What a rush!

It is a glorious day to sit on my patio-- drink a beer, and tell you all about my rafting trip!

Like I mentioned in my previous post, we chose a rafting company called Idaho Whitewater Unlimited.  When we arrived, they were ready to go-- expecting us with smiles!

We got checked in quickly... they didn't rush us-- all the guides and people involved were very chill... even letting us take a few minutes to drink a morning beer before getting all dressed for the rapids.

We were fitted into wetsuits... and I'm just going to add-- it was the first and LAST time I'll ever wear one.  It wasn't my wetsuit in particular... it was me.  It made me feel kind of claustrophobic and I got a little panicky and anxious... but those are just my own issues.  =)

We got a safety lesson, which ended up feeling like more of a comedy show... then we were off!

We hit mostly class 3 rapids, with a couple 4's and a 5... the run we did was called The Staircase, and it was intense!  I sat in the front of the raft, on the right-- and I wouldn't trade that spot for the world!  If it weren't for the little foot strap in the front, I would've left the raft several times-- guaranteed!  In the picture below you can see, I did end up flying across the raft and into my buddy Troy's lap.

The Payette River is still pretty high and fast so our float didn't last as long as we thought-- but there wasn't a disappointed rafter in the bunch!  Every single person who came on the trip has already committed to the next one... which will be a full-day float called The Canyon... and we will definitely be going through White Water Unlimited again... because it is basically satisfaction guaranteed!

After the rafting trip, we drove along Highway 55 and found a fun little beach nestled up next to the river... we had lunch, drank some beer, met some new rafters and just hung around all afternoon.  It was a beautiful day, and nobody had any reason to get back to town.

I've posted some thumbnails below!  Click on them to see the full size picture!

(The pictures of us rafting were taken by the Bear Valley River Company, more pictures of our trip can be viewed by clicking that link!)

 

Always,

Kels

Rafting the Payette

I'll be taking a scenic, hopefully wild and VERY wet rafting trip down the South Fork of the Payette this Saturday!

I've been rafting a few times-- and every time it's an entirely new adventure and experience.

This trip, I booked through a company called Idaho Whitewater Unltd.

The woman I spoke to on the phone when I called six times in one day was so helpful, enthusiastic and genuinely nice-- that I didn't even call any other places.

I chose the float and day around the people that are joining me.  There will be eight of us in the raft -- that is maximum capacity for this particular company. 

We will be taking on level 3+ rapids on a half-day trip called 'The Staircase' ... VERY reasonably priced-- and I've heard nothing but great things about this section of the river!

I'll post pictures-- and details about my trip coming up this weekend! 

You can find some scenic pictures from my last rafting trip below... We floated the Salmon River last September.

(Click the pictures to see them full sized.)

 

Always,

Kels

Let the adventure begin!

Welcome to my travel blog!

 

I love to get away, get out of town-- whether it's a day trip to a lake, an hour long drive through the Mountains of Southern Idaho, or a weeklong excursion to Glacier National Park, Montana...

I'm taking my love of exploring-- and trying to new things to a whole new level... in hopes of giving you ideas of places you might like to go -- and things to check out along the way.

This blog will detail my adventures, introduce you to new friends, as well as critique businesses.

Stanley Lake; July 4, 2008

I invite you to come along on my journey-- and join me often!

Safe travels,

Kels