OK, show of hands…how many of you have tried white water rafting? It has been quite awhile for me but I had a blast and hope to give it another shot before this summer is over (lucky for me I have a friend who is a river guide ;)). When I was about 12 we took a family white water rafting trip on The New River in West Virginia. There are a number of different tour companies you can hitch a ride with and to be honest I don’t remember which one we used. Given that we children were younger we peaked at a class 4 rapid but that was plenty for a good adventure. We had the option of riding in the big raft with the guide or taking the 1 and 2 man “duckies”. The best way I can think to describe them is if a canoe and a river raft had a baby it would be a duckie. So the majority of us opted for the duckie which I think on the smaller rapids made it a little more fun.
On any tour you will be provided with a life vest, helmet, and paddle. You will be thankful for all of the above. Make sure your life vest and helmet are both on appropriately because it could very well save your life. I recommend wearing a bathing suit for both men and women. Men you may want to wear a t-shirt or sleeveless shirt to keep the life vest from rubbing but that is totally a comfort call on your part. Women I would throw on a pair of board shorts or any pair of shorts that will stay fairly light weight even when wet. Also everyone should wear some sort of water shoe or sandal. Flip flops need not apply…You will lose one or both of them.
With the tour options you can go on a few hour tour or opt for an overnight and include a little camping in the fun. The river guides are a breed of their own and will crack jokes that you can’t help but laugh at even if they make you roll your eyes at the same time. 🙂 While entertaining, they are also extremely knowledgeable about the river itself, where each rock is, how to navigate each section, what to do in case of emergency. They are your most vital asset on the river. I’ll also point out that for the most part they are underpaid but absolutely love what they do so please tip them and tip well!
Oh and if you think you are just going to hop in a boat and go for a ride then maybe this isn’t the adventure for you. Everyone must pull their weight for the enjoyment and safety of the group. You’ll be exhausted and exhilarated when you reach the end of your journey. See you on the river!