Every year, buddies and I get together for an adventure trip, doing things that sane people only do when they're coaxed into it by other friends. "I'll do it if you'll do it..."
This year, we're thinking about whitewater kayaking. Most of us have done WW rafting (Gauley, Tuolomne) and sea kayaking, but no whitewater river kayaking.
Can you guys offer some recommendations on destinations? We want to do something that's far more exciting than a run-of-the-mill experience for urban weekend warriors. Most of us are former military, and we love the adrenaline.
We're coming from all across the country, but mostly DC and Boston areas. Proximity to a major airport is important. Being able to combine with another adventure is important too. I was thinking about paragliding, hang gliding, and/or mountain biking to round out the weekend, and if you have ideas about those too, I'll take them!
Plan your trip for mid-June. Go to the Upper Ark Valley. Rent a house in Buena Vista. Rent duckies, riverboards and required water apparel from CKS or a local outfitter. Paddle/swim Browns and Numbers. There will be some beat-downs, but assuming you are hardened individuals, you'll be just fine. Second to worst case, you loose some gear and some deposits.
Here's how getting on the river works: Read up on specific runs on American Whitewater and Riverbrain.com or, better yet, get a copy of Colorado Rivers and Creeks or Whitewater of the Southern Rockies. Know your put-in and take-out locations. Assuming one car, drive to putin and drop everything and everyone off. One person drives care to takeout and hitches a ride back (easy in the Ark Valley in June). Crew paddles to takeout, perhaps with some comedy along the way. Cold beer.
If you are hell-bent on paddling hardshells, then spend at least a few days in a pool before your trip getting down the basics of bracing and rolling. CKS also rents and sells hardshells.
Once you've lost enough gear to suit your fancy, there's great mountain biking, rock climbing and scenic mountain walks in the BV area.
Upper salt river in AZ. Overnight trip using IFKs or pack rafts. Skip Colorado and do something unique. You can rent pack raft equipment online. Be safe.
Upper salt river in AZ. Overnight trip using IFKs or pack rafts. Skip Colorado and do something unique. You can rent pack raft equipment online. Be safe.
I just read your post about your Man Up trip and I was wondering if I could be your guide. I live just outside of Telluride Colorado. A beautiful place as you well know.
I own Telluride CrossFit and Gymnastics and I have been a whitewater raft guide for the past 18 years both private and commercial . I have almost 15,000 river miles on more than 100 stretches of whitewater.
What about getting all of your buddies out here in early June for Upper Animas class V whitewater rafting, Moab mountain biking, Via Ferrata hike/climb, and many other options. I am sure I could easily provide an adventure each day for and your thrill seeking friends.
Paddling on the Animas. Book a private group course through 4 Corners Riversports. 300 miles of mtn bike trail. Fish the Animas or San Juan. Get together with Kling Mountain Guides and do a one day backcountry ski trip up towards Silverton or rock climbing in the desert. More restaurants per capita than SF. Warm weather. Airport 10 minutes from DT.
Lots of world-class athletes here - former Olympians and World Cup / Champions from the paddling, cycling climbing and running.
Hey ArlingtonVA, although I am partial to the Upper Animas and the Ark is really fine whitewater, if your crew wants to one-up the Gauley you might want to consider rafting on the Gore Canyon Section of the Colorado. This is normally an August trip as the water needs to come down for the outfitters to run rafts through this most difficult section of the Colorado River. What everyone said about the kayaking is pretty much true and no self respecting guide school is going to allow you to risk your life in their expensive gear down hard whitewater, period.
Whitewater Kayaking (were talking decked boats with sprayskirts here) takes days to master simple maneuver's like making the boat go straight and turning when you want it to turn. For a fun vacation filled with adrenaline this is not it. If you want to learn the basics and take a class go to 4CornersRiversports or RMOC or another ACA accredited school and take a three day class. Maybe you'll get hooked and have a lifelong sport like those of us on the 'Buzz'. There's plenty of places to paddle on the east coast_ and you have good whitewater right along the Potomac in D.C. and then you won't have to hire a guide service, just pack yer van and come out west. Cheers!
I thought I'd follow up my original post, and say thanks to the MountainBuzz community for your great ideas.
We Manned Up in Buena Vista CO and the crew at Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center took great care of us. Our group included 13 guys, ranging in ages from 24-64. We did duckies on the Arkansas with Tommy guiding us, then mountain biking with Shannon, and then climbed Mt Princeton on our third and final day. Everyone left with great memories. Brandon and his crew at RMOC are top notch. Great advice from people on this website. THANKS!
Planning has already started for MU2018. I'm thinking about VT, maybe some nordic skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling. Or an adventure race. Anyone heard of The Endurance Society?
My crew is back at it and we are looking to Man Up 2021 in Jackson WY. We had such a blast on the Arkansas in BV CO. Does anyone have recommendations for Jackson? My Google search doesn’t come up with any outfitters who do duckies there. Rafting is just too tame. I thought we might be able to spend a day learning to kayak. Perhaps you all might have other thoughts.
Also would appreciate any suggestions for mountain biking or other manly adventures.
You're in Dallas? Go up to Oklahoma city and do that whitewater park! No undercuts or sieves and it's a weekend trip. Then get the fact that it's really really really hard and learn? or go surfing in Bali or maybe that cool Everest base camp trail hike deal. That looks cool! Iam sure others have said it but DO NOT GO RUN A CLASS 5 RIVER IN A KAYAK YOUR FIRST TIME LOL!
So there’s this river called the Braldu, with some burly paddling, and there’s some good climbing nearby. But you’ll all need to bring an AK, because the locals can be a bit testy.
Jackson WY was a BLAST! Climbed the Grand Teton, fly fishing, mountain biking, duckies on the Snake River... and a few adult beverages.
I'm planning Man Up 2022 and I'd like to do a two-night kayak or canoe trip with my guys. Or maybe a pack-raft trip. Probably about 15 of us. I was thinking about Smokey Mountains or the Boundary Waters. Most of my guys are East Coasters and I'd like to stay east of the MS this year. We'd need to rent boats. Could take on guides, if necessary.
Would appreciate your ideas on great, picturesque places with lots of opportunities for hard work and memorable times.
Boundary waters or West Virginia for lots of whitewater. Timing could dictate east coast rivers.
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