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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Happy New Year

3:53 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

The rafting season for 2011 should be GREAT. Look at all that snow out there. Some day it will warm up and melt the snow and we can get out and play on our rivers again.

To make sure you can get out and enjoy the river have a happy and safe New Year. Let’s make it the best year ever!

Great Day on the River

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

10 days until Christmas

11:04 AM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

On a cold day like today rafting is very far from anyone's mind. But as a last minute Christmas gift, a Gift Certificate for a rafting trip can’t be beat. We can still mail it to you in time for the big day.

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Also, we have plenty of pieces of pottery to choose from if you wish to give a unique gift. Check out Otter Pottery for a large selection.

Group Session

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Tis the Season

4:50 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

Maybe not for rafting, but are you looking for a gift certificates for a one day rafting trip?  Our certificates are available until Christmas for 10% off. That’s $117.18 including gst.

What about something original or a unique gift for this Christmas? Check out the pottery that has been made this fall. Go to The Otter Store and view these stunning creations. 

Call 1-800-661-7379 to purchase your certificate or to order a piece of pottery.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

THANK YOU

12:43 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

poppy

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Last Great Day of Summer!

11:52 AM, Posted by aims, No Comment

After rafting season was over we had a lot of rain which brought our river up to high water again! The downside of it all was that high water occurred mid-week.

Not to be deterred – Sam and I went up river to Sbend and found ourselves all alone out on the river. The temperature was 26C ….the warmest it had been all summer! The trees were turning colour  and the smell of the Pine and Spruce trees gave me such peace.

I was driving shuttle and chasing Sam’s dogs while he had one last run of the year.

What an amazing day. One that will stay in my mind for a long time!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Final Board Postings for 2010

9:55 AM, Posted by Unknown, One Comment

The rafting season is over for 2010. I would like to thank all our guests who came out rafting with us for an incredible year. It rained a lot but it kept the river up into September. And wouldn’t you know it, late September brought high water levels comparable to those in June. Also, thanks to all the staff who helped out at Otter Rafting to make it such a great place to work. Thanks to Aimee, Sam, Brayden, Piers, Katryna, Byron, Jeremiah and Paul. I’m already looking forward to working with you next season.

Here are the final comments from the white boards of the year – sorry for the quality but it’s the only shots I took.

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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Nearing the end of the Season

11:51 AM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

We are in the last few weeks of the 2010 season. The water levels have dropped to what is to be expected for the date. We have some more white board comments that our guests want to share.

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Friday, August 13, 2010

Fun no matter what the weather.

7:53 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

Our midweek trips are always smaller and more personal. If you don’t like to travel with the herd and enjoy the outdoors more  book a midweek trip.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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The weather forecast is great for the next week – come out and have some fun!

Friday, August 6, 2010

Latest Board Comments

4:18 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

A quick check in of the boards to see what people are saying.OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Just a Dip

5:19 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

It can be difficult to know when to be at the right place at the right time – but if you know where the right place is, and you know when the people will be there, you can get some great video. 

Thursday, July 29, 2010

All a-Board!

11:16 AM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

Yes – people are having a great time on the river – and the weather only helps. Check out these comments.

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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Board Again?

5:43 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

The comments from the board have highlighted the importance of staff. Seems like we have a crew that are fun and that people like to be around. Here are some comments from the board.

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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Postings from members of The Board

1:18 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

We’ve accumulated a few more comments from guests on the white boards. Some relevant – some not. But I think you get the message that everyone has a great day when they come rafting with us, no matter the weather!

You have better book now to get in on the action before the summer is gone!OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

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Friday, July 9, 2010

And Now for Something Completely Different

3:18 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

I’ve been asked, How many years have you been operating Otter Rafting Adventures? They always give me this quizzical look when I say, For 30 years. I often ask back, Why should I quit? I thoroughly enjoy it.

With so many variables to the way a trip runs, each trip is different in some way.

The people are always different. Yes , we have lot’s of repeat guests but there are always new faces that join in. And every one brings some different quality to the group.

For the river, there is a lot of variability there as well. It is always changing. Usually the river is cold but there are the rare days it can warm up by 4 degrees! It doesn’t hurt as much if you fall in.

The water level cycles up and down throughout the day as the melt rate changes in the mountains. There is usually less melt at night. With this variation you have features , such as waves, rapids and play spots, that appear and disappear. Any rainfall in the watershed will also make a contribution.

As the season progresses you can see the flowering of the wildflowers at ever increasing altitudes. They seem to move up into the hills giving their display of Paintbrush, wild Tiger Lily's, Mountain Blue Belles, Daisies and countless other species.

We are always finding different fossils. We’ve learned to keep an eye on the ground when scouting the rapids or playing at the jumping rock.

Lastly, there is your guide. Each guide has a different style of running the rapids – intentionally or not! Here is an example of Brayden and Piers at the Big Rock rapid. The different angle of the raft indicates where they are with respect to the rock.

Big Rock Brayden
Big Rock Piers

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Have enough FUN today?

6:17 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

We had some rafts out on the river this weekend. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen people who have had so much fun! And the pictures that were taken are proof of it. Book now for your rafting trip and join in on all the action.Too much FUN Wish you were me

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Happy Canada Day

7:30 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

How old is Canada? She’s 143 years old. Whenever I look around me it seems that she’s much younger than that and working in the outdoors she looks timeless. So get out and celebrate the day and be thankful for how lucky were are to live in this country.

Here’s how some people got out to celebrate Canada Day.

Canada Day Splash

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

What more can I Say

10:32 AM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

It was a busy weekend on the river. The water is high, the sun was out – what more could you want for a day of white water rafting. And with good conditions come happy people. Check out the comments on our white boards.

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Well – most comments are about a fabulous day rafting!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Safety First

1:16 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

We are always trying to improve the rafting experience for our guests, and to do that we have upgraded some of our equipment. And what do you purchase first? Safety equipment. Our new lifejackets are commercially and white water rated, Coast Guard approved and now Canadian Department of Transport Approved. The new design gives one more mobility and feel less restrictive – a step up in comfort as far as lifejackets go.

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Rafting Diva’s – Again!

4:45 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

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The rafting Diva’s from Wetaskiwin were down rafting again this last weekend. They always have a great time in spite of the weather and over the years they have seen weather in all forms. And this day was no different. We had sunny skies to raging downpours. Couldn’t wash the smiles off their faces though!

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Friday, June 18, 2010

Wild Horses

3:46 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

This spring, while riding The Bus out to raft the river, we saw a lot of evidence on the road that wild horses were about. There were several stud piles on the road – some quite large - evidence that a herd was well established in that area. This is the way for the male to mark his territory. Back when we were doing our raft guide training, on our ride to the river in the shuttle bus, we saw several herds of wild horses. They were quite easy to spot against a fresh snow fall (now THAT was a cold day on the river in late May). There were several foals in amongst them as well as the agitated stallion.

The following day while we were on the shuttle bus, we trapped a herd along the road and hemmed in by a fence – well not for long anyway! The stallion very quickly drove the mares back the way they had come while he went through the fence making his get away. These are very powerful animals and determined when cornered.

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Now, it is mid-June. With all the rain lately, as well as for this Father’s Day weekend, the river will offer a very exciting day of rafting. As a bonus, the sun will be out too. We still have space available for those last minute types!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Take A Ride on The Fun Side

5:09 PM, Posted by aims, No Comment

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

It’s HIGH WATER Time!

10:00 AM, Posted by aims, No Comment

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HIGH WATER has arrived!!

Thanks to all the rain and spring snowstorms we’ve had this year, the Upper Red Deer River is bursting its banks and furiously rushing on to Red Deer.

High water is what we dream about all winter long. It’s what we ask for at Christmas. When the temperatures rise and the June rains begin – we know that it’s time…

For those people who live for that adrenaline rush that only high water can bring NOW is the time to get out on the river!

Every drop of rain brings the river up higher and higher and makes the smile on our faces wider and wider. Besides! What can be more fun when it’s raining outside than going white water rafting? You’re going to be wet anyway!

We still have some room for this upcoming weekend so that you can get in on this insurmountable thrill! It’s fast – it’s wild – it’s wet and it is definitely a huge challenge. One that will have your blood pumping and the squeals & screams echoing as you battle the river.

If you can’t make it for the weekend there’s a bit of June left, but once the high water goes it likely won’t visit us again until next year… So call and book now to reserve your seat on one of nature’s wildest, wettest and most thrilling rides!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

A Strip of Surfing For You

7:01 PM, Posted by aims, No Comment

The Upper Red Deer River in Alberta has a section that is called ‘The S Bend’ where the river has eroded in a definite ‘S’ curve.

This video gives you an elongated view of going through the rapids in the ‘S’ and then the raft is turned upriver and they ‘surf’ the last rapid in the bend a couple of times.

For those of you who would rather watch people rafting then challenge the river themselves – the ‘S’ Bend is located approximately half-way along the length of river we raft and is where we offer our hot buffet riverside lunch. It is a beautiful place to relax beside a roaring fire while getting something hot into you and warming up.

The smell of the trees and the peaceful sound of the rapids in the background is occasionally interrupted with screams (of delight) as other rafters and kayakers go through the bend, giving you an idea of what is coming up soon after you down that last brownie.

Not all companies who run the Upper Red Deer River like to surf the rapids or even play as much as we do. That’s why we’re called ‘Otter Rafting’. Otters love to play in the river and our guides are just the same. Either that or we’re all waterlogged!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Upper Red Deer River Surfing All Stars!

3:11 PM, Posted by aims, No Comment

Friday, June 11, 2010

White Board Comments

9:08 AM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

We would like to thank those who left us a parting comment on the boards about their day rafting with Otter Rafting Adventures.

June 5 was a cool day. In fact, for several days before this it hadn’t been very warm and the water levels were quite low. The way to offset this was to play in many of the features created by the water. We got in some incredible surfing at the S-Bends, something you can’t do at higher water levels. There were many takers at jumping rock – yes the water is cold but you tell people there is a hot springs feeding in from the bottom of the rock! More people get in on the fun that way.

Here’s what our guests had to say;

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Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Weekend will be Sunny

2:35 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

Well, today it’s still raining. The water levels are rising and the weather forecast couldn’t look any better for the weekend. Check out the weather forecast for Sundre!

Bring on the sunny warm temperatures!

Sam Runs S-Bend4

And to show you what the river is doing, check out the numbers for the river flow rate!. Scroll to the bottom and notice how the trend of the readings is up!

This data shows how much water is flowing in the Red Deer River up in the foothills. When you are on our Rafting Day trip and we’re nearing the end of our day on the river, we actually float under the cable associated with this river monitoring station.

In the day to day operation of Otter Rafting Adventures we monitor both these sites often. It gives us the information on what to expect for a day on the river and to be prepared for any changes that can happen rapidly when you are so close to the mountains. With these tools we can offer a better level of comfort and service on our trips.

We still have room on this weekend’s rafting trip. Call in and reserve your seat now!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Raining and Rafting

5:17 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

Today it’s raining. That is a very good thing. At higher elevations this is going to be snow feeding our rivers for the summer. And it isn’t the usual rain either.

In Alberta, rain comes from the North-west typically in cells. As we are located on the leeward side of the Rockies most of our moisture comes as leftovers. Weather systems drop the majority of their precipitation on the western slopes as they rise up and over the heights of the Rocky Mountains usually leaving us with quite dry air here in the parkland and out onto the prairies. (Thus the name of the town Airdrie, located a little north of Calgary).

The rain today is from a system which has come up from Montana and is swirling counter-clockwise. It is forcing itself to the west so that it is the eastern slopes of the Rockies which are getting the rainfall this time. As the Red Deer River drains these slopes I think we are in for a wild ride while rafting this weekend. To top it off, this system will have moved on in a day and we'll be back to sunny sky’s for the weekend as predicted.

It’s not too late! If you want in on the FUN, give me a call and make your reservation.

Also, Father’s Day is coming – can you think of a more perfect gift than a day white water rafting? We have gift certificates available that will show Dad how special he is.

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Monday, June 7, 2010

The River is Rising

3:37 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

When you look west we can see plenty of snow on those mountains. This is the result of those late season snow storms that everyone hated.

For the coming week the weather forecast is for rain everyday. Combine that with the snow in the mountains and the river level is going to rise. And with the forecast being sunny for both Saturday and Sunday, this looks like it will be a very good time to get out and challenge the river. Already the river is starting to rise – it’s anyone’s guess what it will be like when this weekend arrives.P6050063

A picture from last weekends trip. Thanks for coming guys!!

Now is the time to call in and reserve your rafting trip so you don’t miss the fun. We have plenty of seats available and the guides are hoping to show you how much fun the river can be.

Remember – You Otter be Rafting !

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Pre-season raft training

10:13 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

We have been out on the river learning and practicing our raft manoeuvring skills. When there isn't a lot of water in the river you don't have many options on where you can go. You can pick a line and a hidden rock can quickly turn your raft off the chosen path. Here's a bit of fun during a training run.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Guide Training with doubled wetsuit booties!

4:13 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

Everyone loves to go out on the river on a nice warm day with the sun shining and everyone having a fantastic time. Once summer arrives this is sure to happen, but lately the guide training sessions have been quite cool to say the least. Although the guides have had plenty of fun getting back together and getting out on the water again the rain, snow and cold has certainly tested the limit on keeping warm in a wetsuit. It’s hard to keep your feet warm as the snow blankets the bottom of the raft. Still, we have had several days on the river brushing up on paddling skills and river reading.

Guides training day

Meet Sam, Brayden, Peirs, Katryna and Greg

Katryna loves cold water

That cold water can make anyone cringe.

Pep Talk

A quick pep talk – no teeth chattering allowed!

With the weather forecast improving this coming week the river will rise for sure. Now is the time to plan ahead and book your rafting trip .

Sunday, May 16, 2010

On the River

7:47 PM, Posted by Unknown, No Comment

We were out paddling today on the Red Deer River. It is early in the season and we should be on the river rafting with guests within two weeks. Still, it was a gorgeous day and we just had to get out; so Sam and I found some friends and went kayaking through the town of Sundre. This section of the river is very tame but quite dangerous because of all the sweepers. Makes me look forward to the safer Upper Red Deer River, all the excitement of it’s rapids and white water that is weeks away.

Book your trip now to catch the wild water of June.

Sam and friends