We’d come donw from the hippie town of Pai. After days of heavy rains and stormy conditions, the weather finally breaks and the intense sun can be felt once again. We’re travelling in a Landrover alongside the Mae Tang River, fighting through deep ruts and muddy conditions that were caused by a storm. The gorge to our left drops away dramatically and we finally get out first glimpse of the raging waters. I’m hoping my partner, who was reluctant to come on the trip, won’t be deterred by the sight of the ferocious river. Jason, our guide, thankfully reassures us that he never rafts an angry river. He stops and points to some rocks by the river’s edge. “See this boulder here”, he points out, “when this is above the water level, it’s safe to raft this river”. The rain from the recent typhoon has inundated the valley and there is forest debris strewn all along the river banks. We weren’t sure whether to raft here or in Pai. Fortunately, he is internationally trained and qualified in water rescue so we take his word for it. We reach our camp at the charming village of Sop Kai, where the river is slower due to the flat nature of the land. The jungle birds are singing, the water is glistening and everybody is in a more jovial mood. We are given some coffee and snacks and left to relax for a while in this peaceful, sleepy community. Few tourists make it here to enjoy the wonderful scenery. His camp was much like the laid back atmosphere in Pai a few days back. Before we get too comfortable, we are kitted out with paddles, helmets and buoyancy aids. We are given a comprehensive safety briefing, and told that the guides will be in control of the rafts and that we must follow their orders. We practice our strokes on a quiet section of the river. “Forward paddle! Back paddle! Lean left! Right! Get down!” he screams as we try our best to appear competent. Our minds are put at ease when some of the staff are dispatched to the more dangerous parts of the river, in anticipation of the raft capsizing. We also have kayakers that will stay with us to rescue anyone who falls in. Before we knew it, the guides launch us into the main current of the river and the camp disappears from view. It’s too late to go back and we focus intently on the rapids ahead. My heart rate increases as the thunderous sound of water gets closer and closer. I let out a scream as we are thrown into the grade four rapid, anxiously trying to stay balanced as the raft accelerates. My adrenalin pumps and we are thrown around, but it’s not long until the raft emerges into a calmer section. We continued, riding over some smaller and less-intimidating rapids until our guide said “okay, everybody ready?” A [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Rafting’
Whitewater Rafting in Colorado, Setting Up for an Exciting 2007 Vacation Season
The snow is melting. The rivers are swollen with the fresh spring run-off. The current is swift. The waves have grown in size and frequency. This marks the beginning of the 2007 whitewater rafting season on the Arkansas River in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. The Upper Arkansas River basin received abundant snowfall this winter offering whitewater enthusiasts’ ample water for the upcoming whitewater season. 2007 promises to be one of the best rafting seasons in years as the Rocky Mountain west recovers from drought conditions. Colorado’s rivers primarily depend on the snow pack for their water supply. Peak native run-off usually occurs sometime in late May and June providing the most exciting whitewater opportunities. The Arkansas River is unique among Colorado’s Rivers in that its’ water resources are managed by the “Voluntary Flow Program”. Water is stored in three different reservoirs at the headwaters near Leadville. The entities that own and manage the waters that feed the Arkansas River have coordinated with Colorado State Parks and the Arkansas River’s outfitters to supplement the native flow when the snowmelt subsides. This provides the Arkansas River with enough water late in the season to allow whitewater operations well into September. The Arkansas River in southern Colorado saw 282,381 commercial rafting visitors in 2006 up 3.97% from 2005. The numbers continue to grow as more and more travelers are realizing this is a sport that anyone can participate in under the direction of a qualified guide and licensed outfitter. The Arkansas River in southern Colorado is one of the most user-friendly rivers anywhere in the world. It offers whitewater rafting trips suitable for everyone. Whitewater adventure trips are a great family or group activity and also appeal to the avid outdoors adventure enthusiasts. Visitors can choose from half-day excursions to multi-day overnight river adventures. The Arkansas provides over 110 miles of whitewater with varying levels of difficulty. Trips range from class II scenic floats to class V extreme trips through the world-renowned Royal Gorge. Many class III trips are suitable for children as young as 6 years old or at least 50 lbs. Size requirements must be met in order to provide them with proper fitting safety gear. The ability to swim well is not required for easier runs. However, it is mandatory for all class IV and above rapids. Rafting trips are very affordable with prices ranging from $30 to $599 per person depending on trip options and duration. The outfitter provides all river gear and some trips include riverside lunches, or multiple meals if you’re on an overnight trip. It is important to have properly fitted PFD’s (personal flotation device), and helmets. During the peak run-off wetsuits are mandatory as the water temperatures can be as low as 40°. Splash Jackets, heavy-duty windbreakers are also provided to help eliminate the wind chill. During the warmer summer month’s swimsuits are the attire of choice. Sport sandals, water socks, or an old pair of tennis shoes are the suggested footwear. Contact lenses are [...]
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Tags: 2007, Colorado, Exciting, Rafting, Season, Setting, Vacation, Whitewater 
No Comments »Arkansas Colorado Whitewater River Rafting Is The White Knuckle Trip
For those interested in an explosive vacation challenge, Arkansas Colorado whitewater river rafting may be the exhilarating cross-state voyage you are looking for. Moving at a breakneck pace, this great adventure charges forth for rafting fun in Arkansas before blasting over to Colorado for another rafting challenge. You may feel your legs give out from under you with this classic Arkansas Colorado whitewater river rafting adventure, but you will certainly not regret the passionate adventure that waits for you. The beauty of this type of adventure is in the quiet quality that goes with seeing this part of the world in blurring exhilaration, blasting through the rapids with your raft on this incredible adventure. The joy, of course, comes with survival and surviving the whole ordeal is the best part of the Arkansas Colorado whitewater river rafting adventure. It is truly quite an undertaking and only the most expert of rafters are recommended to participate. It is gruelling adventure that immensely taxes all participants to the bone, offering little to no respite as the battle for supremacy in the climactic man vs. water war is waged. Seeing the States Part of the adventure also comes with seeing the beautiful states. Both Arkansas and Colorado have a lot to offer the tourist and the traveller, but they have even more to offer the whitewater rafter. This is because the raging waters dominate even the quietest of alcoves and shine terrific power and passion on the entire state with their belligerence to the laws of nature. Yes, while it may only be white water coursing through the veins of the states of Arkansas and Colorado, it still fuels the fire in the veins of each participant in the Arkansas Colorado whitewater river rafting adventure. This type of immense natural passion is what fuels those participants to go the extra mile and finish this adventure with a whole heart and a passionate eye. It is that type of incredible fortitude that challenges every man, woman, and child of America to stand up to the raging waters of the rivers of this land and take up a raft to plunge down it. It is that type of quiet rage that forges the river and valleys of America into such inconceivable beauty and grace. So it is that passion and power that creates the type of person that partakes, happily, in the Arkansas Colorado whitewater river rafting adventure.
Posted in Discover Tags: Arkansas, Colorado, Knuckle, Rafting, River, Trip, White, Whitewater No Comments »A Maui Rafting Tour is as Beautiful as it is Exhilarating
There are many places to go on a rafting guided tour that will provide exhilaration along with a beautiful atmosphere, but none of those locales can hold a candle to a Maui rafter tour. A Maui rafting tour will provide you with the beautiful Hawaiian backdrop while also providing you with the fun and exciting activity of white water rafting. You should have no problem finding a guided tour, and it’s recommended you go with a guide if you’re inexperienced or new to rafting. Even if you’re an expert, but you’ve never gone on a Maui rafting tour, it’s recommended that you go with a guide so that you can learn the ins and outs of rafting in the Maui countryside. Finding a Guide No matter where you go rafting, whether it be Maui or anywhere else, you need to find a guide who is familiar with that territory. There are many guides who are skilled at Maui rafting tours, you just have to find them. Many of these tour guides will advertise in the local Maui papers or even online. It’s also very common to see billboards and flyers around town advertising for Maui rafting tours. No matter how you go about finding your guide, you should make sure he or she is qualified to take you. Ask to see certification, see if you can get them to show you a license or anything else that tells you their qualified to take you on this tour. Remain Safe It’s easy to get wrapped up in the Maui countryside, with all its majestic beauty, but you need to pay attention to all the instructions provided by your guide. Your guide will show you the equipment you’ll be using, you’ll be shown how to use that equipment and you’ll be taken through a quick drill that will show you what to do in case you are ever in trouble. It’s important to pay attention to anything you’re told and remember to never be afraid to ask questions. When you’re out there on the rapids, it can get very hectic and that will be the wrong time to ask questions or to tell your guide you don’t understand something. When you go on a Maui rafting tour, you’ll have such a great time that it’s likely you’ll want to return again and again. When you’re taken in by the beauty of Maui and when your heart gets racing from all the adrenaline pumping through your system, it’s easy to see why Maui rafting tours are so popular.