A Day on the River

White water rafting can be a terrifying concept to anyone who is new to it. I know I feared the worst when I signed up for the adventure with a group of friends last summer. What if you fall out? What if the boat flips over? What if I drop the ore? Well, I’m here to tell you, don’t worry about those what ifs. My rafting trip went as smooth as can be, all thanks to the wonderful guides and the set up that Noah’s Ark Rafting had at Brown’s Canyon.

The start of the trip was a little terrifying, standing with my friends, and everyone else who had signed up for the trip, waiting in our helmets and life jackets for the guides to arrive. What were we to expect? Then we heard the laughing and cheering of the guides as the walked up to the group, ready for another adventure. We stood in a group and were given the lowdown on what to do in any emergency situation. The guides were super helpful, kind and clear in their directions.

If the boat flipped, all we had to do was get out from under and be sure to float on our backs until we reached another boat. If we drop an ore, don’t worry too much about it, it happens, but rarely. If we fall out, float on our back until we find the closest boat. Overall, there was very little to worry about, as this was the beginners group, so nothing too crazy would come our way.

I was lucky enough to sit in the back next to the guide, so that helped me with my anxieties around the trip. He had full control of the raft at all times, and managed to carry out lively conversation with us through the smoother parts of the ride. The sets of rapids we hit had to be the most fun I’d ever had. Paddling along with everyone around me, I found myself getting one good arm work out. We got splashed every so often, and my friend even decided to jump into the river during one of the smoother parts of the ride.

Noah’s Ark is a company that is focused on providing a fun and safe environment for families to experience the outdoors. They offer full day and half day trips, sitting in Buena Vista, Colorado. They are open from May to August, when the water is running great. The company also offers backpacking trips, hiking, adventure camp, and rock climbing. There’s something for everyone here.

I will say that the whole ordeal is a day trip, and it will tire you out. But when you go with Noah’s Ark, they make sure that you have a lot of fun with all the other groups and guides. Spending a day on the river is the most relaxing of all things, even with the bumps and shocks of being thrown around on rapids. The scenery in Brown’s Canyon is absolutely beautiful, sitting in a picturesque part of Colorado. There are plenty of white water rafting companies around the state, all of which offer tours for beginners. It’s an excellent summer activity, just after the runoff has melted and filled the river, getting it flowing nice and fast. I’d definitely recommend it to those new to the outdoors