River Running Trip Etiquette
What to Expect on a Club Trip
Group trips are a great way to experience new rivers in comfort and safety with experienced boaters, meet new friends, and share our common passion for rivers. However, putting together a group of people who don't know one another and may have different expectations can create challenges as well. Trip participants need to be aware that while many of our trip leaders are very experienced boaters, they are not professional guides. They put substantial time, effort, and sometimes money into creating a river running experience for us to enjoy, and their only reward is getting to share it with like-minded people. Please remember this and treat them with respect and courtesy. With that in mind, here are a few tips that will make you a welcome addition to any trip.
- Be on time. Show up at the designated time and location. If you need to inflate your boat or assemble gear, show up early so that you are ready when everyone else is. Don't be afraid to ask for help carrying your boat or whatever...
- Read all the information the trip leader sends you. This will help you determine if you have the requisite skills and equipment for this particular trip.
- Any questions about the trip should be addressed to the trip leader, preferably in advance of the trip. While other people may have some knowledge about the trip, they will not know the specific details or plans, and it just causes anxeity. Some river runners tend to exergrate and make you think it is much worse than it really is.
- Be flexible. Sometimes the best laid plans fall apart. Rivers rise and fall, weather turns nasty, the composition of the group makes a certain run inadvisable, or any one of a number of other factors can cause a trip to be changed or canceled at the last minute.
- Honestly assess your abilities. If this is a class IV trip, do you have class IV skills? While everyone is ultimately responsible for their own safety, boaters keep an eye out for their boaters, and your nasty swim or wrecked boat could cause inadvertent problems for other trip members. If you are unsure if you are up to the particular run, ask the trip leader. You can always portage a rapid you don't want to boat and that's acceptable. Depending on the group skills and the trip leader's comfort level with your skills, you may be able to go, but if they say "no", the answer is "no". There will always be another opportunity once you have demonstrated your skills.
- Be a contributing member. Club trips require group participation. Remember the trip leader is not here to serve you but just to help facilitate the activity. You may be asked to help drive the shuttle, provide group equipment, help cook or wash dishes, put up a rain/shade tarp, etc. This is all part of river running, and you will probably find that camp chores shared with friends is fun.
- Be prepared to pay your own way. There are sometimes fees for campsites, extra vehicles, put-ins or take-outs, permits, or gas for shuttle drivers. Contribute your fair share.
- If you would like to do something that isn't on the trip itinerary, clear it with the trip leader first. Requests like, "I'd really like to stop and swim", or "Can I go first so I can video tape or take pictures at the nest rapid?" can sometimes be accommodated, but ask the trip leader first.
- Stick with the group. When we are on the river we have lead and sweep boats. The rule is: "don't get in front of the lead boat, don't get behind the sweep boat, and if you can't see the boat behind you, slow down." This is a safety issue. This keeps the group together in case of emergencies, so that we are better able to respond to problems as a group.
- Respect the parameters the trip leaders set for the trip. There may be limits set on trip size, participation, alcohol or substance use, or required safety equipment. Remember that the trip leaders have a lot of responsibility, and their primary concern is your safety. What may seem like over-regulation to you, is often just their attempt to make sure everyone makes it home in one piece.
- And most importantly, HAVE FUN! That is, after all, what we are all here for…