When it comes to combining a love for the outdoors and the rushing thrill of taking on nature’s elements, the perfect way is to go whitewater rafting. What could be better than driving through a rushing whorl of water, having it spray up in your face, bouncing up and down in your seat feeling as though you are only moments away from disaster? Best of all, whitewater rafting is one of the safest adventure sports there is, with national safety standards followed by every major outfitter in North America.

Every state and province in North America offers several whitewater rafting experiences on various river routes. Thrill seekers can try out rapids classified IV and V while the beginners can try out smaller rapids in the Class I-III range. If you are an ultra adventure seeker, however, you might be out of luck. North America does have a few of the most dangerous Class VI rapids, but they are seldom used by even the most hardy rafting enthusiasts and no outfitters offer tours on them. If defying death is what you are looking for, then there are several other locations in the world that do offer incredibly hazardous raft rides. Africa, for example, offers several tours of Class VI rivers, where the adrenaline junky must not only contend with deadly rapids but also wildlife hazards such as crocodiles and hippopotamuses even in the “safer” areas.

For those who want to enjoy a rafting experience that is safe and domestic, then there are a lot of options for duration of rafting trips and costs. Highly trained guides are employed by the well established whitewater rafting outfitters and they use high quality equipment, both rafting equipment and personal safety equipment. These guides can be counted on to guide you along your tour safely and are reliable in an emergency, should one come up since they know their routes and rapids like they know their houses.

There are standard items that the person who decides to try a whitewater rafting experience must remember, however. It’s important to wear proper shoes to the site. It’s important that these shoes fit well and be able to get wet and dry quickly. The harmful effects of ultraviolet rays is another thing whitewater rafters should also keep in mind and try to bring along sun glasses and sunscreen. These items, most often than not, can be found in the outfitter’s store should you forget them but they will be quite a bit more pricy than if you had remembered them yourself.

A perfect way to satisfy your inner thrill seeker is whitewater rafting and you can also get in touch with areas of nature that might otherwise be inaccessible. But being in a family vacation would mean that you should call ahead to the outfitter and find out the recommended age limits for their tours. Whitewater rafting is usually not recommended for children under eight years of age.

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