rafting the Wenatchee River

Dropped camp and drove to Casmere to meet up for a white water rafting trip on the Wenatchee River.  It had quite a few class three rapids, but the vast majority was just floating.

Wenatchee River

The final rapid of the day on the river was just a class three, but the Sufocator got us!  Our guide didn't position the raft perfectly as we hit the rapid and when we hit a big wave it dumped us!!  It was all slow motion.  Our raft had stopped for a moment on a n\boulder in the middle of the rapids and I looked back to see the guide who had a look of horror on her face and was laid across the raft.  Suddenly the other side of the raft lifted up and flipped over on to me.  It sent one of the girls from that other side over and onto me which pushed me way down into the water.  I had no idea which way was up, but I needed some air quickly.  I surfaced and my first instinct was to grab the boat and just climb aboard like is usual when someone falls out.  But as I floated along I looked back and saw the raft way behind me and stuck upside down in the rapids and I could see individual rafters scattered in the water.  Immediately I realized that nobody was coming for me.  That thought and the temperature of the water being less than fifty degrees took hold of me and I needed some time to catch my breath.  Then I turned on my back and let myself float through the rapids feet first.  It was impossible to swim to the shore!  Finally I passed under a bridge and pushed myself behind one of the supporters where I knew there would be no current.  Luckily we got everyone out.

Wenatchee River2

A couple hours after the rafting trip I drove east a ways and stopped for the night in Spokane, Washington.

Wenatchee River3

Wenatchee River4