Travel Article: Whitewater Rafting the Canadian Rockies and Beyond


A Moment of Calm Before Venturing into the Rapids

Nothing can compare to the thrill of whitewater rafting. The adrenalin-pumping rush that is experienced while rolling down foaming rapids is indescribable. Few places in the world offer such a splendid location for this sport than the Canadian Rockies and Foothills of Alberta's Heartland. The combination of rushing waters surrounded by lofty snow-topped peaks, or craggy canyons totally enhance the experience. Whitewater rafting is unique in that it offers the thrills of hard adventure, and yet even the most non-athletic individual can participate and undergo the supercharged excitement that this activity provides. The sport of whitewater rafting is available at all levels, the more background in rafting you have, the more challenging and breathtaking the rapids you can take. But even the �lightest� rapids provide a true adventure.

The Experience
In the Canadian Rockies and Foothills, whitewater rafts are usually constructed from rubber-like materials. They range in capacity from around 6 to 10-seater paddle-controlled or assisted rafts to larger 20-seat oar-powered ones. On smaller rafts everyone helps with the paddling, but the guides undertake the actual steering procedure. The trip usually begins with a bus trip from the operator�s base to the point of departure. Participants, particularly first timers, may be somewhat apprehensive, but the enthusiasm of more experienced rafters on the trip and of the guide staff soon alleviates any nervousness.

After arriving at the departure point, the raft or rafts will be seen tied to the riverbank and the party will assemble and walk down to board. This is when excitement takes over. Wet suits, life jackets and other waterproof gear are changed into - usually with a combination of eagerness and some trepidation. The guides will check and double check that everyone has their safety equipment properly attached. Full safety instruction will have been given out before the beginning of the trip, and after everyone climbs aboard the raft, the staff will ensure that everyone is well secured for a safe, but spectacular ride. In no time at all, the rafts are launched out into the middle of the river and begin the ride downstream. On smaller rafts everybody (except young children) paddles the boat. At this time most guides will get all the participants to practice certain maneuvers with their paddles and this enables everyone to feel comfortable quickly.


Challenging Whitewater Takes Strength and Stamina

Part of the ride will consist of peacefully floating down a relatively calm river; this gives participants a chance to view the scenery, take photographs, or just to wallow in the fresh moist mountain air and hopefully feel the sun on their face (sunblock is a must no matter how cloudy it seems). As rapids approach, the crew will make preparations to navigate the raft across the wild waters. The crew will steer and shout out instructions for the appropriate paddling maneuvers. Any certified raft operator knows how to carry his or her passengers safely through rapids, but the necessarily inherent emphasis on safety does nothing to deter from the amazing buzz everyone experiences. Be prepared to get very wet indeed. The raft seems to blend with the river in its effort to get through the rapids; those on board will feel total exhilaration as the forces of nature propel them through the waters that almost seem to be boiling over.

Some operators allow for stops along the route. At this time various optional activities can take place including swimming, rock diving and team sports. Depending on the duration of the trip, snacks and meals ranging from simple alfresco picnics to somewhat elaborate BBQs, are often provided.

Each trip is a combination of relatively smooth passages along the quieter parts of the river and traversing rapids of varying intensity. Some trips are definitely for more experienced rafters, some for beginners, and some are designed to be appreciated by novices and experts alike. Whatever type of trip you take, everybody comes away from his or her raft experience exhilarated and often mentally refreshed. A whitewater-rafting trip is something that will long be remembered.

Who May Participate
The basic whitewater experience is available to just about everybody. There are minimum weight requirements. Depending on the operator, children over five years old are allowed to participate in the mildest raft trips that are designed for the uninitiated. A lot depends on the child, but even if an operator allows children to participate it should be left to the parents discretion and knowledge of their own child. Remember the child will get very wet and the experience could be very frightening for some, especially younger or more sensitive kids. On the other hand a more arduous course can be quite suitable for an older child who feels comfortable in the water. The raft excursions that cover more complex rapids require experience and physical fitness. Anybody with a heart, orthopedic, or certain other medical conditions should consult their physician before committing to anything but the most basic float experience.

Locations, Duration and Costs
When selecting a location for a whitewater rafting experience, the Canadian Rockies and Foothills offer an amazing choice. Half-day, full-day, or multi-day tours are available. Whitewater rafting is becoming increasingly popular, and despite the large number of companies and locations, the demand for the activity almost outpaces the availability. Therefore it is important to plan well ahead and make reservations. For a complete list of rafting operators in the area please click here. This will also provide all the essential information pertaining to the trip including what to bring, what is provided and of course costs. Costs range from about $35 CDN for a short trip to several hundred dollars for a two or three-day excursion. Reductions are available for children. Rafting is also available in conjunction with other activities, including hiking and horseback riding.


Whitewater Rafting is an Exhilarating Adventure

Locations include nearly all the major rivers in the area. These can be divided up as follows: In the north close to Jasper are the Athabasca, Sunwapta and Fraser Rivers. Even further north between Grande Cache and Grande Prairie, Alberta there is rafting available on the Kakwa River. In the foothills of the Rockies various levels of rafting are available on the Red Deer River at Sundre, northwest of Calgary, and the Bow, Elbow and Kananaskis Rivers accessed from Calgary, Bragg Creek, Canmore and Banff. In the Rockies of British Columbia there is rafting available at Golden on the Kicking Horse River, in the Kootenays on the Columbia River and further south on the Elk River in the Purcell Range. This list is certainly not a total one of all the different rafting locations in the area, but it provides a rough idea of where to look.

Expertise Levels
As previously mentioned, one of the best things about whitewater rafting is that it is available to everybody from advanced to beginners. Many rafting operators will take young children over a certain weight guideline. Each rafting excursion is rated for beginners, intermediate or advanced. A beginner�s trip can still include some incredible rafting experiences and substantial rapids. The more advanced courses include more turbulent rapids and require more active participation from all onboard the raft. With the more advanced courses the chance of ending up in the water is greater, but safety and preparedness are always of the utmost priority to a good whitewater raft operator.

International Grading of Rapid
There is an international system of grading rivers and rapids. Whitewater rafting operators use this as a guideline for their trips and to indicate the expertise level expected for a specific run. This scale can be misleading in that river conditions change all the time and a particular rapid�s category can also change; it should also be noted that there can be sub categories within a particular category. A good whitewater operator will always judge the conditions just before the commencement of the trip.


Whitewater Rafting in the Rockies

The official scale rates rapids from one through to six. One being the simplest and basically of little use in providing a serious whitewater experience, but for some its an excellent introduction to paddling down a river and good preparation for a higher level river. An example of this would be a river �float� down the Bow in Calgary or the Upper Kicking Horse near to Golden. Most novice trips include some whitewater rapids of levels two or at the most three. Intermediate trips tend to include more rapids but within the same categories. Advanced trips try to include a large amount of level three and sometimes even four. Levels five and six are not usually within the capacity of an organized rafting tour six being almost impossible to navigate and therefore involving an extremely high level of danger. Some whitewater trips in the Rockies portage (the rafts get carried overland) past some level six rapids, just to enable participants to see them.

Safety and Equipment
In Canada safety standards are very strict and operators must be licensed. Guides have to have taken part in a rigorous and thorough training program that includes first aid and lifesaving procedures. Ideally select a raft operator that is experienced and has been in the business for at least a number of years. Full safety procedures should be explained to all participants before boarding the raft. This should include instructions on what to do in the unlikely event (except in more advanced itineraries) that the raft tips.

Operators usually provide safety equipment, including specialized life jackets, helmets, and wetsuits. Some provide extras like booties to protect personal footwear, extra sweaters for warmth, spray jackets and gloves. Check with your raft operator.

In all cases rafters should bring a swimsuit, a change of clothes, waterproof footwear, a bag for personal belongings and a waterproof camera.

A rafting trip is a phenomenal travel experience. Rafting provides a unique opportunity to personally partake in a fast-paced adventure without any prior knowledge or skills. Any whitewater rafting trip will always provide the feeling of a very significant accomplishment, and often to a future addiction to the sport.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

A Moment of Calm
Challenging Whitewater
An Exhilarating Adventure
Rafting in the Rockies

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Whitewater Rafting the Canadian Rockies and Beyond