Merry Christmas

It’s cold and snowy in #Sundre which feels right for Christmas. Otter Rafting’s present to you is a good river forecast for the 2013 rafting season.

It’s Christmas Eve and I want to wish all a Merry Christmas and for a very Happy New Year with plenty of high water.

Here is a link to the snow pack conditions at Skoki Lodge (the major head waters of the Red Deer River). It’s looking pretty good for early in the winter, even above last years level on this date. We have good things to look forward to in 2013 and a great rafting season seems to be one of them.

Meanwhile, all this snow means a good ski season too. So get out and enjoy the great outdoors and I’ll keep you posted for the river forecast. Merry Christmas everyone!!

Last weekend on the river

Yes, the rafting season has come to an end in #Alberta. Here are the final pictures of Coal Camp Ledge on the Red Deer River of the series that started in May.

The sequence follows the rivers cycle throughout the summer season. Every Sunday the photos were taken and they show how the river has changed in the previous week.

The photos start with ice on the river and is starting to melt. There is very little water flow. The photos end as there is no more melt happening at the headwaters of the Red Deer River. Essentially ice is forming up at the higher elevations and we have reverted back to very little water flow.

It would be interesting to be able to show how the river has changed though out the season, where there have been very dramatic changes to the river’s path but the inaccessibility of the river makes it difficult.

Here are the photos from last weekend and the previous weekend.

Board Again?

Some pictures off the board at Otter Rafting Adventures here in #Sundre, #Alberta. How to have FUN outside of #Calgary #Edmonton .

We have had the white boards up at Otter Rafting Adventures for several years and have received so many compliments on the operation. It is easy to be a part of something that is fun all the time.

Reading the comments on the board you can see that every day is a good day – not even if the weather is uncooperative.  Can you think of another way to be outside in the rain and not even care? Here are two boards of comments collected over the last few trips. The most rewarding part of offering the rafting tours is making sure that everyone has a wonderful day!

Still having FUN!

Rafting west of #Sundre was FUN again today. The girls from California enjoyed our #Albertan “summer” weather.

It is getting toward the end of the season and everyone had a lot of fun out playing on the river even in these lower water conditions. I know any day on the river is better than a day at work. To be on the river and at work send your resume to Otter Rafting Adventures.

Continuing with our monitoring of the river and how it changes here are the recent comparative photos at the final ledge. Things are slowly dropping as you can see and more rocks and larger gravel bars are seen. Sorry to see another season drawing to a close.

Summer is marching on

Here at Otter Rafting Adventures we are looking ahead to the last few weeks of being able to get out paddling. There was snow on the mountain peaks a few nights ago creating a fresh supply of water for when the days warm up next week.

More and more snow will start to accumulate on the peaks as the average temperatures of the day begins to drop. It is a favourite time for some to be able to get out on the river. Fun rapids, clear water, pure clean days and the hint of fall colors all give late season rafting an appeal.

Here are the pictures of the Coal Camp Ledge for the next two weekends in the sequence. The trend is very slowly down – compare these pictures to those of May 22. You can see in the close up of the ledge that the some of the rocks have been swept away in this years flood. The rocks are well defined in the recent picture, perhaps from this years high water being the highest in a few years and washing the fine particles away. Also, as the place is visited by tourists some rocks will disappear as they are collected or tossed into the river with the passing of time.

These changes are minor compared to the changes upstream. Large gravel bars are missing, new channels have opened up and others filled in with gravel. This is just the easiest place to get pictures. It is a brand new river this year.

Join us on Sunday

Wonderful weather in #Alberta this weekend, come #Rafting near #Sundre! #Olds #Reddeer #Calgary #FunAb #Edmonton #family #friends.

There are a few weeks of summer left it seems. In Sundre the temperature hit +2 degrees over night. You wouldn’t have to gain much elevation for freezing to occur. And that is what we depend upon to supply us for the water in the Red Deer River.

The river has become clear as the water is being supplied by the seepage of ground water and some runoff and melt. It gets plenty of filtering as it moves though the river bed, but not enough to stop some micro organisms such as Giardia.

Once the river has gone clear it is interesting to look through the water to see the features that cause the rapids in the river. The further from the surface the feature is the further downstream it’s effects are observed. This is a good study in perturbations and laminar flow.

This doesn’t necessarily hold true for earlier in the season. Early in the season the muddy waters causes the waves to change shape when there is variety of particle sizes suspended in the water and the density of the water changes. If you go back through the photos you should be able to see this difference.

Yes, lots happens in a flowing river but lets just say it’s fun to go white water rafting with family and friends and only consider that. It is a different experience every time that you are on the river.

Following are the river pictures  taken last weekend and the pictures from the previous weekend for comparison. Again subtle changes can be seen.

Another Rodeo Weekend

A great day of rafting west of #Sundre #Ab. Sunny day on the #RedDeerRiver. #Fun. Otter Rafting Adventures’ location on Hwy22 makes it the most convenient location for the start of your rafting trip.

With the rodeo here in Sundre the place should be full of people looking for a wild ride. Whether it be at the rodeo or on the river you can find one in this town this weekend. Today’s group, a corporate outing, had an exhilarating day and are already talking about next year’s trip for the staff.

The photos of last weekend comparing the river to the previous weekend show the ever slow dropping of the water level. Get out now while there is still good water to give you an exciting ride.

August is here

The river still offers good fun #rafting west of #Sundre. #Alberta is lucky to have a high quality river like the #RedDeerRiver.

This is the weekly posting of comparison of the water levels from one week to the next. Here is last weekends pictures compared to the previous weekends pictures. Small changes are happening. The river is clearing up and warming up (warm for this river anyway) adding to the pure outdoor experience one expects on a river trip.

It seems the talk on the oil spill that happened down stream of us has died away as the clean up continues and people realize it has nothing to do with Sundre. We are so lucky to have a clean river where we are. Here at Otter Rafting Adventures a pure, pristine mountain river adds to the experience.

Here are the photos for comparison. More of the ledge is being revealed every week. As you can see the Red Deer River is not in flood. A call came in today wondering about the safety of the river and was it high water still. The power of the media and telling only part of the story in their limited sound bites.

White Board Comments

Many people have been out on the river and upon returning couldn’t resist leaving a comment. I’m sure several of them will be back rafting again !

Plenty of water in them there hills

Another week has come and gone . Here are the pictures of last weekend and the previous weekend. Again a small drop. The river flow isn’t dropping like in an average year. Still lots of good water for paddling on.

I’m late in getting this post out. Too many river trips this week. The weather is fantastic, the water levels are fun to play with and had several good crews out during the week.

The weather forecast looks sunny. Everyone will have a fabulous day tomorrow too.

Here are the pictures so you can compare the two and see the general trends.

An Amazing Weekend

#Rafting on the #RedDeerRiver , west of #Sundre, offered a perfect storm of factors to make it the most memorable days of this summer for several rafters. Great weather, water levels that are optimum for the Red Deer River and guests that were there for stag, stagettes, family reunions, working on the bucket list as well as Grandma – her 75th Birthday and first guest to jump off the jumping rock. A lady full of life that will inspire her whole family.

The water levels are hanging in there and revealing new sets of rapids after this spring’s run off. For those who have been rafting before it is a whole new river, even for the guides. It keeps them on their toes.

In keeping with the reporting on the Red Deer River, this weeks photos compared to last week show a very small rise with more silt in the water due to rainfall. Keep it raining in the mountains and this river will be rocking all summer.

We are at the half way mark for the rafting season. Get out and enjoy the river now with your friends and make some summer memories.

Board Comments

Another day of rafting west of #Sundre on the #RedDeerRiver. GREAT DAY!! A perfect day to be rafting in sunny #Alberta.

Everyone came in excited and suntanned after their day on the river. Some people are so lucky that they know when to pick a day off with Otter Rafting Adventures.

After the trip was done we checked out the comments left behind on the white boards. We’ll share them with you. 

Rafting near Sundre

#Sundre in the news! All of #Alberta now knows that white water rafting is happening on the #RedDeerRiver thanks to CTV. Being interviewed about Sundre’s economy has increased the awareness that rafting is available here in Alberta. You do not have to go to B.C. for white water.

This weekend marks the half way point of the average white water rafting season for Otter Rafting Adventures. You can see from the pictures that we have plenty of water and the levels have hardly changed lately.

We have been having many rafting trips in the last few days. Stags, birthday parties, corporate outings and various clubs having been getting away from the heat and cooling off in the river. Even clubs from Ontario. It’s been hot lately – but not the kind of hot that Ontario gets.

Here are some more comparative pictures of the river from last weekend and the previous weekend. The water is clearing up as the amount of sediment is easing. This is one of the nicest times for rafting – the  long days of summer, the heat of a summer day, the excitement of a trip down the river, clean sparkling water that is so refreshing to swim in.

It makes you think of being a kid again. Book your trip now – you can be!

Finally, Summer is here

Summer in #Sundre. For #rafting in #Alberta you can’t beat the #adventure of the #RedDeerRiver. There is plenty of water in the river and you are going to have the best day of your summer. Looking at the weather forecast for Sundre you can’t help but be tempted to get out on the river.

Here are more pictures of the Red Deer River showing you the water levels. Compare the photos of the river last weekend with the previous weekend and you can see the trends. Looking closely at the rapid you can see the waves are getting larger as the river drops. We have been running for several weeks now so we have plenty of experience with the river and it’s rapids.

You can see the water levels have returned to a safe level for rafting in this area. And our guides have plenty of safety training and experience on this river - you can be confident in a day of safe fun and action.

Get out and enjoy a hot summer day. You Otter be Rafting!

Rafting in Alberta

Rafting in #Alberta is at it’s peak in Adventure. West of #Sundre the #RedDeerRiver has settled down from the spring melt rush. We have been operating trips the last few weeks and everyone is having a very good ride. Some have even come out twice!

With the high water warnings in place, both for Alberta and British Columbia, people are wondering about the safety of the Red Deer River.

Since we are rafting in the foothills west of Sundre, this is the only part of the Red Deer River I know. Please heed the warnings about being near any of the rivers elsewhere in this large province.

You can see the comparative pictures, in this blog, over the last few months of the Red Deer River at Coal Camp Ledge. This is the final ledge of the river’s class#3 section of the  upper reaches.

Three weeks ago the melt waters were passing through this section of the river and the river was quite high and dangerous. Below are pictures from June 28 of the same ledge. The river has dropped and the high water volumes have moved east and out into Alberta’s major cities and on into the prairies. This leaves us back to average spring flow rates for the section of the river we are rafting on.

So join us rafting. We can offer you an amazing, safe, river trip that you will thoroughly enjoy and maybe want to come back the next day too!

A weekend of bucking and hanging on

It was the rodeo weekend here in #Sundre. People came from all over #Alberta. On the river there were some wild rides that were lasting more than 8 seconds.

It has been an incredible weekend of white water rafting on the Red Deer River west of Sundre. With all the rain lately the river has risen again. Not too high like a few weeks ago but at a level just below the point where we cut off our trips. Some people got a rafting trip they will never forget.

Few people get lucky enough to catch the water at it’s highest that is runnable. It’s like going skiing and catching the 6 feet of powder. You probably had to travel through some adverse weather but it was exactly that that created the conditions. Don’t let the weather keep you away. You are going to get anyway.

Here is last weeks pictures of the river compared to the previous weekends pictures. It’s come up again but not the raging torrent it had been.

Rafter’s comments

Many people come to #Sundre from Central #Alberta knowing that this is the closest #rafting business to them. Here is a collection of comments off the white boards of what our customers think about Otter Rafting Adventures. So far our trips have covered family outings, stags, girl guides and cooperate team building groups to name a few. Looks like we are making sure everyone is having a good time

Who says a bus ride is boring?

The rapids on the #Reddeerriver are always a great ride. The river west of #sundre offers a full days worth of fun and action.

The bus ride can be quite a lot of fun too. And a group of enthusiastic camp counsellors know how to do just that!

Queen Rules!

Queen Rules!

Rafting on the Red Deer River

It was another great weekend of #rafting near #Sundre. The water is still high – too much FUN. The river is down a bit but some monster waves are being revealed. New rapids have been created everywhere due to the high water a week ago. Get out and enjoy this river while the water is up.

Here is this weeks comparative pictures. June 10 on the left and June 17 on the right. The rapids have gotten larger as the water level drops. You can see the change in the left picture. Sometimes that’s how it works.

The weekend was busy with rafters. There was lots of adventure and excitement on the river. It is good to see so many people having FUN.

River drops temporarily

The high water surge has passed on and is long gone past #Sundre out into the rest of #Alberta. There is plenty of snow in the mountains that is being saved for later. It could come out as a quick flush or be released over the summer.

Here are pictures comparing June 8, a high water day, to June 10 after the river dropped. Fresh debris has been left behind on the shores and new channels carved. The high water has created a new river again. More rapids have been carved out of the river bed on the section of the river we are rafting. We’re a asked “Don’t you get tired of running the same river?”. Well you don’t. The guides are quite excited to explore this new river.

Great Rafting west of #Sundre

Otter Rafting runs whitewater #rafting tours on the Red Deer River, upstream from #Sundre. We are unaffected by the oil spill. Join in the fun!

Red Deer River–High Water

On June 8 after the clouds had parted we headed out to see what the river looked like. It was all chocolate milk  and some large rollers. These are a result of, and therefore downstream of, the frowning hole. These waves are larger than they look!

A High Water Week

The first taste of high water arrived June 7. We were expecting rain but who knew that the rain would be so heavy. And the water arrived in the statistical range of June 7 to June 11th. I didn’t expect it looking at the trends in the two prior weeks but the heavy rain changed the trend. If you are making plans for an outing and it involves the river you have to be ready for what the extreme case is. At Otter Rafting Adventures we are always watching the river for flow rates and rate of change. And another variable – the weather. This was quite interesting to watch as it unfolded during the week.

I have taken two photos of the river for comparison on June 3 and June 8. On June 8th, the river is just past it’s crest and debris has started to be dropped on the edge of the river. The photos on the left are from June 3 compared against June 8 on the right – big changes.

The volume of water has completely overpowered the rapids created by the rock ledge and created a recirculating wave that disrupts the flow. There are no neat wave trains behind this to ride. In a raft this would be a very fast , very dangerous, scary ride with little control. With the water so high it would be difficult to get to shore and land because of the trees at the waters edge that are flooded and the speed you are moving downstream. Not a good place to be. With the high water comes the floating hazards that you can see as well.

The chocolate milk color indicated the volume of materials being pushed downstream by the power of the water. There will be a lot of erosion of banks after this current as well as new gravel bars created and old ones washed away. 

First weekend in June

It has been a weekend on the river again. The snow in the mountains is very slow in melting this year. Usually the river is higher than this on this date. Statistically, the highest flow rates on the Red Deer River are between June 7 to June 11. That is very hard to imagine happening at this time this year at the rate the river is changing now. Still, people are having a good time out on their rafting trip.

Here are some photos comparing the last two weekends. You can see a small change. What is interesting is that as the river flow rate dropped you can see how the standing wave train after the ledge changes shape. The wave has increased in height but shortened up compared to the longer, lower wave at the higher volume. So, sometimes the rapids are rougher as the water volumes are lower like at the beginning and later in the season.

The plants are greening up as the season progresses but the river is not acting like we hope. The forecast for the week is mild with rain. Hopefully that brings it up. Maybe some more interesting photos then! As well, the guides are chomping at the bit for some big water – they know what is coming!

One Weekend for the Guys

This last weekend was dominated by guys bonding before the loss of one of their best buds to holy matrimony. Yes – Stags! 
We  often get guys and gals out for stag and stagette rafting trips. They are always a lot of fun and the star of the show ends up realizing that they are truly loved by their pals. Whether it be thrown in the river a multitude of times, wearing a dress (not their usual attire for most but some you might wonder) or wearing the tie dye panties, what better way to send someone off to marital bliss.

I’ve also included some river pictures comparing the last weekend to the previous weekend. The river is up a bit but nothing compared to what is coming. For completeness sake I’ve included these pictures since there is so little change.

The river has been running at this level for a while so it has gone clear. A standing wave is forming with this little bit of extra water. Sorry, the pictures are not exciting but we want to be able to have something to compare against once it really starts to flow.
Here is a photo from the past,  May 29,2009 to compare these pictures to.

There should be some interesting pictures coming up with the good weather we are having this week.

The weekend on the River

It has been a busy weekend here with the guides out practicing their safety, river and paddling skills. The weather was pretty good for a May long weekend with hardly another soul on the river. It makes you feel like you own it.

Judging by the happy faces of our guides, everyone had a great day back on the water. Some brave souls even had to test the water to see if it was cold. A leap from jumping rock was quite convincing and insightful.

I’ve again included some comparative pictures of Coal Camp Ledge to give you an idea of how the river is coming alive with the onset of spring in the last week. On the right is this weeks pictures and on the left is from a week ago. We’ve had a few sunny warm days around the Otter Rafting Centre that have been quite pleasant for spring. But it isn’t warming up very fast at the higher elevations where the headwaters of the Red Deer River are. The river has come up very little but you can see the beginning of a wave train forming after the rapid. 

For another comparison, here is the same ledge from May 24/2009

You can see the river has washed away a gravel bar in the lower left. The water level in the river is at the same level for this date as other years. No early or late spring according to the river. The forecast is for a great year of paddling, especially with higher than average snows in the mountains. Expect high water one third of the way through June. This will be a season of rafting not to be missed.