White Water Rafting

Pick an appropriate stretch of river

• Match your skills and experience to the class of river using the Scale of Difficulty. The Scale of Difficulty rates a rapid by the level of skill needed to navigate its obstacles and to survive an accidental swim.

Dress for an unexpected swim!

• Cold water can rob you of your strength, impair your ability to swim and cause hypothermia.  Wear a wetsuit, drysuit, nylon or fleece layers — never cotton!

Use proper equipment

• Coast Guard approved white water life jacket (Type 3 or 5).
• Helmet
• Cold water protective clothing (never cotton) and protective footwear
• Throw rope, whistle, knife

Keep your group close together

• Prepare a float plan and rescue strategy
• Remember: the safety of your group is only as strong as your least experienced member

Recognize and avoid hazards

• Look for fallen trees, low hanging branches
• Rocks and undercuts
• Powerful water hydraulics

Swim aggressively or defensively

• Away from hazards, toward calm water, shore or raft
• Avoid undercut banks and rocks
• Point feet up and pointed downstreams
• Use arms to maneuver
• Don’t stand up!  Fast water can entrap your foot, between rocks, push you over and pin you under the surface.

Self rescue

• If spilled, check your partner, get upstream and swim to safest shore
• Leave the boat only when it will improve your personal safety
• If rescue isn’t likely, if the water is numbing cold or if a worse set of rapids is approaching, swim to the safest shore.