River Rafting In the Western USA - Time Out #289

O.K.!!!

Now we are "officially" into spring, and as the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic is backing off further and further each day, let's consider another exciting June-September activity!

River rafting, of course!

My bride of almost 40 years, Lady Deborah, and I have experienced this fun adventure many times. Once again, dearest readers in Our Town and far beyond, our trips on the "water highways" (i.e., rivers) have been enjoyed in the great American West; more specifically, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. In those three beautiful western states, we have taken both scenic (as in flat and smooth), and whitewater (turbulent conditions with rapids) inflated rubber rafting adventures. The former trips are primarily for enjoying the scenery including wildlife, and the latter trips are to have the absolute excitement of the "roller coaster effect" on the water. There is always the absolute possibility of getting VERY wet, including maybe swimming, when water rapids are involved!

We took our first trip about 1980, during our initial visit to iconic Jackson, WY. For those of you who have never been to this incredible part of Our Country, I merely offer one word---GO!! That initial visit, we stayed downtown in the historic Wort Hotel, and totally fell in love with Jackson, and its surrounding Teton County. Unbelievably, today, it is the wealthiest county per person in the entire USA! Who would have known that factoid?

So, we began by taking the scenic float trip on the milder portion of the beautiful Snake River, just south of the Jackson Lake Dam. At that time, the float trip took us through Grand Teton National Park, and by the rustic visitor center located in rural Moose, WY. We saw bald eagles, ospreys, elk, moose, pronghorn antelope, beaver, and several varieties of trout, in the clear/cold, fast-flowing river water. Jackson Hole is such a tranquil spot in this special area on vast Planet Earth. Next, we progressed to rafting the exhilarating, Snake River Canyon whitewater challenge, several miles south of Jackson, just off U.S. Highway 89. Our raft was launched in the mild stretch of the memorable river at the West Table Boat Ramp, and we exited the wild stretch at the Sheep Gulch Boat Ramp, 8 miles and MANY whitewater thrills away! Here, the class I-III rapids are appropriately named Station Creek, Double Draw, Ropes, Champagne, Cottonwoods, and most memorable, Big Kahuna, and world-famous, Lunch Counter! It is at Lunch Counter, the professional photographers usually take a series of 5 pictures, and there is the distinct possibility, one or more of your raft companions will have been tossed out into the cold whitewater! In fact, one of our family members "ate his lunch" in the turbulent Counter water. Once again, the I use the word, THRILLING! And, yes, we have purchased several of our raft pictures, taken at Lunch Counter, and the classic photos hang in our family homes today. Several raft vendors are available to choose from in Jackson. We have used Mad River, Barker-Ewing (now in 2021, the company is named Jackson Hole Whitewater), and Dave Hansen Whitewater & Scenic trips. All outfitters provide an excellent vacation experience, and are very well-trained regarding safety for their guests. The river guides are also very knowledgeable about the magnificent area!

Mentioning our other rafting experiences, I complete the discussion by including our water outings on the Animas River, near Durango, Colorado, and on the Gallatin River, Gallatin Gateway, Montana, just north of beautiful Big Sky, The Gallatin River is one of several waterways that flow out of massive Yellowstone National Park, in the far northwestern corner of WY, and into small portions of Montana and Idaho. Our experiences on these two western rivers were a combination of scenic floats, paired with some whitewater rapids, but far from the Snake River Canyon thrilling rapids, previously discussed.

Would I ride the water "roller coaster rapids" again, you ask? Of course, I quickly reply, because I am STILL a kid at heart! Enough said.