It's Time for Whitewater Class

Published: May 2, 2004

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It’s Time for Whitewater Class
By Stephanie Gregory

Whitewater rafting can be one of the best ways for families to spend quality time together–the kids can’t wander farther than the confines of the raft’s rubber rim and there’s plenty of time to joke and laugh between the spray. But be sure to pick your family’s appropriate whitewater from Class I to Class V or laughter may quickly turn to tears–or terror.

CLASS	WHAT IT IS	APPROPRIATE AGE	SCREAM FACTOR	SAMPLE RIVER	OUTFITTER
I	Calm, moving water with occasional riffles	5	Giggles	Upper Colorado	Wilderness Aware Rafting, 800-462-7238; 719-395-2112
II	Little bursts of bouncing rapids in clear, wide channels between long stretches of calm	5-7	Squeals of delight	Lower Klamath (class II and III)	Whitewater Voyages, 800-488-7238
III	Irregular waves through narrower channels where maneuvering around rocks is required	7-12	Five out of ten on the scream scale; tonsils may be visible at times	Green River, Utah	Action Whitewater ��ԹϺ��s, 800-453-1482; 801-375-4111
IV	Rapids are intense, loud, and long, with complex, rocky obstacles in the way	12 and older	Level eight on the scream scale; mouth begins to hurt from extended periods of screaming	Hell’s Canyon Gorge, Snake River	O.A.R.S., 800-346-6277
V	Rapids are long, loud, narrow, and violent, following one after the other without interruption	16 and older	Level ten on the scream scale; screams turn to terrifying animal noises	Upper Gauley, West Virginia	Class VI, 800-252-7784

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It’s Time for Whitewater Class

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