Frequently Asked Question of Durango River Trips in Colorado
When and Where do we meet?
Confirmation?
What does Durango River Trips
provide?
What do we wear?
What about food?
Can we bring alcohol?
Can we bring cameras?
How many people in a raft? How
is it guided?
Who can do it?
How cold is the water?
Is it customary to tip the
guides?
What 'Class' is the rafting
on the Animas River North of Durango?
Guide training and
certification
What is a Ducky or Inflatable
Kayak?
| When
and Where do we meet? Confirmation? |
| Confirmation is speaking with me on the phone at 970-903-9428. Meet at the Bakers Bridge 12 miles North of Durango just off of Hwy 550. There are two trip times, 9am and 1pm. See our Map
page for more details and
directions to print. |
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| What does Durango River Trips provide? |
| All our trips include self-bailing rafts, PFD's (life jackets), first aid supplies
and dry bags for your personal gear. Street clothes can be worn but it is best to wear clothing that keeps you warm when it gets wet such as synthetics. Shoes that can get wet are a must. Return transportation
to your vehicle is included at the end of your
trip. There is a beautiful spot under large cottonwood trees next to the river to have a picnic if you so desire. Feel free to bring snacks and beverages. |
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| What
do we wear? |
| Temperatures can vary quite a bit until about mid-June so one should be prepared by bringing warm clothes such as fleece or wool which keep you warm even when wet. Come July we often have what is called a monsoon season which basically means we often get a good 5-20 minute shower sometime most afternoons somewhere in the area. Yes, it is called weather, no one can predict it. Feet do get wet getting in and out of the boat, and there is often water on the floor of the boat. So wear shoes that can get wet. Since this is a Class II scenic float rather than a whitewater adventure, it is very unusual to get splashed by the river or to fall out of the boat, unless someone is helping you. Splash jackets will be brought along for an extra layer just in case. |
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| What
about food? |
| Bring it, bring some for me, I like to eat! It is no problem to bring snacks, water, soda, etc. There is a beautiful spot at the put-in next to the river shaded by huge cottonwood trees to have a picnic if you wish before or after the trip. |
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| Can
We Bring Alcohol? |
| Obviously I don't want to have inebriated clients on my raft. On the other hand there is nothing better than having a cold one floating down the river or after the trip. Be responsible, don't get obnoxious, and remember, like the sign in the bar says "we retain the right to refuse service to anyone." |
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| Can
We Bring Cameras? |
| Yes! this section of the river is gorgeous. Any camera should be fine since we are not running any challenging rapids, even a video camera. Just remember that you are ultimately responsible for your equipment, if your child decides it is funny to splash you or push you in the river when you have the camera out, well, it's just stuff, you can always get more stuff. |
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| How
Many People in a Raft? How is it Guided? |
| Durango River Trips owns two 16 foot Aire Rafts. These are new, beautiful $5,500 state of the art self-bailing rafts designed to run Class V whitewater with up to 11 adults in them. We will be running Class II friendly canoe type water with never more than 6 adults in the raft. Lots of room, comfortable, relaxing. That is what this trip is all about. |
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| The boat will be guided by me or one of my guides with a set of 10ft oars locked into a frame on the stern of the boat, we do everything, you relax and enjoy the trip. You don't even have a paddle. Maybe a water gun, but not anything to control the raft. |
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| Who
Can do it? |
This is a Class II stretch of the Animas, small waves, maybe a splash, some turns. I wouldn't let you take a canoe down this stretch without a huge deposit, but it is pretty chill. I can not really think of anyone who couldn't do this. I would suggest age 3 and up based on how much my 3 year old neice has enjoyed our river trips.
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| How
Cold is the Water? |
| This water was snow about 24 hours ago, it doesn't really warm up that much on its journey to Durango. Probably in the 50's in June, great to swim in come July. You probably are not going to get wet unless you are pushed in. |
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| Is
it Customary to Tip the Guides? |
| Gratuity for guide service is customary. A tip
is a nice way to say 'thank you' and should reflect
how you feel about the personal service you or
your group received. Some groups organize a tip
for their guide, others prefer to tip personally.
Average tip is between 10-20% of your trip cost
per person. |
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| What
Class is the Animas River rated? |
Most rivers in the world are rated on the International
Scale of Whitewater, I-VI. Class I is flat water
with some current, something you would be comfortable having your kids float in an inner tubel. Class VI is impossible, for instance
Niagara Falls. The exclusive section that Durango River Trips has access to is Class II. There is almost continous current through braided river channels with the occasional rock or tree limb which are easily avoided if you know what you are doing. Turns out, me and my guides know what we are doing. |
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| Guide
Training and Certification |
All things are equal except for the people.
Durango River Trips guides are dedicated
outdoor enthusiasts with many years of experience
guiding and adventuring. All of
our guides are CPR/First Aid Certified. Many are
EMT's, Wilderness EMT's, as well as Swift Water
Rescue Technicians. Our guides have made whitewater
their profession and aren't just working a season
or two, but people who have dedicated their lives
to the passion of living and working outdoors.
We reserve the
right to deny a trip to any person for safety
reasons and to modify any trip due to unsafe
river conditions. |
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| What
is a Ducky or Inflatable Kayak? |
| They are relatively stable one or two person canoe like boats that you would guide yourself should you be deemed worthy. It is a lot harder than driving a car in that the road is moving too. This craft bumps up the river classification to Class III. You need to be aggressive, coordinated, and in pretty good shape because you will probably fall in the river and swim at some point.
This is a nice option to have along with the trip for that bored teenager or macho dad. Women enjoy them too.
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