Emily Little
Recent Posts from Emily Little
Pro Tip: Personal Rescue Equipment (PRE)
A lot of boaters show up to put ins with all sorts of gadgets and gizmos in their PFDs for "safety". But what are they for? Do they know how to use them? The extra safety gear you carry on your person is known as Personal Rescue Equipment (PRE). Other equipment, such as static lines and big pulleys, in your safety kit is separate from PRE because it is in your...
Top Five Beginner Whitewater Kayaks
Within the huge variety of whitewater kayaks available, there are better kayaks to learn in than others. Some of the latest, greatest kayaks, such as the 9R, are designed to be paddled in harder whitewater and would slow down your learning. In my opinion, after many years of paddling, these are the best top five beginner whitewater kayaks. Dagger Mamba A planing hull creek boat, this kayak is very stable and...
Futaleufu River Travel Logistics
The world famous rafting on the Futaleufu River is situated close to the town of Futaleufu, in the northern region of Patagonia. For many people, rafting the Futaleufu is near the top of their bucket list. However, figuring out the logistics of your trip down south can be challenging, time consuming, and a turn off to the vacation. There are always the questions of how to travel, where to stay, how...
Gear Review: Selway Toilet
Something everyone uses on river trips is a toilet, affectionately known as “the groover”. Back in the day, rafters had to attempt to sit or hover over a metal box and risk getting grooves in their backside. Now, we have the luxury of using toilet seat lids over these boxes, or even better, the Selway Fabrication River Bank Toilet. These are the cream of the crop option for rafting trips. They...
Pro Tips: Rafting the Futaleufu River
Known as one of the best places to go rafting, the Futaleufu River has a few different options for your experience. Each different section is easily accessible from the small town of Futaleufu. Time and money constraints will play a part in determining which section is right for you. Luckily, there are quite a few different rafting companies with different trips to choose from. This is a beginner's guide to rafting...
Best River Trip Games
Multi-day rafting trips are not just about the whitewater and side hikes; a lot of fun can be had just hanging around at camp. By most standards, camping on a river trip is quite deluxe. Just about anything can be loaded onto a raft with games being no exception. I always pack a few games on rafting trips, especially ones that lots of people can play. Getting the whole group involved...
Best Whitewater Kayaking in Washington State
With rivers spanning the entire state of Washington, the whitewater kayaking potential is huge. The rivers vary from big water paddling to technical creek runs. The Olympic Peninsula offers some of the most beautiful paddling in the world. However, these rivers can be deceiving, only flowing with rain fall. On the other hand, the Columbia River Gorge has paddling options all year round. It is hard to choose seven rivers from...
5 Reasons Kids Should Go on Rafting Trips
Growing up, my family vacations centered around the outdoors. The highlight of my summers was always going on week long backpacking or rafting trip. My brothers and I were often the only kids on these trips but we were never bored. We found ways to entertain ourselves by playing games, swimming, or convincing the adults remember what it was like to be a kid. My dad did not tolerate any complaining...
Pro Tips: Rigging your Raft
When multi-day guiding, rigging your raft is only one job out of many daily tasks. By the time we get around to loading camp and bags onto our boats, the guests are usually ready and waiting. I still want to make sure my raft is rigged to flip but I do not like making people wait. Finding a balance can be hard. Here are some pro tips to help you rig...
Buying Your First Whitewater Kayak
Getting into whitewater kayaking can be overwhelming. There is a lot of gear to purchase and many options. A big, and very important piece of gear is your first whitewater kayak. But which one? The best, flashiest kayak is not necessarily great for learning. Here is some information to help make an informed decision when buying your first whitewater kayak. Types of whitewater kayaks In short, the types of whitewater kayaks...
