River Rafting ...			...a wild, wet ride
			by Debi Osborne

The bus was packed with people, some eager, some nervous. At the drop-off, four rafts were unloaded and we were outfitted in wetsuits, helmets and life-vests. With paddle in hand, we climbed into our big blue boats, wriggled the tip of our sneakers into a floor strap and gave each other that helpless "...doe caught in the headlight" look. How bad was this going to get?

Unloading: Notice the floor foot holds and hand-rope All photos courtesy of Marlene Lewis

Before I could think about it, the raft was swept into the middle of the river and was rushing toward a painfully solid rock wall. The guide was rowing his two oars at the back and shouting "Right Forward, Left Back." What did that mean again? Out of synch, I hit someone else's paddle with my own. Where was that rock? I looked around and noticed we had long since slipped past any protrusions. I considered apologizing but everyone was laughing. With a few more minutes of practise, I was soon laughing too. There was nothing to worry about anyway. With Suskwa Adventure Outfitters (SAO) you are in very skilled hands. Owned by Dave and Shelly Goble of Smithers, SAO hires only government-certified river guides. Beginners are always welcome and on some tours children as light as 60 pounds are allowed to come along.

Gearing Up

Tours last anywhere from one to twelve days, come with all the equipment, gear (except for footwear) and instructions and you even get fed, to boot! Most tours include short hikes to waterfalls or other scenic spots of interest. Seeing a roaming bear or an eagle searching for salmon is probable, as is having people in kayaks circling and then passing you by with a friendly wave. The river can be a busy place on a sunny day.