r/whitewater

Hey y’all next month I’m going to Montana and I’m gonna be white water rafting and hiking. What shoes should I get? Nothing too expensive. It’s my first time so any advice y’all could give would be wonderful.

Went with four friends along the Main Payette in Idaho, yesterday. We decided to go along on the same trip because it was two of us our first time, and we wanted to ease the others into it. Super fun stuff. We want to do the class IV trip next month. I had a few thoughts.

I was wearing a polyester shirt, polyester shorts, and it was 94 degrees F(reedom). I still got cold, but a wetsuit would have been overkill. Maybe I'll wear a polyester long sleeve and leggings for sun protection? Also, I was wearing swimming goggles, and not only did they not fit well and were uncomfortable, but the water also flooded them. My guide had what looked like ski goggles on. I'm just trying to keep the splashing water out of my eyes. What do you think?

Three days after Matt Wappett finished a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon, he landed in the emergency room with a massive knee infection. While it improved with the help of antibiotics, Wappett’s general health continued to deteriorate over the following weeks. Through social media, Wappett recently learned he’s not the only paddler suffering.

“It’s just felt like having a flu for the last month, which is kind of crazy, and I don’t know and the doctors right now don’t know if that infection that I had in my knee is related to it. Nobody seems to know,” he said.

The National Park Service is now leading an investigation, hoping to discover what’s causing the mystery illness in Grand Canyon rafters.

Wappett’s group launched in mid May and took out on June 2. In the month since, Wappett has suffered from constant aches, joint pains and fever. He has also been diagnosed with pneumonia.

“I was telling my wife the other day, I’m like, I don’t know if I can go on like this. This is awful. You wake up every morning and every joint hurts. It’s just brutal, and I’ve never had anything like this,” Wappett said.

Wappett thought he was going crazy or being dramatic until he saw a post in a Grand Canyon boaters Facebook group on July 1. In the post, paddler Steven King shares that four of 16 people in his group started experiencing fever, fatigue, severe localized muscle pain and fluid in their lungs about a week after their rafting trip in June.

“I mean, it just takes one person to say, oh I’m experiencing this. If he wouldn’t have posted that, I would have still just been assuming that I’ve got a month-long flu,” said Wappett.

Since sharing the post, at least five other rafters have contacted King saying members of their crews are experiencing similar symptoms. According to King, all were on the river in May and June.

Both Wappett and King are waiting on medical tests, currently left with more questions than answers. Wappett’s doctor is considering valley fever, dengue fever, and hantavirus, while King says members of his group have reported an extensive list of illnesses under consideration, including bacterial infections, Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

“I just want to feel normal again. I was supposed to go on the Salmon River in two weeks, and I’m at the point now where I’m like, I can’t go to the Salmon because I’m just not well,” said Wappett.

A spokesperson for Grand Canyon National Park confirmed that the National Park Service (NPS) is aware of the reported illness. The NPS Office of Public Health is leading an investigation in coordination with public health partners.

In a written statement, the NPS shared, “At this time, the investigation is ongoing, and we are not able to comment on the extent of the illnesses, potential diagnoses or other details while the investigation is underway. We will share additional information with the public as it becomes available.” [...]

Welp,

I’m looking for a new 12’ boat to R2 and R4 down the Colorado. After going over the needs and wants and yadda yadda over and over ive settled on these two boats..

I like to customer service of RMR, they have been amazing, but I get employee pricing on Star/NRS products.

This boat will be primarily day trip paddle boat, with maybe a frame/oar upgrade later one. Single over nights on the upper C at most..

I’m torn on what boat to go with!! Pros and cons?

Thanks!

Of course there are no true bad days on the river, but here’s a couple I think don’t hold up to the hype, and I thought I’d have a little fun.

The (pre hurricane) Pigeon is ok. The water quality is iffy, the rapids aren’t particularly playful, and you have to do that shitty I-40 drive to get there. Go to the Ocoee if you have the option.

Much hotter take- Gore Canyon is extremely overrated, there’s like 7 named rapids and 4 or 5 smaller ones. The paddle in is interminable, and running it at low water just kind of sucks. As far as late season Colorado runs go, if Bailey is running I’m going there 7 days of the week instead and twice on Sundays. Also tied for the number 1 river that gets people in over their heads because they snuck Gore and beatered Tunnel and now consider themselves a class V boater (tied with every single Southeast IV+ dam release river).

Anyone else have rivers they think don’t deserve their reputation?

I just discovered a pretty large crack in my medium Code. It has been a solid boat, but looking at other options as well. I’m 5’10”, around 180 pounds. I mostly paddle half slices, so when I do actually get on class V, I have to dust off the creek boat, so I would prefer a boat that has a hull like a half slice (planning over displacement). I also like higher performance, faster boats.

I demoed a ReactR a few weeks ago, but didn’t like how the bow kind of windshield wiped back and forth on a line. I paddled the OG for a bit, and it felt solid, but didn’t get enough time in it.

So I think my options may be an OG, Scorch, a new Code, or maybe the Stoke/Manu? The Manu seems huge though. 100 gallons!

Just curious. I had a situation recently where my R2 partner fell out at Hell’s Hole. I was pushed far left and had to R1 the ledge. It went fine, no surfing, but it made me panic and now I feel psyched out about that rapid/Hell’s hole now

Thanks!

Hey all! My boss gifted me a Jackson Zen 2.0 kayak with an Adventure Technology AT2 Flexi paddle, and NRS vest. I grew up kayaking, but lazy river style with lots of beer and fishing involved. The kayak is a Large, with an XL cockpit. I'm leaning towards an NRS skirt, but was wondering if anyone had any recommendations, I'm completely new to white water kayaking.

I live in Reno, and will primarily be hitting spots along the Truckee River. Thanks!!!

I have realised from watching some technique videos and talking to people that Im not using my core enough when I do stern squirts.

I can happily get my boat vertical but have problems stalling it there or spinning when its up and I think this might partly be why.

Does anyone have any cues or tips they use for how best to get the core engaged?

Ive tried just being mindful to engage it, but thinking about that invariably distracts me and the rest of my technique suffers.

We're looking at middle ocoee in TN. It both my girlfriend's and my first time going rafting. We found a guide that says they take beginners, but the rapids are most III and occassionally IV at a couple points of the trip. We're generally healthy, and fair swimmers.

Is it a bad idea for us to take this rapid as our first trip?

Just realized I can fit into a perception jib. Is it safe to cut a bit of foam from the pillar area right between my heels though?

Feel like it would be just that little bit more comfy. I’m 5’8 140 so this is likely more of a class II boat for me. Got down New River Gorge in a mixmaster but that was a creek boat by comparison.

They have been spotted at the cheoah this weekend. Saw one that looks like an antix 3 and skuxx had a baby and there was a report of a shorter looking Indra as well. The short half slice looked awesome there were reports of the testers denying it was new and saying it was a kids rewind or something, good on them. This is all relative information to be taken w a grain of salt.

Hey! Got a permit to go on the deso this next week. Nobody in my group has been before. Any suggestions? hikes to do? Certain rapids to look out for?

Hey y'all,

My friends and I were thinking of heading up to the Upper Yough River in Ohiopyle this weekend for some whitewater rafting. The group is divided on whether or not we need a guide. We are all around 21 years old, of varying heights (5'2 to 5'10), and relatively athletic. I am leaning towards a guide since I have never gone down a river without one before. My other friend, with 0 rafting experience by the way, thinks he's Superman and can watch a couple of YouTube tutorials to get the basics. Am I overthinking this, or is my friend underestimating the difficulty?