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Whitewater,
White Knuckles: Rafting in the Middle of the World
(page 3 of 5) |
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- If you find yourself swept under the
boat, paw your way out by running your hands along the
bottom of the raft, in one direction only. In a few seconds,
you'll be clear.
- Only one person in the boat assists
one person who has fallen into the water. This maintains
order. Use the oar as an extention of your arm.
- For extra safety, Ecuador Adventure
has a guide in a kayak, following the boats and keeping
an eye out for trouble.
"I'm not a water taxi," says
Kristen from Canada who came to Ecuador with his kayak
in December of last year, specifically to find guide work.
"But if someone is in trouble in the water and the
boats can't reach them, I come in for a rescue."
Thus instructed and outfitted, we hoist our rafts and
walk them to the water's edge. From the first step into
the shallows by the bank, we can feel the relentless tug
of the current. The guides shout instructions above the
roar of the whitewater as we board the rafts.
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"Okay, let's move out. Forward!"
they yell, and we paddle out in a column of three blue and
yellow rafts followed by one lime green kayak.
Within thirty seconds, the boats hit the
first major patch of rapids and lurch violently. Three of
our group of seven are tossed from the raft like ragdolls.
The boat is still bobbing and spinning around as we pull
them out of the water, one by one. One oar is lost and we
have to go to the spare. The excitement has begun.
Everyone gets back into position as we
continue our semi-controlled descent down the raging corridor.
Rapids upon rapids await, breaking over ominous-looking
boulders and around fallen trees. It is churning and gurgling
like boiling water, but is of course bracingly cold. As
the rubber vessels cut through the water, waves break over
the bows, drenching everyone. The only thing left dry in
the reporting boat is the camera equipment, stowed in the
waterproof box that Ecuador Adventure provides for each
raft.
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