Raft Trip Organization

It is important that everyone in your party nows what to expect and is properly prepared. This is not a Disneyland adventure. The foothill rivers are not a good place for a booze cruise. Competent course corrections are needed at times. You need to be able to find your put-in and take-out. There are no signs on most runs telling you to take out here. Renters have drifted past take-outs with various unexpected and unpleasant consequences. Do not try to tackle a run you or members of your party are not prepared for. Do not rely wholly on GPS navigation systems. The access points don't have addresses. Have your directions to your run in hand before arriving at our office. Know when your launch window is for your run. Arrive early. It takes time to get the paperwork done, watch the instruction video, load up the gear, set up shuttle, find your put-in and get the raft inflated and rigged. The larger your party, the slower it will be. The worst situation here is a large party of disorganized beginning rafters arriving late not knowing anything they need to know.

• Your group needs to leave home on time. Partying the night before will mess it up.
• Each driver needs to have the directions to our office in Auburn which can be printed from this site. Navigation systems don't always give the best route.
• It is best to have your supplies like gas, water and lunch secured before you arrive here.
• Everyone needs to know what they signed up for. Have everyone read "What Every Paddler Should Know" on this site or print it out for each family grouping. This document covers what we call "The Put in Talk", usually given by the head guide before each whitewater trip. It contains life saving information.
• Download and print out waiver forms in advance to get you towards the river faster.
• Each raft needs a designated captain / guide. Preferably this is a person with some river experience. If these persons are trainees they need to study up on what is required of them by reading all guide tutorials and watching all video links available.
• Shuttle Plans: At the end of your trip you'll be miles from where you started. Will you handle your own transport back or hire a shuttle service? If you are traveling a long distance consider hiring shuttle locally to avoid needless car miles.
• Equipment transport vehicles need to have space for rafts & equip. Leave unnecessary items at home.
• Share the work. If everyone has a roll to play and understands it, your trip will be a breeze. See "Raft Prep Teams" below.
• Lost Equip: Have an understanding on how lost equipment will be paid for. Shared by the group or some other plan?

Getting to the river on time

In summer the rivers are dam controlled. If you launch too late you will have reducing flows (less wave action) and more difficulty with rocks.

The larger the group, the earlier your departure time from home must be. There will be more stragglers at every stop.

It takes two hours or more from the time you step in the door at Canyon Raft Rentals and when you actually launch from shore! The larger your group the longer it takes!

There is about 20 minutes of video to see before you leave the office.

Raft Prep Teams For Multiple Boats

Break your party into work groups to handle the different phases of inflation & rigging. This can be set up like an assembly line.

Basic Raft Inflation – Electric pump

Unroll raft near power source. Attach boat strap to thwart for later use. Inflate all raft chambers & floors. Do all rafts.

Top off with hand pumps on land - Phase 1

Put equal air in all outer (main) chambers. Top floor & thwarts.

Move on to next raft.

Carry boats into the water

6 People

Load each raft with proper number of paddles

Splash down with paddles (Cool down the hot air in rafts to river temperature)

Secure to shore with rope or hold on till next crew arrives.

Go up to get next raft.

Top off teams at river – Phase 2

Top off to compensate for shrinkage of air in cooled off boats. Equal air in each outside chamber. Floor.

Secure boats to keep from floating away. After completing all rafts to satisfaction of guides return pumps to car. 

Rigging teams – Lunch bangs, coolers etc.

Secure all items to prevent loss in a flip.

At Take-Out

There can be a lot of other groups taking out around you. Find a place in the parking lot where you will not be blocking boaters coming after you. Keep all equipment together organized and separated from other groups equipment.