It's the typical family vacation: Dad wants to go fishing; mom wants to relax; and the kids just don't want to be bored. The simple solution is to let Dad fish while Mom's shopping, and the kids are swimming in the hotel pool. Just another vacation spent having fun without each other.
Here is another solution. It may be a little wet. But it is sure to fulfill everyone's fun quota, and provide a little togetherness, too. When you are white-water rafting - charging down the currents of our nation's rivers - you are literally 'all in the same boat.'
Oar Boat or Paddle Boat?
Of course, which boat you actually choose depends on the type of raft trip you are up for. Generally, rafting organizations offer oar boats or paddle boats with an added option of inflatable kayaks. Michelle Hanten, owner of Morrison's Rogue River Lodge/Rogue River Raft Trips, Inc., explains that at her property an oar boat, which is generally controlled by a guide with long, 8- to 12-foot oars, is a lot like an exclusive guest boat. "The boat has a frame with bench-style seats, where our guests just sit back and enjoy the ride," she says. "They are being guided in every sense of the word."
The paddle boat, where the guests actually help steer the craft with one bladed "canoe type" paddle, are for those who feel like a little more adventure. "The paddleboat option is where everybody participates," says Hanten. But at Morrison's, there are different levels of participation. On an oar-assisted paddleboat, the guests can paddle, but the guide has more control over the boat. "The pure paddleboat is where the guide sits at the back of the boat, and he just has a paddle. That's full participation," Hanten says.
Inflatable kayaks are often an option offered on whitewater trips as well. These allow rafters to get up close and personal with the whitewater. According to Hanten, "they can be a lot of fun, and if you aren't paying attention you just might end up taking a swim, which can be all part of the fun."
A Popular, Historic Ride
Living proof of the effectiveness of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, when Congress opted to preserve selected rivers and streams in free-flowing condition for present and future generations, the Rogue River remains as a natural wonder. It is also a paradise for rafters, with stretches of easy, safe floating as well as plenty of advanced rapids. "The Rogue River is a tremendously popular whitewater attraction," says Hanten. "It's really very unique."
Rogue River Raft Trips is affiliated with and located at Morrison's Rogue River Lodge. To extend the river holiday experience, guests can choose to stay at the lodge the night before the trip. An orientation is held at Morrison's lodge conference facility the night before the trip; then guests enjoy a four-course gourmet dinner on the deck of the lodge, with a spectacular view of the Rogue. The next morning after breakfast guests simply walk to the lodge's private beach, meet with their guides and depart on their three-day whitewater adventure.
According to Hanten, Rogue River Raft Trips offers the excitement of advanced whitewater rafting to rafters of any ability, and as closely as possible to the carefully preserved surroundings. "On our three-day lodge trips, guests can actually stay in remote wilderness lodges, within the wilderness section of the river," she says. "You can get out of the boat, and walk up to this incredible historic lodge that runs on generator power. You have nice clean sheets, hot meals, a shower. It really opens up the raft trip to those who don't want the camping experience."
Rogue River Raft Trips also offers a combination camp/lodge trip, with one night camping and one at a wilderness lodge. "They can camp out one night; the second night, they get a hot shower, and home cooked meals," says Hanten.
Zac Kauffman, operations manager and rafting guide at Morrison's Rogue River Lodge and Rogue River Raft Trips, Inc., in Merlin, Oregon, says that his clientele on the company's three-day wild and scenic trips of up to 22 people often are made up of smaller clusters of families and friends - and the bonding is palpable. "You really see it in the children," he says. "Everybody is anticipating a similar river experience and they make some bonds that are pretty unique.
"The real charm of the river is that everybody wants to enjoy the adventure and certain things will bring people together," Kauffman says. "Some people may have a fear of the river, and they'll bond with people who have the same fear; then they make that accomplishment together. It's not forced by any means, it just happens naturally by sharing that experience with the other folks."
Planning Part One: Finding the Right Trip
Deciding on a white-water rafting vacation is the easy part. The hard part is in the planning, but it includes important steps in making sure your white-water rafting trip goes more smoothly than those incoming rapids.
The International Rapid Rating Scale ranges from Class I: easy with small waves and few obstructions to Class V: expert with long spouts of violent rapids, drops, and large unavoidable waves. Heather Gary, spokesperson for the Colorado River Outfitters Association (CROA) says that even if participants have never gone white-water rafting, they can handle Class IV rapids as long as they are excellent swimmers and in good physical condition. But she also recommends that even these first-timers start with Class III.
Planning Part Two – Reservations, and What to Bring
The river-rafting season can start as early as April and runs into late October; however, the prime time to go is from mid-May to August. It is important that you understand the cancellation policy on any type of trip. Most outfitters run rain or shine, and require full compensation unless the cancellation is within their allotted time slot, which many times is at least 10 days prior to the trip.
Consider the ages and stamina of your group. Children six through eight may not enjoy an adventure over three or four days. Seniors may be more interested in a trip with overnight lodging at remote wilderness lodges instead of camping out. If you are planning for a group, you need to plan well in advance - sometimes several months to a year - as multiple day trips generally book fast. Morrison's Rogue River Lodge/Rogue River Raft Trips also offers half-day and one-day adventures along with the popular three-day trips on the wild section of the Rogue River. "One-day and half-day trips are ideal for spontaneous outings, or for introducing young children to whitewater," says Kauffman, "or for people who just haven't had the chance to go whitewater rafting yet." Rogue River Raft Trips handles many charter trips with groups between 20 and 23 people. Morrison's Rogue River Lodge's reservation staff walk prospective rafters through the entire booking process and help determine which trip is right for your group.
The next challenge: what to bring. All outfitters will give you a list of needed items. Many times these include: synthetic, quick-drying clothing, a swimming suit, tennis shoes and water-ready sandals, sunglasses, sunscreen and a towel. Try and stick to what the outfitters recommend, and don't second-guess too much. "The most common mistake people make is to over-pack," says Mark Grisham, Executive Director of Canyon River Outfitters Association (GCROA). Other frequent mistakes are not putting on sunscreen the first day (which can quickly ruin the rest of the trip), buying new shoes for the journey (causing blisters), and bringing expensive jewelry, watches or electronic equipment (well, the results are obvious).
Hanten says that if you plan on camping, find out details - who does cooking? What types of meals are provided? "Dutch oven cooking, for example, is a huge art," she says. Be sure that you include what you could have along with what you don't want.
Additionally, find out what kind of amenities are provided on your trip. You will need to know if you must bring a tent or a sleeping bag. If you can, be sure your price is all-inclusive for these items. "A lot of times, outfitters will make you rent a tent, for example," says Hanten. "It's all these little extra charges that are added on." She also warns that some companies will charge for transportation back to your original put-in location at the end the trip - in many cases transportation can be spendy and may even add hundreds of dollars to the cost of the trip.
Planning Part Three: Enjoy the Ride!
Your adventure awaits! Right away, you'll find that it is so much more than just an adrenaline rush and viewing nature's majesty. So if you're considering the usual fishing/shopping/swimming at the hotel vacation, consider this instead: White-water rafting isn't your usual outdoor adventure.
