Christopher Pyle

There's Great Value in this Vacation Getaway



Posted: Sunday, April 26, 2009

by
Action Whitewater Adventures

Here are the basics you need to know to have the confidence to book a whitewater rafting trip for your next vacation. There are a lot of misconceptions and unknowns about this vacation option. When you know what to expect, what's protecting you, what you get for each dollar spent, you'll quickly conclude this is one of the most memorable, doable and valuable vacations you'll experience.

Let's start at the very beginning, what is whitewater rafting? This is the maneuvering of a vessel down a river. Rafting implies the vessel is a coast guard approved raft, more on equipment in a bit. This raft can be maneuvered in a variety of ways, by one person with large oars rigged to the raft, with a group of people holding individual paddles and led by a guide calling paddle instructions (most common) or in a combination referred to as an oar-paddle combination with the oarsman in the rear compartment of the raft acting as both the major power and the guide calling instructions.

Rivers are exactly that, flowing water from some elevation working its way towards some body of water. Most rivers are given a class-rating for rafting. This helps folks determine the intensity of the ride. Most rivers are graded on a scale of I to VI. A I is near flat water with little current and class VI is un-runnable in a raft. While this can mean Niagara Falls, it also means the stream running alongside a road. This classification is specific to rafts, as different watercraft such as kayaks can run incredibly intense areas. For the average rafter, class II to IV is doable with class III being the sweet spot. This is why the South Fork of the American River in Northern California is such a popular river. It's a class III offering fun pop for most everyone, it's great for families, youth groups, the young (about 7 years of age (give or take depending on the child's psyche)) to the active elderly (80+ depending on activity level).

The typical raft trip includes: a professional whitewater guide. These people, male and female alike, are quality boatmen who make their living whitewater rafting. Some follow summer around the globe, literally. Don't be surprised if you meet your guide and hear a New Zealand accent or the aboot of a Canadian, ay. They are used to the river you're rafting, they're used to folks of all fitness and competency levels. They know how to read water and navigate the river you're rafting. You can have complete comfort in the professional in the back of your boat. Don't forget, if you enjoyed your trip, tip your guide. It's very appreciated and completely acceptable on a raft trip. The average guide earns about $65 dollars a day and their average day runs some 10 - 14 hours. It's a lifestyle choice, not a retirement option.

Your trip also includes a whitewater raft. These boats are specifically designed for the use of whitewater rafting, they're incredibly tough. There are two materials commonly used in crafting a raft: Hypalon a rubber based material and Urethane/PVC a plastic based product. These boats can smash rocks, pound waves and take people climbing in and out of them for quite a few years. Please do make sure you rinse your feet before climbing into the raft however, sand is the worst enemy of a raft, it wears holes in the seams and causes leaks. The average whitewater raft costs nearly $5000.00.

You'll most probably be handed a paddle so you can do your part to get down the river. The paddle will be near 6' in length, an aluminum shaft coated in a colored plastic with a durable plastic blade.

You'll be fit in a class V coast guard approved personal flotation device (PFD). These vests will float the small to the quite large. They're the most buoyant, top of the line PFDs in use today.

More and more outfitters are providing their guests with helmets. The helmets will vary in design but they're made for getting wet, are light weight and a smart thing to wear. In many other countries wearing a helmet is not an option, everyone dons a helmet. Outfitters exposed to foreign guides are adopting, by choice these safer rafting practices and providing their guests with helmets.

It depends on the river but speaking about the American River and the outfitters that run that river, you will receive a gourmet deli-style lunch, often right on the banks of the river. There are small variances between companies but a typical lunch will look like this: 2 - 3 bread choices, sprouts, lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, onions, 2 cheeses, 2 meats, mayo, mustard, pb&j, chips, fruit, cookies and water.

If you're on an overnight trip, your camping is paid, your dinner is made and served by staff, breakfast the same another day rafting and another lunch.

The typical price for whitewater rafting is near $100 per day, per person. When you consider all you get, professional guide, professional equipment, the unique opportunity to see the beauty of a river canyon in a way you couldn't see otherwise, the opportunity to travel through whitewater rapids, an excellent lunch and stories to tell over and over.

I often compare the cost of whitewater rafting to the cost to visit Disneyland. My whole family loves Disneyland. When you go to Disneyland you're not provided a personal guide, you're not fed, you're not experiencing something natural and majestic and most often you're paying more than you will for whitewater rafting. Value is in perception and knowledge. It's our hope this brief article on basic whitewater rafting knowledge will help you to overcome some fears you may had with regard to the unknown and has encouraged you to try this incredible and affordable vacation.
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