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Safety

A section on safety has been included because of the great interest in whitewater paddling and rafting among the uninitiated. The fact is that there are potential hazards involved in the sport, which in many instances is the very reason that many are attracted to it. However, with normal precautions and good judgment in determining one’s level of skill, it can be a safe sport under normal conditions.

A few tips to follow to insure that the paddler’s trip is an enjoyable, and above all a safe, one are listed. If each and every one of these rules is followed on the river, you won’t become the proverbial “accident looking for a place to happen.”

1. Never boat alone. Three boats are generally considered a minimum on anything but small low-water streams.

2. Always carry a life jacket. Wear it unless you are a capable swimmer, and even then have it on when in difficult water.

3. Know your ability and don’t attempt water beyond this ability. In considering whether or not to run a particular rapid ask: