipment |
| more technical navigation techniques. Class III | | | | As with any other sport, whitewater boating has |
| whitewater is a fun level for family rafting trips | | | | some very specific gear and equipment |
| and suitable for children ages 7 and older. | | | | requirements. Some can be relatively inexpensive |
| - Class IV: Now were cooking! Very swift water, | | | | to acquire and some can cost thousands of |
| big drops and huge waves. Class IV rapids are | | | | dollars. Because all of the gear and equipment will |
| considered expert class. Most Class IV rapids will | | | | be used for whitewater, some regular |
| require at least a couple years of steady, full time | | | | maintenance will also be needed. And of course, |
| guiding experience. Do not attempt without formal | | | | since whitewater boating can become a contact |
| river guide training and at least 2000 river miles of | | | | sport on occasion, things will break or simply wear |
| experience on Class III whitewater. Suitable for | | | | out. Below you will find a list of items required for |
| ages 16 and older. Most outfitters will require a | | | | whitewater boating. Items with a * indicate items |
| swim test beforehand. If you can't swim or don't | | | | needed for private boaters and guides. |
| swim well, DO NOT ATTEMPT! | | | | - PFD (personal floatation device) - don't call them |
| - Class V: Now we're cooking with gas! Extremely | | | | life jackets around guides. If you do they might |
| swiftly moving water, huge drops and massive | | | | give you this speech: 'It's not a life jacket. It won't |
| waves. Beyond expert class, we're talking tenured | | | | swim you to shore, it will not save your life; its |
| professor class. Navigating Class V rapids will | | | | sole purpose on earth is to make you float!'PFDs |
| require years of professional Class IV guiding | | | | need to be USCG Type III or above. |
| experience and nerves of steel. Only suitable for | | | | - Helmet-if applicable. Most outfitters will require |
| those who aren't faint of heart and don't mind | | | | them for Class IV and above. Some states |
| hospitals. Number one rule in Class V: Stay in the | | | | require them for Class III and above. |
| boat! If you fall out of the boat, you are almost | | | | - *Flip line |
| certain to end up in the hospital or the morgue. | | | | - *Knife |
| - Class VI: Unrunable, certain death! Class VI | | | | - *First aid kit |
| rapids are kind of like Niagara Falls; sure you can | | | | - *CPR and First Aid Certification - the level will |
| run it if you like but you won't make it! | | | | vary depending on the state you are in. |
| Trips | | | | - *Z -Drag and boat repair kit-for inflatable boats. |
| River trips are a great way of getting back to | | | | - *Spare paddles or oars |
| nature and an excellent idea for some wholesome | | | | - *Throw bag |
| family fun. River trips are, or can be, not only | | | | - *Boat-Inflatable raft or kayak (ducky), canoe, |
| adventurous, but educational as well. Some river | | | | whitewater kayak. (Don't use sea or lake kayaks |
| trips can be done by private boaters - if they | | | | on whitewater; sure, you can try, but you gonna |
| have the appropriate gear and equipment - while | | | | get schooled!) |
| others are better left to outfitters. | | | | The Overall Experience |
| Daytrips | | | | The general, overall experience is aimed at |
| Daytrips can be loads of fun for you and your | | | | adventure and having fun! As long as you follow |
| friends or family. Daytrips run anywhere from | | | | the rules, everything should work out just fine. I |
| ¼ day to full day (6-8 hours). They can run | | | | highly recommend hiring a river outfitter to help |
| anywhere from a couple of miles to 20+ miles, | | | | you along if you are inexperienced. Tons of fun |
| depending on water flow. It is better to hire an | | | | can be had on the river and no two trips will ever |
| outfitter for daytrips due to the length of time it | | | | be alike. |
| takes for a private boater to set up and also the | | | | |