Never seen a grab line running through the center of a paddle boat before. Seems like an entrapment hazard. Can anyone more knowledgeable than me comment on this?
This is the first time we've seen this in our experience too! We guessed they added it because of the level 4 rapids, but we're not entirely sure. Ive seen our rafts without it in worse rapids too.
The Kicking Horse is a glacial river, one of the coldest in the province. That water was ice two days before so if you fall out of the raft you are likely to die of hypothermia in 2 minutes. The grab line is there to prevent that since the likelihood of a rafter falling out is much higher than a raft flip. Raft flips were more common on the lower Kicking Horse canyon which is more steep, more continuous, and more difficult but that section of river is no longer accessible (though it was and still is absolutely awesome!).
@@kayak2hell If the risk of hypothermia is that great, it seems clients should be provided dry suits rather than relying on their ability to hook a grab line? This just partially replaces the risk of hypothermia with the risk of entrapment. I did a guided paddle trip on six-mile creek (also glacially fed) in Alaska last summer, and they gave everyone a dry suit.
They do give you wet suits. And at the time we went they let us go in the water towards the end. I was in there for 10 seconds but i saw people in for longer. I show in the end of the video myself in the water
@@jk2sweetgc Dry suits are expensive and useless if torn. Considering they are used very frequently by people who are new to paddling, wet suits are better as rentals for rafters in this case. I've rafted the Kicking Horse 3 times, kayaked it over 30 times, and can attest that the raft companies and guides operating on the Kicking Horse are absolutely top notch in skill and experience. They prioritize the safety of their customers above all.
Would you take on these Class 4 rapids?
Had sooo much fun!!!
How long is this trip? Looks amazing!
The experience is listed as 4 hours, but you actually spend just about 2 hours on the water
did this exact rafting trip about a year ago too! honestly, after dabbling in white water kayaking a bit, rafting is soooo damn boring in comparison.
Def want to try white water kayaking! How difficult is it to run in to trouble though lol?
Agreed, but rafting is a better team building experience.
Never seen a grab line running through the center of a paddle boat before. Seems like an entrapment hazard. Can anyone more knowledgeable than me comment on this?
This is the first time we've seen this in our experience too! We guessed they added it because of the level 4 rapids, but we're not entirely sure. Ive seen our rafts without it in worse rapids too.
The Kicking Horse is a glacial river, one of the coldest in the province. That water was ice two days before so if you fall out of the raft you are likely to die of hypothermia in 2 minutes. The grab line is there to prevent that since the likelihood of a rafter falling out is much higher than a raft flip. Raft flips were more common on the lower Kicking Horse canyon which is more steep, more continuous, and more difficult but that section of river is no longer accessible (though it was and still is absolutely awesome!).
@@kayak2hell If the risk of hypothermia is that great, it seems clients should be provided dry suits rather than relying on their ability to hook a grab line? This just partially replaces the risk of hypothermia with the risk of entrapment. I did a guided paddle trip on six-mile creek (also glacially fed) in Alaska last summer, and they gave everyone a dry suit.
They do give you wet suits. And at the time we went they let us go in the water towards the end. I was in there for 10 seconds but i saw people in for longer. I show in the end of the video myself in the water
@@jk2sweetgc Dry suits are expensive and useless if torn. Considering they are used very frequently by people who are new to paddling, wet suits are better as rentals for rafters in this case. I've rafted the Kicking Horse 3 times, kayaked it over 30 times, and can attest that the raft companies and guides operating on the Kicking Horse are absolutely top notch in skill and experience. They prioritize the safety of their customers above all.