3. FIND AN OUTFITTER

We're not taking about seeking out a fashionista to hook you up with some fine threads. By "outfitter," we mean a company that offers whitewater rafting expeditions.

Here's a tip: Almost any river rafting outfitter that has been in existence for over a year and has nice, little glossy brochures (or a nice, little website) is probably a safe bet. Unlike telemarketing and credit card scams - which can exist on a fly-by-night basis - producing a fly-by-night (or would that be float-by-night?) whitewater rafting scam is not nearly as easy or profitable.

Here are a few places to find a reputable outfitter:

  • Visit GORP.com's paddling page, which has links to outfitters all over the country.

  • Check out RiverSearch's listings of whitewater rafting vacations. They have tons; most likely at least one in your area too.

  • Seek out local adventure organizations, or, more specifically, whitewater, canoe, raft or kayak clubs. You can always try the Yellow Pages under "rafts," "rafting," or "expeditions."

  • If you're in college, there are often school clubs and organizations that offer discount whitewater rafting trips. Check it out, sign up, make friends.

  • Check out sporting and adventure magazines such as Whitewater Paddling, Men's Journal, Outdoor and Paddler.

  • You can always do a simple Internet search on a search engine. For instance, Yahoo lists over 100 potential outfitters here.

  • Lastly, contact your local or state game and forestry commissions. They know a lot about rivers. They know a lot about squirrels too, but you probably don't care.

When shopping around for an outfitter, keep the following in mind:

Price
River guides
Special needs
Emergencies

Price

Typically, whitewater expedition rates run from $30 to $75 per person (for a 2 - 6 hour trip), depending on:

  • Area: high-traffic popular areas often cost more.

  • Season: spring and autumn are peak seasons, so that's when prices are highest.

  • The day of the week: weekends tend to be more expensive for obvious reasons.

  • How many people you have in your group.

  • What extra services the outfitter offers. For instance, most outfitters will provide some kind of lunch to their guests. Many also include tie-in activities such as biking, hiking, private canoe and kayak rentals for experts, camping, hotels or B&B's, and skirmish (also known as paintball). These tie-in activities may make a long drive to the whitewater course more worthwhile, but will also necessitate lodging; so do be sure that they go hand in hand. If the outfitters themselves do not have guest lodging, check local directories for hotels, motels, campgrounds and B&B's.

River guides

The most important service the outfitter provides to you as a novice is a guide. You don't want to jump into a raft with any old freak, so make sure your guide can hold his/her own. Here are some tips:

  • Ask your outfitter what the standard ratio of guests to guide is. Fifteen to twenty guests per guide - or four or five rafts per guide - is standard. Fewer is fine, but more could mean that the guide has too many guests to handle.

  • You may wish to ask the outfitter what sort of training they provide their guides. Typically, two to four weeks of training is necessary. Of course, to even qualify to receive this training, the guides already have to have certain qualifications. But you also want to make sure that the guide has received training on the specific course that he/she will be taking you on.

  • Guides should provide guests with 15 to 30 minutes of training prior to embarking on the river. This training should include how to paddle and what to do if your raft capsizes or if you are thrown overboard. (Whoops… we mean "when," not "if.")

Special needs

Most rafting outfitters are equipped to accommodate customers with special needs, provided they are notified in advance. Do not assume that injuries or pre-existing medical conditions are inherently prohibitive. Good outfitters should be able to handle conditions ranging from relatively mild (stocking extra fruit or a candy bar for diabetics) to more severe (readying the raft for paraplegic customers). Just be sure to give as much notice as possible. Sometimes this'll bump the cost up (extra time spent on one customer means that they won't be able to fill the raft up with other customers), but it's worth it.

Emergencies

Asking about emergency procedures can also reveal a great deal about the level of expertise and legitimacy of a whitewater rafting outfitter. Often, river rafting courses are close enough to roads that guides (if need be) will be able to shoot flares from the river. If you are especially concerned about the certifications or qualifications of your outfitter, you can double-check the company's references with state and local park commissions.