How I Became A Whitewater Raft Guide in Washington

In 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:

• Find a place that will reimburse you for training if you stay on as a guide.
  • The only real way to become a whitewater guide is to go through a training. You learn many different skills and collect enough river hours to certify as a guide. There are some companies that will charge you a fee for the guide school and then reimburse you if you stay on as a full time guide. Ask the company you’re looking into if they offer any assistance like this!

Housing as a Raft Guide

• Think about where you’re going to live and shower.
  • Some companies offer a plot of land for the guides to live on, some have cabins, and others have nothing. I ended up at a company that did not provide housing and it was a challenge to say the least. Luckily I was in an area that had free forest service road camping, and that was where we set up shop.
  • The other challenge is finding a reliable shower. Some companies have a guide shack with a shower, I recommend finding one of those if possible. If not you can look into KOA’s or local gym memberships. I ended up getting a membership to Planet Fitness and used the showers there a few times a week.

• Look at reviews!
  • Take your time looking through company reviews. If customers aren’t having a great time, it’s likely you wont either.

Choosing the Right Company Continued

• Ask about gear.
  • There’s no getting around purchasing gear for your first season, but the company I worked for offered us a pro deal after we completed training. I was able to borrow gear from the company during training, and purchase my own when I had my pro deal. This saved me hundreds of dollars!
  • It’s also tough to know what gear you really need, and it varies depending on where you’re located. There’s a lot of gear that I wear in the Pacific Northwest that East Coast boaters don’t have to worry about because of the temperature of the water. Take your time accumulating gear and make sure you are asking experienced whitewater people for their opinions on gear before you buy.
• Research whitewater culture in the areas you are considering.
  • This can mean a variety of things, but one reason why I wanted to go to Washington was because I heard there wasn’t a strong drinking culture. This was a concern of mine because I am not a big drinker. I was more focused on gaining a skill rather than joining a party.
  • I have not personally boated on the east coast, but I have heard from friends that the culture is more of a party over there. This could be really fun, and the whitewater is stout. Just make sure you are setting yourself up to enjoy your time.
• Grill them about how many guides they have already.
  • I have heard lots of stories of people being hired as guides only to not get scheduled on trips. A lot of companies will hire a whole bunch of guides incase they don’t all say for the entire season, but this can leave you without work for weeks. Make sure you know what you’re getting into.

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.