RAFTING IN REVELSTOKE VS RAFTING THE KICKING HORSE RIVER
Can Revelstoke white water rafting or Kicking Horse River white water rafting satisfy your craving for adventure? River rafting in the Canadian Rockies and British Columbia offers a huge variety of options.
THANK YOU, RAFTERS!
Hello, Rafters! Thank you for another amazing season of whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River. 2021 sure threw us some curveballs but we rafted, together, with smiles on our faces and glee in our hearts. It is, after all, so very easy to have fun white water rafting in Banff on the river no matter Mother Nature’s mood. Because of COVID-19, we once again had a late start to the season. Rather than mid-May, we were on the river by mid-June and quickly greeted with super-high water levels. The heat dome of 2021 rapidly melted snow in the alpine, causing it to gush down the mountainsides to the river. Not once, but twice this year, we had to either re-schedule our BIG whitewater trips or re-locate departures to a safer section of the river. The Kicking Horse was not just kicking but bucking like a world-class Calgary Stampede bronco! Then the forest fires arrived, and the smoke. A lightning strike on nearby Mount Hunter, just a few kilometres down the highway from the RiverBase, put the entire crew on alert. Fortunately, after burning for a couple of weeks, the BC Wildfire Service took proactive action and performed a controlled burn, taking away most of the fire’s fuel. Filling the air for days and weeks on end was dense and eerie smoke not only from our neighbourhood wildfire, but also from fires north, south, and west of us. It wasn’t until the temperatures dropped and some rain returned that blue skies and rocky mountains were admired once again. Thank You! Despite all these challenges (and another season of COVID-19 face coverings), all guests remained enthusiastic and arrived at the RiverBase determined to have fun. The crew of Wild Water Adventures sincerely thanks each and every guest for spending time with us on the Kicking Horse River, sharing lively conversations and hearty laughs! 2022 Season If looking to return next year, our 2022 roster offers an array of ‘mild to wild’ rafting options and adventure activity packages. Keep in mind, also, that different times of the rafting season offer different river experiences. High water season runs late May through early July; mid-water season from mid-July through mid-August; and low water season, with its demanding technical rafting, runs mid-August through early September. OPENING DAY FOR NEXT SEASON: SATURDAY, MAY 21ST! For further information on any of our trips or packages, we are only a telephone call away (even in the off-season!). The Wild Water Crew (Josh, Andrew, Marcie, Carlos, Simon, Mike, Austin, Landon, Juan, Andrew, Dickie, Dan, Jessie, Kate, Paige, Wade, Diana, Amanda, and Deborah) all look forward to seeing everyone on the river, again, next season. Wild Water Adventures Toll-Free: 1-888-647-6444 Email: info@wildwater.com Rafting The Kicking Horse Since 1992 Author: Deborah Wade
Welcome To The 2021 Rafting Season!
Welcome back to the river! The 2021 whitewater rafting season kicked off in grand style last month. The Wild Water crew was so happy to be back on the Kicking Horse River and moving about the RiverBase. Although the season started later than usual, we now are up and running and having loads of fun with our guests. 2021 Heat Dome After only four weeks into the season, the biggest challenge by far has been water levels. The heat dome of 2021 melted alpine snow in record quantities, feeding the river till it almost burst its banks. Locals in the area say they’d never seen the rivers so high. Some trips did require us to change which section of river we ran because the BIG whitewater of the Kicking Horse River was simply too big! Water levels have come down and we are rafting the usual sections of the river once again. We greatly appreciate the understanding and flexibility shown by our guests while Mother Nature threw us some curveballs. Highway Construction Just west of the RiverBase, on the TransCanada Highway, a mammoth construction project is underway. While there were daytime closures of the TransCanada Highway earlier in the year, only night-time closures are in effect during July, August, and the first half of September. There is no need for guests to detour through Kootenay National Park and Radium on Highways 93 and 95 in order to reach the RiverBase. Please continue to follow GoogleMap’s step-by-step instructions. Nightly closures of the highway between the RiverBase and the town of Golden take place between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am, Sunday night through Friday morning. Please refer to the Kicking Horse Canyon construction website for further details. COVID-19 Wild Water Adventures continues to adhere to its extensive COVID-19 protocols established last year. Guests are kindly reminded to bring their own face covering to wear while at the RiverBase and on our shuttle buses. Face coverings, however, will not be worn while rafting. Please also bring along a small Ziploc bag for dry storage of your face covering while on the river. Trip Cancellation Insurance Wild Water Adventures has partnered with Tugo Travel Insurance. If interested in purchasing trip cancellation insurance, simply click here for further details. COMING SOON! Later this month, Wild Water Adventures will be announcing a new adventure package in partnership with Golden Skybridge. Guests can raft either the Gentle or Whitewater Exciter and receive entrance tickets to Golden’s newest attraction. Stayed tuned! Please simply call us at 1-888-647-6444 if there are any questions. The office is open daily from 8 AM through 8 PM. The 2021 crew is looking forward to seeing everyone soon on the river. Author: Deborah Wade
RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES IN GOLDEN, BC
Activities in Golden, BC, are varied and plentiful, even on a rainy day. One may think of Golden as an extremely picturesque, yet sleepy, small town nestled between the Rocky and Columbia mountain ranges. When Mother Nature decides to test human patience on a rainy day, however, there is no shortage of rewarding and enjoyable options from which to choose. 1. Start With A Hearty Breakfast Rainy day activities in Golden, BC start at the breakfast table. There is nothing like inclement weather to make the tummy rumble. Head over to one of the many local digs for mouth-watering dishes sure to satisfy the biggest of morning hungers. A favourite place for the Wild Water Crew is the all-day breakfast at Big Bend Café, right in downtown Golden. The menu has as many options as the Kicking Horse River has rapids! Enjoy COVID-19 friendly options by either sitting outside on the ‘Polar Patio’ or take your meal to go. 2. Rafting in Golden, BC Rafting in Golden, BC while it’s raining just makes perfect sense. You’re going to get wet from the waves anyway, right? Does it really matter if a few raindrops fall from the sky when everyone is hooting and hollering together downstream? It’s not as if anyone is going to melt because of a little rain! And as for keeping comfy and cozy on the rafts, Wild Water Adventures has that covered. Rafters are provided with an extensive wardrobe of gear so to keep everyone grinning from ear to ear … even in the rain. Wetsuits, neoprene booties & gloves and spray jackets are donned in our spacious and heated indoor RiverBase change rooms. For guests who like to be extra cozy, and possibly consider themselves as thermally challenged, bring along your own polar fleece sweater (i.e. synthetic fleece or merino wool) as an extra layer. Please … NO cotton! Let’s not forget about the assortment of hot beverages served after every trip, or the BBQ lunch upgrade option with morning departures. 3. A Little Bit of Culture Kicking Horse culture is alive and well in Golden, whether it be outdoor concerts in the summer, live performances at the Golden Civic Centre, or bands playing at the local pubs. On cool, damp days there is nothing finer than perusing through the Golden Museum and/or the Art Gallery of Golden. Learning a bit of the local history enhances appreciation for all those who wandered the region before us. The museum houses permanent collections as well as vast arrays of photographs from days gone by. Local artists (of which there are many) display their wide-ranging and talented works at the art gallery. Both destinations are definitely worth checking out, rain or shine! 4. Fuel Up Again! Activities in Golden, BC, require a constant flow of energy. After a day of exploring and, of course, rafting, the tummy will need topping up again. When dinnertime rolls around, choose from a vast array of international eating establishments. Golden’s restaurant scene includes a cosmopolitan selection, ranging from food trucks to burger joints to fine dining, and everything else in between. My personal favourite for beer and a burger … The Golden Taps Pub, right across the street from the Art Gallery of Golden, with plenty of outdoor seating both in front and out back! 5. Evening Movie and/or Music When the rain is falling, daytime or evening, cuddle up with a bag of popcorn at the local movie theatre. Golden Cinema houses two screens (that’s right … two!) and runs box office hits on a rotating weekly schedule. Currently, the cinema is offering exclusive private screenings for families and small groups. Who needs the big city to see your favourite flick? And, if popcorn isn’t your thing, have a scoop or two of some of the best ice cream in town! After the movie, wander into one of the many bar and grill joints and take in the local music and beer scene. Whitetooth Brewing, Golden’s local beer maker, can no doubt be found at most of the area’s watering holes (all of which have outdoor patios!). In summation … Activities in Golden, BC, even when it’s raining, still offer excitement and not-to-be-missed holiday moments. Sunshine or not, there’s plenty of fun to be had. Golden is a great place to visit! For rafting reservations, no matter the weather, simply call us at 1-888-647-6444, or click the yellow ‘Book Today’ button on any Wild Water Adventures website page. Wild Water Adventures is your premier outfitter for family rafting trips on the Kicking Horse River. The 2022 Rafting Season ‘Kicks’ Off On Saturday, May 21st. See You Soon On The River! Author: Deborah Wade
HISTORY OF THE KICKING HORSE RIVER
River rafting in British Columbia has a long and well-established history. Companies offering both multi-day wilderness expeditions and action-packed day trips have run guests down a multitude of BC rivers for close to 50 years. The first commercial rafting outfit in British Columbia, in fact, Canada, was Canadian River Expeditions, founded in 1972 by Big John Mikes. CRE specialized (and continues to specialize) in multi-day wilderness rafting expeditions in remote pockets of the province and territories. The first-ever day-tripping company was none other than Kumsheen in 1973, setting up shop on the banks of the Thompson River. This rafting destination remains a popular whitewater escape for those near Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Kicking Horse River History Closer to the Rockies, near Golden and Lake Louise, the Kicking Horse River and valley has its own cultural and rafting history. Because of the steepness and dramatic elevation changes of the Kicking Horse River, Indigenous Stoney (Nakoda), Piegan and Kootenay (Ktunaxa) tribes chose to seasonally cross the mountains at gentler and more accessible locations. McArthur Pass, near Lake O’Hara, and Lake Minnewanka, near Banff, offered much less challenging routes from one side of the mountains to another. In 1858, the Canadian government announced the building of a railway to connect together eastern and western Canada. The Palliser Expedition was commissioned to locate the best possible route. The obvious choice was Yellowhead Pass, near Jasper. It had the least amount of elevation change through the mountains. The Kicking Horse Pass, historically known by First Nations as Wapta Pass, was not recommended at all. The government, however, decided for two reasons that the treacherously steep Wapta Pass was the best option. It was the shortest route through the mountains (so likely would be the least costly); and, it was the most southern option, closest to the American border. How Did The River Get Its Name? During the Palliser expedition, Dr. James Hector was kicked by his horse and knocked unconscious (see where this is going?). Given the national significance of the expedition’s mission and the doctor’s astounding recovery, both the river and pass were re-named from Wapta to Kicking Horse to commemorate this near-death event. Rafting The Kicking Horse River 100 years or so later, in 1983, the Kicking Horse was rafted for the first time (modern rafting that is, compared to Huckleberry Finn style of rafting). Local whitewater rafters, Linda and Daryl, made the actual first descent proving that certain sections were commercially runnable. About 10 years later, in 1992, Wild Water Adventures popped onto the scene. The river quickly became known for its big whitewater action with Class 2 through Class 4+ waves and rapids. Besides the whitewater, guests also had the chance to see the river just as the early explorers did. With a wild and free-running river and largely untouched wilderness, guests experienced history first hand. Nothing much had changed in the past 150 years. The only new feature was the railway! Over the past 30 seasons, our rafts have run thousands upon thousands of guests down the Kicking Horse River. Many guests, known as Frequent Paddlers, return year after year to experience the true ‘kick’ of this river. Wild Water Adventures extends a heartfelt invitation for enthusiastic guests to step back in time and create their own Kicking Horse history. See you soon on the river!
THE ROCKIES ARE NOT THAT FAR AWAY!
British Columbia staycations offer endless possibilities for summer fun and adventure. Beyond Vancouver and the BC Interior are the towering mountains, high alpine trails and turquoise-hued rivers and lakes of the Rocky Mountains. This seemingly far-off region of BC is actually not that far off. Within a day’s drive of the Lower Mainland, summer road-trippers can easily be in this stunning region, taking in new and exciting experiences. Top of the list of summer things to do in the Rocky Mountains is whitewater rafting. What is the most exciting river in British Columbia, with the biggest and wildest waves and rapids? The answer is the infamous Kicking Horse River, near Golden, BC. During high water season (late May to early July), this river truly ‘kicks’ with Class 2 through Class 4+ wild whitewater. Class 2, 3 and 4 waves remain consistent as the higher peaks of the Rockies offer alpine snowmelt throughout the summer. It is definitely worth the drive to the Rockies for this world-class whitewater rafting experience. Rafters, certainly, can drive straight through to the RiverBase from the Lower Mainland for their scheduled trip. But why not take the time to truly appreciate the majesty of the Rockies? Below is a multi-day Rocky Mountain itinerary that includes rafting and so much more. Customize your staycation by adding in as many days as desired. Day #1 The goal today is Kamloops … and beyond! By striking out early in the day from the Lower Mainland, visitors can be in Kamloops for lunch. A cornucopia of food trucks offers an international selection of flavours for growling tummies. Stop by one of the many craft breweries, cideries or distilleries for supplies to enjoy later in the evening, once the day’s drive is done. Carry on northward from Kamloops along Highway 5 towards the picturesque mountain towns of Blue River and Valemount for the night. Valemount and the Robson Valley are approximately 3 hours from Kamloops. Day #2 From Valemount, and along Highway 16 East, strike out into one of BC’s crown jewels: Mount Robson Provincial Park. As the tallest peak in the Canadian Rockies, glacier-clad Mount Robson towers over forests, alpine lakes and an abundance of trails. If hiking to Berg Lake, be sure to make trail reservations before leaving home. Farther down the highway, next door in Alberta, is Jasper National Park. Remember to advance watches by one hour and to purchase a Park pass. The town of Jasper boasts a wide selection of accommodations, campgrounds and restaurants. Later in the evening, look up and marvel at the night sky. There is a very good reason why Jasper is designated as a Dark Sky Preserve. Day #3 Southbound from Jasper is one of the world’s most spectacularly scenic drives: the Icefields Parkway. Although only 230km in length, an entire day is needed to journey from one end to the other. With travelling through the heart of the Rocky Mountains, be sure to have plenty of storage room on the camera for photographs. Remember also to fill up the gas tank before leaving Jasper. With pre-arranged reservations at Kicking Horse Campground, in Yoho National Park, there is no worry about where to sleep tonight. Take your time and enjoy the drive. Day #4 Today is the day for whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River! Just down the road from the campground, is the Wild Water Adventures RiverBase. Join the crew of Wild Water Adventures and experience the biggest and wildest whitewater in the Rockies. Choose from half-day or full-length trips to satisfy ‘mild to wild’ whitewater preferences. The Whitewater Exciter is non-stop BIG whitewater action while the Gentle is the ideal introduction to whitewater rafting (perfect for families and rafters who want to get ‘splashed’ rather than soaked!). The full-length Tradition combines the two shorter trips together to maximize the entire river experience. The double-shot Maximum Horsepower is two runs down the big whitewater section, in two different types of rafts! Trips are offered daily, mid-May through mid-September. Minimum age and weights apply for all trips. Don’t forget to make your rafting reservation before leaving home. Trips do sell out well in advance. After Golden white water rafting, which can include lunch, a short 20-minute drive along TransCanada Highway #1 brings visitors to the charming town of Golden. Nestled between the Rockies and Selkirks, and between the Kicking Horse and Columbia rivers, Golden provides small-town charm with all the local amenities. Day #5 From Golden, the drive back towards Kamloops and the Lower Mainland is straightforward. Simply take TransCanada highway #1 due west. At Kamloops, either continue on the TransCanada (travelling through the Fraser Canyon) or divert to Highway #5 (Coquihalla). Remember to adjust watches back to Pacific Standard Time at Roger’s Pass. Spending time in the Rockies requires very little travel time from other regions of British Columbia. Stunning mountain and river landscapes are but a day’s drive away. Upon arrival, each visitor then has a tough decision to make: How long should I stay? Please travel responsibly during your regional staycation. We look forward to seeing everyone on the river soon! Author: Deborah Wade
Best Canada Whitewater Rafting – The Maximum Horsepower Trip
Looking for the biggest and best Calgary rafting adventure with the most whitewater action to be found in the Rockies? Look no further than Wild Water Adventure’s Maximum Horsepower rafting trip on the Kicking Horse River. The MHP, as we like to call this particular trip, definitely lives up to its name. It is not one, but TWO runs down THE best section of whitewater the Kicking Horse River has to offer. Rafters experience 24 exhilarating rapids and cover a total of 24 kilometres of river distance (the longest possible whitewater trip near Banff National Park!) But the adrenaline rush does not stop there. To make this double whitewater trip even more exhilarating, rafters power downstream in two different styles of rafts. The first run, in our ever-popular 16-foot oar-rigged rafts, gives everyone a chance to warm up and get familiar with the river. For the second run, we completely change it up and launch everyone in smaller 14-foot all-paddle rafts with the guide being just another paddler. Believe you me, those two feet make a world of difference! Smaller rafts accentuate everything: the bounces, the smashes, and the hits! It may be the second run on the same section of river, but it will be a completely different experience. Not only that, but everyone (and, I mean everyone) will have a paddle in their hands. 100% participation is required from each and every rafter. There is nothing finer than digging in and paddling hard when your guide hollers out commands. WHO CAN RAFT THE MHP? The MHP is twice the whitewater action of our single-run Whitewater Exciter, and paddling is mandatory on the second run. Because of this, every rafter must be at least 16 years old AND weigh at least 100 pounds. Muscle power, stamina, and enthusiasm for double-action whitewater are key characteristics. WHEN IS THE MHP OFFERED? Smaller boats require the Kicking Horse River to be running at a certain water level. We want to have fun, but more importantly, we want to be safe. If the water level is too high, the smaller boats are not appropriate. The 2022 MHP season kicks off July 20th, pending favourable river levels, and runs through to August 27th. Two weekly departures are offered on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Generally by the end of July and into August, the river is at the perfect level for the MHP. WHAT IS PROVIDED FOR RAFTERS? As with all Kicking Horse rafting trips, guests are asked to bring a towel, their own bathing suit/swimming shorts and a heavy polar fleece/polypropelene sweater (for added warmth on the river). In these times of COVID-19, guests are also asked to bring a face covering and ziploc bag (for dry storage of your face covering while on the river). Wild Water provides guests with clean, dry and sanitized wetsuits, wetsuit booties, spray jackets, life jackets, and helmets. Even wetsuit gloves are available (a piece of gear that I personally don’t raft the Kicking Horse River without!). Once back at the RiverBase after the second run, and in dry clothes once again, hot beverages are served and trip photographs displayed. To Find Out More About The MHP, Or Any Of Our Kicking Horse Rafting Adventures, Simply Give Us a Call at 1-888-647-6444. See You On The River! Rafting The Kicking Horse Since 1992 Author: Deborah Wade
The 2020 Season Has Begun!
The 2020 Kicking Horse rafting season has ‘kicked’ off! The Wild Water crew is so happy to be back on the river welcoming guests from British Columbia and Alberta, as well as other Canadian provinces. This year marks Wild Water Adventure’s 29th year of operations. We could not be more proud of all that has been achieved over the past three decades. Protocols for safety and hygiene are so well entrenched that even COVID-19 could not stop us! Our 2020 rafting roster continues to offer daily departures on the half-day Gentle and Whitewater Exciter trips, as well as the full-length Tradition. Later in July, the double-shot Maximum Horsepower will be offered on Saturday and Wednesday afternoons. River levels to date have been, in a word, exceptional. Between the massive quantities of snow melting in the alpine and the heavy rains of spring, gung-ho rafters can take their pick of adjectives to describe river conditions. Cranking, pumping and blasting are all appropriately descriptive. For those thinking about rafting, now is definitely the time to be on the river! NEW FOR 2020: PRIVATE RAFTS Two more fine words available to rafters this year are ‘private rafts’. For those wishing to have only their family or friends on board, the Build Your Own Boatload program, or BYOB, is perfect. Guests can feel more at ease on the river with their own guide and raft while still being part of a larger flotilla. All it takes is 4 to 8 guests to have your own raft on a regularly-scheduled Gentle, Whitewater Exciter, Tradition or Maximum Horsepower departure. The 2020 Season So Far After only one week on the river, the 2020 rafting season is shaping up to be as fun-filled and exciting as ever. We invite one and all to come out to the river, share the laughter and have a lot of fun. There is no need to let COVID-19 keep you at home. Feel free to refer back to the previous post which outlines our company-specific COVID-19 protocols. For information on all our departures and the BYOB program, simply give us a call at 1-888-647-6444. The office is open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM. Here’s to a great summer of river rafting. We look forward to seeing everyone soon. Rafting the Kicking Horse Since 1992 Author: Deborah Wade
Top 5 Highlights from Wild Water Adventures This Summer
Just like that, our 2018 rafting season has come to an end. We can’t believe how quickly it’s gone by! This year, we spent 107 days on the river, and have journeyed with over 8,500 rafters down the Kicking Horse River—our busiest summer yet! This summer has been full of big splashes, many laughs and smiles, and countless memories. It’s been a tough process, but after consulting with all on- and off-river staff, we’ve managed to come up with a list of our Top 5 Highlights from Wild Water Adventures this summer. Count them down with us! 5) Off-River Rivalry It’s not all work and no play here at Wild Water! Our off-river team has the perk of joining rafting trips, whenever space permits. And, every year, they have a competition to see who can raft the most, and this year they’ve set a new record! Our Sales and Reservations Agent Wade, and our Driver Austin were neck-and-neck all summer, and were tied with a whopping 13 trips down the river. However, just the other day, Wade snuck in one last run, which has crowned her the champion of the competition with a total of 14 trips. 4) A Surprise Visit! Flying all the way from Budapest, former Operations Manager and River Guide Josh joined us for a surprise visit! Josh decided he missed us, and spent his summer holiday with us on the river. It was two weeks full of cracking jokes, and bonding with new and returning staff alike. But, our favorite part was when he took a bit of a tumble… 3) Our Guides Go For an Unscheduled Swim Our River Guides have many years of guiding experience. However, we also know that rafting can be an unpredictable adventure, and could result in rafters (and guides!) going for a quick dip in the river. Luckily enough for Josh, he had the pleasure of going for a quick unscheduled swim! While we don’t have any photographic evidence (though, we wish we did!), we have many testimonials of the account. Fellow guides have poked fun at Josh, but in the end, karma did come back around. Just last week, Dani was expertly guiding the smaller 14-ft all-paddle raft, when he missed the center line and fell off the side. Fortunately, this time we do have photographic evidence! 2) 30 Years in a Row! Each rafting season, our owner-operator Ted wears many off-river hats. But, guiding is in his bones, and each year he dusts off his river gear, and joins us on the river, at least once! This year, we were lucky enough to have Ted join us for two trips down the Kicking Horse, marking the 30th year he’s guided trips down this river (35 years of guiding in total!). 1)And last, but certainly not least…Adventuring With our Wonderful Rafters! We absolutely love rafting, and we couldn’t do what we do without you. Each day we wake up excited to share our passion with a new group of adventurers. Even on days when it’s cooler or raining, seeing your smiles and hearing your shrieks of excitement as you’re bouncing through rapids, and getting soaking wet, makes it all worth it. Guiding over 8,500 rafters from all over the world over a summer can make for some long and tiring days, but we wouldn’t have it any other way! From the bottom of the hearts of everyone at Wild Water, thank you for making this summer the best one yet. We can’t wait to see you on the river next summer! – The Wild Water Crew