Outdoor Recreation to offer whitewater rafting trips

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Much like the rush of the rivers its enthusiasts hope to navigate, the 2008 whitewater rafting season approaches rapidly.

For Travis' Outdoor Recreation facility, this means its busiest time of year is just around the bend.

Before putting on the rivers of Northern California, though, the program needs guides, said Ben Evers, the facility's outdoor adventure director.

Guide training for this season begins April 2 with an introductory meeting to discuss obligations and costs and to ensures everyone understands what is required of as a guide, said Mr. Evers.

The course runs for three weekends in April at the American River near Placerville. Potential instructors will learn rafting skills, safety, reading river flows and etiquette. They will also learn Dutch oven cooking in which coal briquettes are used to heat a cast-iron pot to make roasts, stews and even breads and pies.

Cooking is a piece of Mr. Evers' ambitious plan for the rafting program this year. After more than 20 trips on the gorge section of the American River's south fork in 2007, he plans to expand with once-a-month overnight treks traversing the river's eight-mile upper and lower portions. Also planned is a four-day trip to the Klammath River near Redding.

Beginning May 11, the single-day ventures travel the lower portion of the American's south fork. A 12-mile run, rafters face more than a half dozen Class III and Class III-plus rapids, described as high, numerous waves, which include passages through narrow rock openings.

No previous rafting experience is required to be a guide or a rafter, Mr. Evers said.
"The only thing I would recommend is that they should be a strong swimmer," he said.

Anyone with a Department of Defense card or sponsor can participate. The cost for the raft guide training is $149, which includes camping fees, transportation and food for the duration of the course. The first meeting is April 2 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Outdoor Recreation Building, Bldg. 863. For more information, call 424-5659.