Floating down the river, enjoying the breeze and the occasional splash of cool water, you suddenly notice the choppy white waters up ahead — it’s the signal that the ride is about to get a little rougher.
As the raft hits the rapids, a cascade of water surges over its inhabitants, leaving you feeling a bit disoriented. The boat seems to temporarily be floating off the water, but all you can focus on is the words of the guide in the back.
“Forward! Give it all you’ve got!”
Digging your paddle in the water, there isn’t time to think about what could happen — you’re living in the moment, fighting a river that has abruptly turned a trifle nasty.
But then it’s over — the flow is calm once more, and the water that washed over you is replaced with a rush of adrenaline.
Congratulations — you’ve just conquered a rapid, but don’t get too cocky; another one is just around the bend.
Welcome to the world of whitewater rafting in Colorado. Despite a few stories of tragic circumstances, for the most part the summer of 2011 has been one to enjoy. Whether it’s Clear Creek, the Arkansas or the Colorado River, the heavy snow of the winter in the mountains has created an impressive runoff that in turn has led to optimal conditions for rafting companies statewide.
John Rice, owner of Clear Creek Rafting Company in Idaho Springs, compared the current environment to that of a great powder day for skiers, every day.
“The runoff has been awesome this year. Clear Creek’s had about a good of year as you’d ever expect or want,” Rice said. “The snowpack is large this year and it’s coming down at a nice, steady pace.
“It’s been a high level but not a very high level by any means.”
Early-season flooding concerns, combined with a handful of fatal accidents, led to what some whitewater experts say are “sensationalized” stories about high water.
Don’t misunderstand — whitewater rafting can be dangerous if it isn’t taken seriously. But with the proper safety equipment — which can include a wetsuit, life jacket, helmet and splash jacket — and under the expertise of a trained guide, it can also be the thrill of a lifetime.
“With any water level we always try to take precautions to give the guest an adequate trip for whatever level,” Rice said. “We take safety precautions.”
Clear Creek Rafting is one of 17 companies that offer trips on Clear Creek. The week before the Fourth of July holiday is typically the busiest of the season for the company, with an estimated 100 boats going down river each day.
The high water has led to a flow of upwards of 1,200 cubic feet per second, which creates better conditions on the water. Just ask Kristine Schroeder of Olathe, Kan., who was in town for a softball tournament.
Schroeder and her group were eager to hit the rapids for the first time and came away more excited than when they first started.
“It was awesome!” Schroeder said after finishing her trip. “Definitely recommend it for anybody. The water was great — a little cold — but we had a great time.
“The rapids are fun. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
There is risk involved with rapids. Olathe isn’t too far from Parsons, Kan., the hometown of a 69-year-old man who was killed in an accident on the Poudre River on June 23 when the raft he was in overturned.