How To Have A Safe River Rafting Trip On The Colorado River
Posted on: 26 May 2020
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The Colorado River is a popular site for river rafting trips. There are companies that will take groups out rafting, guiding you through the process, and ensuring you have a fun adventure. If you decide to go along on one of these trips, you'll want to be sure to stay safe! Follow these top safety tips for a good experience.
1. Book with a licensed, certified company.
Make sure you research the rafting company before booking. Only book with a company that is licensed and that employs certified guides. This ensures there is someone knowledgeable along to guide and instruct you. Licensed companies also need their equipment to meet certain requirements in order to earn their license, so you can be more confident the equipment is safe.
2. Wear your helmet.
Some companies require you to wear a helmet, and others let you choose whether or not to put on this piece of protective equipment. Don't be silly — wear your helmet! If you do happen to be ejected from the boat, it may prevent you from suffering a serious concussion, or worse, if your head hits the rocks. There are rocks everywhere in and around the Colorado River, so this type of injury is quite common.
3. Always hold the t-grip on your paddle.
When holding your paddle, always keep one hand on the t-grip, which is the cross-like structure at the end of the paddle. If you take your hand off this grip and a wave catches your paddle, the paddle could knock you in the face, causing serious injury. Those waves and rapids are powerful!
4. Lean in when someone yells "bump."
Good guides will always keep an eye on the upcoming current and yell "bump" when you're about to hit a big one. Be prepared for this. When it happens, lean towards the inside of the boat, and use the t-grip of your paddle to brace yourself. This maneuver will keep you from being tossed out of the boat. After a couple of bumps, you'll learn to do it quickly, almost as an instinct.
With the tips above, you'll have an easier time staying safe while on a Colorado River rafting trip. This is a fun river to raft because of its many currents, but that also makes it a bit risky. Talk to your guide or the rafting company to learn more about the safety protocols they recommend adhering to.