Whitewater rafting is a great experience for families, business teams, kids at summercamp, or just for some outdoor fun in the water. But for a great experience on the river, the person who is going to be most responsible is your river rafting guide. How will you be able to choose one which will provide the best guides since most rivers have a couple of rafting outfitters to choose from? When it comes on to the features to look for in the perfect rafting guide, we have done the research for you.
Safety First First of all, you need to be sure that your rafting guide is First Aid as well as CPR certified. Most rafting outfitters will require this for their guides to be hired. Another thing you want to make sure of is that every guide is recertified every year or even more often.
Fun, exciting, and very safe are most river rafting trips but there is a world of difference between a guide who is very familiar with CPR and First Aid methods and one who is new to the concepts in the unlikely event of an emergency. Always be sure the rafting company you go with has well-trained guides.
Are They Licensed to Paddle? River guides in most states must be licensed by some wing of state government so that they can operate river tours. The most common issuers of these certifications are the state itself, departments of wildlife, or forestry departments.
Placing an extra burden on the environment are rafting companies that operate without certified guides and also, they may not meet the standards of safety training required by the state. Inquire about the certification of river guides at companies you are considering, and make sure that all of the guides with that company are certified.
It’s Fun to Learn Being able to tell how knowledgeable a rafting company’s guides will be without speaking to them may be difficult but there are certain clues that will help you identify companies with guides who will know interesting facts about the river and surrounding area.
Don’t forget to check out the website of the rafting company. Chances are they will put some of their knowledge of the area there. You might reconsider your choice if their site only has general information on rafting and has no links to local businesses. On the other hand, if the website tells you about some of the history of the area as well as recommendations for where to go after your rafting adventure, chances are you will be dealing with a company that knows the area and river and imparts similar knowledge on their guides.
By selecting a river outfitter with safe, certified, and knowledgeable guides, you are helping to ensure that you and your rafting group will be able to enjoy your ride to the fullest, without being scared or bored.
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