I won a day of White Water Rafting from a local radio station and I want to know what to expect?
Has anyone been to River Run? There will be myself, my fiance and 99 others (including the DJ)
I’ve never been, obviously. Where should we sit? I’m pretty adventurous and so is my fiance. We are both good swimmers too. I’ve seen a lot of video footage of people getting launched out of rafts.
Any do’s or don’ts?
I can’t WAIT! It’s going to be sooo much fun.
You are going to have a blast! But I’ll tell you they are wearing a helmut for a reason. When you get in the water your guide will show you all the do’s and don’t’s. He/she will tell you how to paddle, when to paddle, and when to hold on. Usually goes something like this.
**HARD RIGHT!!
HARD LEFT!!
HOLD! HOLD! HOLD!
ALL PADDLE!! ALL PADDLE!!
DIG IN !! DIG IN!!!
HOLD!!**
It is very fun. But you must keep your wits about you. And remeber if you go over you are going at the same speed still as the raft, so KEEP YOUR FEET UP AND FLOAT ON YOUR BACK! The guide will get you out.
The reason you keep your feet up is because there are rocks all over the floor of the river and if you get stuck with one foot under one, the river will push you over and pin you!
But I think they only tell people that because it happened once. I do not believe it is something that happens a lot.
Wear lot’s of waterproof 45 sun block on your thighs! Sound funny? Well what part of your body is exposed when you are sitting down but have a full vest on? Your Thighs. Also on your ears and arms.
I go every year with a group of guys from my department at school. We go to the Pennobscot in Maine! Have fun! Bring waterproof camera for the dead water spots…you’ll see what I mean.
You’re going to have A LOT of fun. When I went rafting in BC (Lytton area), we were given wetsuits, lifejackets, and helmets, and it was a hoot!
I highly recommend sports sandals or water-shoes … something that will stay on your feet and dry almost instantly. If you wear a wetsuit, don’t wear anything underneath - I’m talking total commando baby … anything underneath gets wet instantly and chafes and will drive you crazy … or so I’ve heard.
The instructors are great and safety is definitely first, so they’ll tell you everything you need to know. I’d save the hardcore drinking for afterwards though, 'cos like Phlosphr says, you’ll want to pay attention and have a clear head.
ENJOY!!!
Expect sore shoulders and arms the next day. Ibuprofen is your friend.
It’s a lot of fun, but all four of us were thrown from the boat, and one girl got a concussion (whacked her head on a rock…what else?). We also got very sunburned. You’ll be so exhausted when you finish that instant sleep will be welcomed. Have fun!
Just remember: If you don’t hurt the next day, then you didn’t have enough fun. 
I can’t offer any specifics–I’m one of the crazies who run the rapids in hard plastic/metal canoes rather than in nice, soft rafts. At least you don’t have to worry about having a 14-foot piece of aluminum come down on your head.
I’ve gone down the Kern. So much fun. The guides will give you the basics. Sunscreen is a must.
And if the guide tells you that there’s a section of the river called the Ejector Seat coming up, hold on tight. 
I was in the front of the raft and all I remember was the advice to lean forward when going over big “bumps” where the water is welling up from below…if you lean back in that location you will be ejected backwards, and stand a good chance of capsizing the raft.
We went on a cloudy day when sunburn wasn’t an issue. I don’t remember my shoulders or arms being particularly sore the next day, but I don’t remember us doing all that much intense paddling. This was in Maine, in 6 person rafts.
The first think you need to know about white water rafting is that you’ll be in white water. The second thing to know is…
[Blackadder]
You’re in a raft?
[/Blackadder]
My advice would be to make sure that you get someone who knows what they’re doing to be on either end. Everyone has their job to do but the ends are pretty important. I was once on a trip where some cocky guy wanted to “steer” and we ended up smashing into quite a few rocks.
Do not bring anything you treasure or that is worth more than $50.[sup]00[/sup]. Buy a single use water tight sport camera for the trip. Any food or other gear must all be stored in double zip-loc baggies. A belt pouch or fanny pack is the best way to carry anything. Be sure to have a change of clothes and a spare pair of socks and shoes left behind in the shuttle van or at your car or campground. You will want to put on dry apparel once you are out of the water.
Avoid drinking a lot of coffee that morning or just before putting in. Asking an entire raft of people who are having the time of their lives to pull over so you can make a pit stop is a fast ticket to unpopularity. Plus, the pit you’d be stopping at wouldn’t be anything close to four stars. Always bring a nice wad of double bagged “mountain money” (toilet paper) just in case. Bring your own clean drinking water as giardia is now a problem in many major rivers. Consider freezing a bottle the night before to have chilled water onboard.
All personal effects not carried on your body must be held in a small duffle bag that can be lashed down. Anything else will merely float out of the raft. If you wear contacts, bring your prescription glasses. There’s nothing worse than having a contact lens washed out of your eye and not being able to see anything for the remainder of the voyage. No matter what, wear sunglasses and have a neck strap for them. Sun reflected off of the water can really hurt your eyes after a while.
A cheap pair of leather palmed bicycle gloves can be wonderful for avoiding blisters on your hands from paddling. They also keep your hands warm plus help prevent you from dropping your paddle overboard and looking like an A-#1 doofus. Any sane person should always carry a waterproof source of fire. Double bag a lighter or some matches. If you get lost or stranded, the ability to make a safe fire is key to your survival.
The rafters will probably provide a lunch on the river. You’ll want easy to dispense candy for quick energy and maybe some beef jerky for a little salt replacement. Chocolate is good and a big bar to share with the whole raft is even better. Think Caramello.
If you fall overboard, immediately orient yourself feet first as you go down river. WARNING: Head first = concussion and possible drowning. Consider buying a cheap pair of Velcro closure tennis shoes. You will be able to remove these easily if you must swim for any reason. Sunblock is good, consider a zinc paste for your nose. Any sort of hat will be of great use. You are going to spend several hours in the sun.
Most rafting outfits will have a camera setup at one of the big rapids. They will try to sell you action shots of you in your raft afterwards. Buy them. You will have more fun than you can possibly imagine and a nice portrait quality photograph of you shooting the chutes will be prized for years to come. Make sure to closely inspect the proofs that they have on display before ordering your shot. Not all of them will be Ansel Adams quality.
More than anything, be ready to experience the most fun you can have without taking your clothes off. White water rafting is nature’s roller coaster. The scenic beauty that you’ll see is just icing on the cake. You will be on a watery back road though some unspoiled country. Make sure to look up every once in a while in order to appreciate it.
River rafting is a bucket of fun.
Wear a brimmed hat or cap that ties on. This will reduce the need for suncreeen on your forehead that will run down into your eyes.
Take clean water, as previously mentioned.
You will be sitting in the same position for several hours, take into consideration any joint issues you might have.
In addition to leaving dry clothes in your car, leave yourself some drinks, your favorite snack food and some mild pain-killers.
Sorry, dude, but I think you have some ignorance that needs to be fought.
Foot entrapments are disturbingly common. Unfortunately, one happened on my river a few years ago. (It wasn’t a raft customer.) Amazingly, he was submerged for over a half-hour and he didn’t die! He’s severely brain-damaged, though.
Dealing with foot entrapments are one of the main topics that have been stressed in my river rescue courses.
As far as the OP’s question, here’s some advice:
–Did they send you an information sheet? Follow that more than any advice here.
–Wear shorts, for Og’s sake! Don’t just wear a bathing suit. You’ll get a nasty case of raft butt.
–Everything you bring will get soaking wet. Don’t bring anything that can’t get soaking wet.
–Don’t wear rings. They’re likely to fall off. I don’t care if you “always wear it,” or “it’s never fallen off.” I’ve seen the river gods eat plenty of seemingly secure bands of gold.
–If you are given a choice of whether to wear a helmet or not, wear it.
And do what your guide says. Even if it doesn’t seem to make much sense at the time.
And the most important thing, of course:
IF YOU ENJOY YOUR RIDE, TIP YOUR GUIDE!
I did it in Northern Queensland and it was an absolute blast. The warning to avoid the dead water pools because of the presence of crocodiles added a certain something to the experience. The worst injury suffered was a cut nose caused by being hit by a paddle during a ‘paddles-up’ celebration after successfully negotiating a rapid. We were told pretty much all the safety stuff people have already mentioned and we were allowed do one minor rapid on our backs without the raft. The ‘feet first’ thing is crucial. We were lucky in that there had been plenty of rain and the river was quite high, so I thought it was quite a ride but a couple of my friends went on from Australia to Africa and white water rafted on the Zambezi. The photos suggest that we were on the kiddy ride in comparison.
Have a great time.
And this just reminded me of something.
At one stage our guide told us to paddle straight ahead and we bounced off a cliff wall. He was absolutely creased laughing at the extent to which we blindly followed his instructions.
The rafting on the Zambezi is, so I was told, the largest and longest commercially run rapids in the world - all rapids are rated 3, 4 or 5. Mostly 5.
(One stretch of rapids is rated 6 and you have to walk (carrying the raft) around it - it is aptly named “commercial suicide”)
It’ll be great. Have fun.
It is fantastic, utterly fantastic.
I second everything that has been said about doing what you are told and being prepared to be soaked and battered by the end of it.
One woman on our raft ended up needing eighteen stitches in her leg, but was straight back on the raft once they had fastened off the last stitch for the rest of the five day trip.
You will have a blast
We had a loony instructor, too, and as I see you are in Canada, if your teacher is a Canadian guy named Steve McDonald, tell him he was a hoot in Mexico.
Thanks for all the great suggestions and input!
We don’t have to worry about some of the stuff suggested (alcohol, drinking coffee, glasses etc.)
We both have a great pair of sports sandals that dry fast. We will be leaving our bags in the car which we will be shuttled to right after the trip ends.
I know wetsuits are available to rent, and we probably won’t. They have suggested that you wear nylon shorts that dry easily, which we both have, and no cotton if possible. Makes sense. I was thinking of wearing my nylon shorts and my bathing suit under my jacket. Should I wear some sort of shirt?
We will definately be wearing helmets. Will we still need a hat if we’re wearing helmets? The only thing I was planning on bringing on the boat was a 1 time waterproof camera. I have a little carabiner I can use to clip it on to me, or whatever I can.
I hadn’t thought of sunglasses. We are both sensative to the sun. I think I’ll buy a couple of cheap pairs with neck straps. Good suggestion. We have waterproof sunblock.
Beef jerky and candy is a good idea as well.
I also hadn’t thought of toilet paper.
This is going to be sooooo much fun. I can’t WAIT! I’ll try and post some pics after.
You’ll have loads of fun! The only tip I can add is if you are on a smaller (6-8 person) raft where you actually sit on the edge/pontoon of the raft, avoid the urge to wedge your feet into the space where the floor meets the pontoon. It makes you feel a bit more secure, but you’ll inevitably hit a big wave or drop and the raft will want to go one way while your body will want to go in the opposite direction. If your foot is wedged down in the raft, your knee ends up being the loser. Better to take a swim than end up needing your acl repaired. I ignored this advice the first time it was given to me and paid the price. Seen it happen to a bunch of other folks since then as well.
If you’re wearing a helmet, no hats need apply. You may wish to see if a visor can be wedged in there somewhere.
While shorts might seem fun, you may want to consider something with longer legs (i.e., cutoffs). The tops of your thighs are going to be in the sun for a while.
Do bring a long sleeve shirt and stow it later if need be. You’ll most likely start in the early morning and it will be quite chill out on the water. The longer you wait to remove the shirt, the less exposure your upper body goes through.
The sunglasses with neck strap are a must.
One thing not mentioned is to carry some sort of identification. A cheap laminated business card or the like is important if you are somehow separated from the raft. Be sure to have someone else’s phone number on it.
Ready all synapses for maximum fun!!!