Dress in layers and hold on tightly!

That’s the best advice I can give if you plan to go whitewater rafting in late May or early June along the Arkansas River in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Fortunately, before leaving Elk Mountain Ranch for our 45-minute commute to Wilderness Aware the morning of our scheduled full-day river trip, I heeded warnings from local residents and layered myself with two t-shirts, a pair of swim trunks and water-friendly shorts. Sure, the extra clothing ultimately made it even more difficult to squeeze my stocky body type into a wetsuit—first time wearing one of those—but at the end of the day, I was very happy I had done so.

When we were all suited up and armed with the gear we would need for the trip, our Wilderness Aware guides provided a comprehensive orientation and safety talk prior to taking us by bus to our excursion launch spot. There, at “Put-in,” especially thanks to the small hole in the side of the foot bootie I was wearing, I realized that snow melt-off water in early spring really is extremely cold.

Because our two young children were accompanying us on this adventure, my wife and I didn’t have the option to help paddle like those riding in our party’s other three boats so our guide, Zach, was left with all of that responsibility. Looking back now, I’m guessing he preferred it that way. Serving as our vessel’s sole navigator put him in complete control of where we did and didn’t go along the river.

The trip began with almost immediate excitement as we (Zach) paddled our raft through a Class IV rapid, Beaver Falls, which we hit less than a half mile downstream. Shortly after that, we experienced one of the biggest rapids of the day, The Silver Bullet—a 7-foot drop with churning waves. During that experience and even after we hit calmer waters, my wife and I repeatedly looked to the back of the boat in order to ensure that our children were: 1. Still on board 2. Enjoying the experience

To our delight, they were laughing almost uncontrollably and thrilled with the drenching drop-off we had just gone though. However, the mood wasn’t quite as joyful two boats behind us. In fact, we quickly learned that three adults had been ejected from that boat so we pulled off to the side in order to assist with rescue efforts, if necessary. Thank goodness, there were no serious injuries.

After stopping for a “deli sandwich, chips and cookies” lunch, provided by the Wilderness Aware staff, we hopped back in our vessels and soon thereafter entered Brown’s Canyon—an area we were told is the most popular whitewater rafting destination in America. The scenery was magnificent and we eagerly listened to Zach’s informative dialogue as he pointed out interesting rock formations, described how certain areas of the river had been formed and enlightened and entertained us with stories of the life of a river guide.

Though we didn’t catch a glimpse of any bighorn sheep or mountain lions that afternoon, there were certainly times as which I felt like I was being watched.  Brown’s Canyon proved to be not only gorgeous but challenging as we (again, Zach) successfully navigated through rapids such as Widow-maker, Zoom Flume, Seidel’s Suck-hole and the vertical Silver Bullet. I can honestly say the day proved to be one of the most memorable and water-drenched family experiences we’ve ever had.

If you’re planning a whitewater rafting excursion, especially when waters are high, fast and cold, here are a few things to consider:
• You WILL get wet! Dress in layers but don’t wear cotton, including socks.
• A swimming suit or water-friendly shorts are strongly recommended.
• Tennis shoes or sandals are acceptable but don’t wear flip-flops or loose-fitting items.
• Leave your jewelry at home.
• You WILL get wet!
• If wearing a hat or visor, secure it tightly to your head or wear it under a protective helmet.
• Cover yourself in sunscreen BEFORE getting into your raft.
• ONLY bring a waterproof camera.
• Don’t forget your water bottle and be sure to fill it BEFORE your trip begins.
• You WILL get wet! (Have I already mentioned that?)

(Related post on rafting in North Carolina)