Important Things to Remember About Spring Rafting

Now that the snow has stopped falling for the spring in the mountains and the weather has finally come out into the 40’s, the spring run off has begun!  Spring runoff occurs when the snow-pack that feeds the rivers is melting at the highest rate all year, providing rafters and kayakers with tasty river lines. Spring runoff is hands down the best time to go whitewater rafting in the state of Colorado but it will have some downfalls such as the weather, water temperatures and intensity of the water itself. 

Like any extreme sport, whitewater rafting can be dangerous, this danger swells during the spring months as there is still a chance of snow in the high alpine environments, the water can be as cold as 40 degrees and the water levels are at the absolute highest they will be all year. Spring overnight trips will pose as a larger challenging during this time as you will be highly exposed to the elements. Snow storms can pop up overnight and almost always complicate overnight trips as people are not adequately prepared for frozen drinking water and below freezing temperatures at night. Not only does spring rafting freeze your drinking water, it can also freeze yourself if you end up swimming so dress for worst and hope for the best as it is better to be sweating after a swim then doing jumping jacks to warm up. The most dangerous scenario in rafting is going out on the water and realizing that you are in over your head at a point of no return. Spring runoff can raise water levels to a point where your everyday class III trip turns in to the pushiest class V you have ever had nightmares about so make sure you check you flows before you head out to make sure the decision to head out isn’t your last.  

For more information on the preparations for spring rafting feel free to give us a call at (800) 370-0581. If you are prepped and ready for the season be safe and we will see you on the water!