Rafting Is Not A Spectator Sport

by Lisa Hofmann
photos by Allison Waltz

The First One Bites the Dust

Even though he is an experienced rafter, Rich Bebb, a junior marketing major, pays close attention to the guide's warning that white water rafting should not be taken lightly.

We wade out into the river and climb into the raft. I'm not keen on sitting on the edge of the raft. It seems so much easier to fall out.

Becky begins her commands. "All forward" means we all paddle forward. On a "back left," the left side gives a short back paddle to correct any veering to the right. "Back right" does the opposite.

We struggle to orient ourselves correctly before the entrance rapids.

"All forward!" Becky cries, but our boat veers too much to the right.

"Becky, don't paddle on the left. There's too much strength on that side," Rich calls back. I, of course, am not part of the overpowering left side. Rich has to pick up my slack, even though I'm paddling my hardest.

Our maneuvering fails, and we hit the rapid askew. Helpless, we head down our first rapid backward. The confrontation of water, rock and raft hurls waves of frothy water into our boat.

But it's an easy first rapid, and my fear is gradually replaced with exhilaration. We don't have time to revel in the thrill, though. The bumpy ride has knocked a woman out of her raft, and she is floating downstream.

"Somebody get her!" a guide yells.

Our raft is heading toward the woman, so Rich and Mike reach out to her. Rich grabs the shoulders of her life jacket and pulls her into our boat.

Our rescued passenger accompanies us down the next set of rapids, known as Cucumber Falls. We still haven't mastered our direction, so the rapids take control of our raft, jolting us through backward again.

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