
What Should I Wear Rafting? - Pro Tips for Day Trips
Whitewater rafting is one of the more exhilarating family outdoor activities and requires some planning to bring the right gear for your trip. Preparing well will set you and your...

The Best PFD for Boating
A Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is a necessary piece of safety equipment for any paddler or passenger. While nearly all PFDs have a similar general design, each boater looks for...

The Five Different Types of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
A Personal Flotation Device, also called a PFD, helps you stay on the surface of the water. They can help keep you safe during a variety of recreational activities and...

South Fork of the American River Hypothermia Rescue Story
My kayaking crew and I encountered a hypothermic kayaker on the class 3 Gorge run of the South Fork American (SFA) on a cold and sunny Sunday afternoon in December...

Pro Tip: Poison Oak
For many mountain bikers, rafters, and kayakers poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) is one of the scariest things found in the woods. This nasty bush is commonly found in California, Oregon,...

High-Water Safety: Guidelines for Rafting Swollen Rivers
Big winters create big runoff. Whitewater rafters are looking at epically high water! Because increased flows dramatically change rivers and require a redoubling of our ongoing efforts to keep our...

Pro Tip: Three Key Safety Knots for Paddlers
In the world of knots, there are lots. In fact there are so many that it is hard to know and remember what ones to tie, and when to use...

Pro Tip: Winter Boating
It is that time of year, short days, cold nights, and extra layers under the drysuit. Just because it is winter doesn't mean you have to put your paddling gear...

Pro-Tip: Low Water Advice for the Middle Fork
I regularly get phone calls and emails from rafters looking for advice on running the Middle Fork of the Salmon at low water. July and August are considered "low water"...

River Safety: Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes are some of the most foreboding creatures in the wilderness. However, like most of the fauna you encounter out there, they just want to be left alone. The chance...