Big Adventure -- White Water Rafting
Golden,
British Columbia,
Canada
Monday, July 6, 2009
While we were in Radium Hot Springs we signed up for a White Water Rafting adventure on the Kicking Horse River with Kootenay River Runners. This is a world class rafting river with multiple class 4 rapids in the lower canyon.
The day dawned chilly, rainy, misty, and foggy. Rafting does not cancel for the rain – you are going to get wet anyway. We arrived at the put-in site at noon. They served a barbeque steak lunch with fresh veggies, fruit, salad, and a big cookie for dessert. After lunch the guides gave an equipment orientation. We were outfitted with wet suit, fleece sweater, splash jacket, river shoes, helmet, gloves, and life jacket. We put on our gear and headed for the rafts. Our group consisted of three rafts with six people each, plus guide. At riverside we learned the guide's instructions, how to deal with various situations, and how best to stay in the raft and out of the river. By the way, the river temperature was 5 degrees Celsius, or 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
We practiced in calm water, but quickly got to the fun stuff. The class 3 and class 4 rapids had huge "holes" and drops. We had a great time and were sorry that it had to end. The warm bus ride back to the put-in spot felt good, but the hot shower and hot chocolate were even better.
Sorry, no pictures, I do not have a waterproof camera.
