River Floating, Kayaking, or Rafting for recreation: Adventure Activities

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

With summer season approaching and people feeling the need to go in lakes and rivers, I wanted to take the time to post some precautions you should take if you are thinking of floating, rafting, or kayaking down a local river.

These tips come from personal experience.

First, always research the river. There can be warnings or recreational use closures. The river could be too high and moving too fast, or there could be obstacles down the river such as log jams which make floating down really dangerous.
Make sure you have the proper equipment for the trip.
- Life jackets are definitely must. Never go down a river without one
- Sturdy paddles not made of plastic are also essential.
- Waterproof case to store a cell phone in would be helpful. If something went wrong along the trip, it would be beneficial to have a way to contact someone. Make sure to secure the box to the raft, or kayak in case it tips over.
- Wear a helmet. Rocks and logs usually surround the river banks and are in the river waters. If your boat or kayak happens to flip, a helmet could protect your head.
- Wear shoes or sandals that secure tightly to your feet. Sandals that slip on or off are not a good idea. If you were to fall into the water, your sandals would fall off and float away.
Make sure to always respect the power of nature!

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I second that! even if you know the river, you don't know whether a tree has fallen over and created a log jam. It is always better to be over-prepared than up the creek without a paddle, if you know what I mean!

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

tammy wrote:

These tips come from personal experience.

Really?? Did you float, raft, or kayak down a local river and experience ALL that??? Sounds scary, for sure. I really like your last tip... #3...
Make sure to always respect the power of nature!

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Ziggy wrote:

Really?? Did you float, raft, or kayak down a local river and experience ALL that??? Sounds scary, for sure.

Yup, I was really stupid the other day and the part I really can't get over is not wearing a life jacket!!!!

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I don't think I've ever been in a river that I couldn't touch the bottom in most on it or be able to swim to shallow water really quickly. I've never worn a life jacket in a river before. :neutral:

Now in the ocean it's a different story. I know what it feels like to swim until I can't swim anymore, give up and sink, then get lucky enough to touch a sandbar with my toes before passing out. I'm another one who can't stress life jackets enough when you're in deep water.

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Yeah, I didn't think the river I went on was going to be deep or be moving fast at all. And that was the problem... I didn't think!

I've gone on other rivers that were shallow and weren't moving fast and for some reason I just assumed this river was going to be like the others and that wasn't the case! :oops:

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

My first instinct when being caught in fast moving water in a river would be the same as for a riptide in the ocean, where your only real chance is to just go with the flow.

I remember watching Man VS Wild or another one of those survival shows though and seeing the guy doing what he called a corkscrew move where he swam to the bank by turning his entire body. It was like he was swimming with a regular stroke with one arm, and a back stroke with the other arm.

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Going with the flow is a good thought until you realize "the flow" is going right into a fallen tree and your about to get slammed into it if you go with the flow.

I was with you Joebert, thinking this water is only hip deep and I can control myself, but I had no power in the water. You can't control anything with water flowing anything over knee level up here... not to mention the water is FREEZING!!!

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

tammy wrote:

Yup, I was really stupid the other day and the part I really can't get over is not wearing a life jacket!!!!

Yep, that IS really stupid not wearing a life jacket. But it's also really stupid to go down a river you know nothing about. What if there would have been a 10 or 20 foot drop?? Did you experience anything like that?

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

Quote:

What if there would have been a 10 or 20 foot drop?

Now we're talkin !

*grunts*

tammy · **Site Rank:** Site Admin

Ziggy wrote:

What if there would have been a 10 or 20 foot drop?? Did you experience anything like that?

Nope, there was nothing like that on the river!

Y's Guy · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I guess that's when you get out and walk!

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

Y's Guy wrote:

I guess that's when you get out and walk!

Yeah, if you are lucky enough to get out and walk, which you were, and I am glad of that. But others aren't that lucky. I heard on the news today that two people drowned, one in a creek, and one at a lake. I don't know any more details then that.

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