How I Became A Whitewater Raft Guide in Washington
Spread the loveIn 2021, I embarked on an adventure that would change my life. I left Utah behind and set my sights on Washington state with a singular goal. I was going to learn how to navigate class three whitewater as a raft guide. During my time in Washington I not only developed my rafting skills but also discovered an enduring passion for rivers. Along the way, I delved into the world of whitewater kayaking, created lasting friendships, and gained insights into river rescue techniques. I now tend to enjoy whitewater kayaking more than rafting, but I never would have been introduced to the world of kayaking without the rafting community. For those eager to explore the thrill of whitewater, I offer the following advice. Basic whitewater classes are essential, but there’s no substitute for the experience a summer of raft guiding will give you. Join me on this blog journey as I reflect on the lessons learned both before and during my inaugural season as a whitewater rafting guide. From the highs to the challenges, I’ll share candid insights and reveal what I would do differently if given the chance to turn back the clock. My Whitewater History Back in 2018 when I was graduation high school, my whitewater experience was limited. At that point, I had gone on three whitewater rafting trips. They were all payed tours, but each time I was so draw to the guides. I spent the entire trip asking them how they became guides and was searching for advice on how I could end up in the same position as them. Fast forward to the summer of 2020 – I was living with my dad and going absolutely stir crazy. We decided that we needed something fun to do one weekend, so we drove to the Green River in Utah, rented a raft, and got ourselves down the river. Now, to be clear, this is not something I recommend. You shouldn’t go out on the river without taking safety precautions. That being said, this trip is the main reason why I decided to become a guide. I started obsessing with the idea of living on the river with people who loved the lifestyle as much or more than myself. This led me to researching many different companies, areas in the United States, and types of rivers. All of this is what ultimately brought me to Leavenworth, Washington. Finding the Right Company When I was finally ready to become a guide it was going to be for the summer 2021 season. I started doing my research on different companies in the December 2020. In order to become a guide, you typically have to pay a company to train you and then hopefully get hired on at their company. I was looking for a place that would reimburse training if you continued to guide for them because I wanted to make this happen as cheaply as possible. There was a lot of back and fourth but I ended up choosing a company in Washington State. My key takeaways from selecting a company for your first season are: Housing as a Raft Guide Choosing the Right Company Continued First Season of Whitewater Guiding The first few weeks of guiding after training are going to be intense. I remember having thoughts like, “ How am I responsible for getting this group of people down the river safely?”. That is completely normal! If you did your research and chose a good company, you should be ok. Just trust your gut and remember what you learned in training. Be prepared for long hours working outside. I knew going into it that I was going to be exhausted physically. Because I was prepared for it that side of things didn’t bother me too much. The part that was hardest for me was having to entertain people all day long. By the end of the season my social battery was empty and I was just searching for any alone time. Make sure to set time aside for yourself and try to find time for a hobby outside of the river. Go into it with an open mind, and you’ll have a great time. If you have any questions on how to choose the right company, send me a message! I would love to talk about your options and share more about my experience as a whitewater raft guide in Washington State. If you liked this post, you might also like..
