Rafting the Salt River outside of Globe

It’s a good sign when a river gets a stellar reputation from the River Guides who ply their trade by working white water adventures. Even Guides who have been around for a decade or more and worked rivers from the Salmon in California to the Black in New York…love The Salt River! Located right in our own back yard, the Salt is Arizona’s only commercially run class II,III and IV whitewater raft trip in the Sonoran desert.

The River cuts through the a Canyon just 30 miles north of Globe which has been dubbed by some a “mini” Grand Canyon. It showcases an absolute wonder of geological history dating back millions of years and offers breathtaking views of  Canyon walls with deep cuts rising over 2000 ft above the river bed.

Simon Saichek, a guide for Salt River Rafting LLC, has been on 27 rivers, including  Costa Rica. In fact, it was while he was in Costa Rica he was told about the Salt from a fellow guide and found his way here for the 2009 season. According to Saichek the Salt is the one of the hottest spots to work. It’s a combination of things that draws river guides from all over the country. The Canyon itself is spectacular. The River is challenging and the camaraderie of those working the river great. As Saichek says, “There are so many people who come here from all over you can make some great connections.”

For the rest of us, it is just pure adventure! The number of people making the trip each season with commercial outfitters is estimated between 2200-2800 per Outfitter, and that does not  begin to track the number of private boaters and kayakers who “do their own thing.” Last season I made the trip with seven of my intrepid women friends from Globe, and this year I enlisted my nephew Eric and friend Mike – on leave for Spring Break and looking for “fun in the sun”… to run the Salt. Listening to them relay their experience later that afternoon over a beer at The Huddle, I realized there is a big difference in the way the young run the river and the way my friends and I approached our trip. The boys tell me they did things like “Loading the Bow” and “Stuffing the Stern” which is the hallmark of youth who think it is great to “submarine” into a big wave.

One reason the Salt is a white water experience which can have both beginners and experienced rafters smiling is largely due to the ability of experienced Guides to read their people and take a line through the rapids which accommodate their guests desire for smooth sailing …or “submarine- ing”.

Both trips were with the Salt River Rafting Company LLC, who are the “local guys” out of four commercial rafting companies working the river. The original owner started the company back in the 80’s while he was also building homes and raising a family in the area. His company, Go Blue Sky, was a fixture in the area and many of his guides still have local ties. He sold the company in 2005 to Wiley, James and Mike of Independent Whitewater out of Colorado. The three had worked for Rob on the Salt and it was a good fit with their own outfit which operates all summer long on the Arkansas River just outside of Salida, Colo. The company attracts seasoned guides, like Saichek and has retained several of Blue Sky’s original guides who have a good knowledge of both the River and the local area.

During the full-day trip on the river, the rapids you will encounter are rated as class II and III.  Not death-defying. But no walk-in-the-park, as you discover in your safety class before even “putting in” for the day. As you pull on your wetsuit (provided by the company), you learn there is an inside and outside to a wetsuit, and the wetsuit goes over the top of the waterproof booties. None of this is readily apparent until too late.

You may even enjoy some banter with your friends and believe blissfully that you are but a passive participant here to enjoy a beautiful day on the river, and that your guide is an omnipresent god who will ensure your safety and happiness.

This myth is soon dispelled by your River Guide during the safety talk.

Guides expect you to know a thing or two should “things happen” on the River. Things like fallen tree branches which can snatch you out of the boat, or the unexpected overboard experience when a raft hits a rock and bounces you out, followed by the best way to body-surf through a rapid should you find yourself suddenly outside the boat in the middle of swirling water and big rocks. “Feet First” they tell you.  As you listen to the safety training, some people may begin to wonder if they are either too young or too old for this. Fear of these things do not occur to invincible youth who are just itching to get in the water. However, I distinctly remember listening more intently to my guide feeling, as I did, that he may not be so omnipotent after all and the River was no carefully orchestrated Disney ride. ‘Things’ could happen and I wanted to be prepared.

Now, truth be told, very few people go swimming, or get “snatched.” But as guides will tell you… ”We want people to be aware of these things and able to make the right decision in the unlikely event something does happen.”

The Salt River Rafting Company require helmets. Other groups do not. Their feeling on helmets is “why not?” And after the safety talk, you began to think so too. Once armed with helmet, wetsuit, lifejacket and paddle you clambered on board the raft and get a few more lessons from your guide on how to paddle. The key seems to be paddling in unison. This seems like child’s play in the calm eddy of water at the launch point. Confidence builds as you watch your neighbors oar and manage to time yours to theirs achieving a nirvana experience as the group paddles in synch with each other. You learn to go forward. Go backward and do a 360 deg turn. Then it is time for the adventure to begin.

Your adventure begins with a Class II rapid which is small, but still manages to fluster most groups who forget to listen to the Guide, and loose the synchronicity they had achieved just moments before in calm water. Rapids tend to have that effect.

However, as the day progresses and the rapids get longer and rougher downstream the teamwork of those in the raft – does get better. And soon you are breezing through rapids with names which bring clear images to mind: “Bump and Grind, Captain Crunch and MayTag.  There are some, as I said,  who encourage their Guide to maximize the thrill by something called “Loading the Bow” and “Stuffing the Stern.” In the first instance everyone goes to the front of the boat so the heavily weighted front end “submarines” into the wave. This is a successful way to create much turbulence and get everyone wet in your boat. The second instance, as close as I can tell, is a unique way to spring board over a large rock. It seems, everyone goes to the back as the front of the raft rises in the air above an approaching rock. As the rear of the raft reaches the rock everyone shifts back to the front. The raft plops down with great abandoned, and the rock is behind you. Or should be.

Mid-day you find yourself on a sandy beach for lunch where the guides have set up a full-blown camp. No cold cuts on this trip! Lunch includes bratwurst grilled over an open fire and time to bask in the sun and dry out your rubber booties (for those who inadvertently wore them on the outside of their wet suits).

Getting back in the rafts with a full stomach and many rapids under your belt, gives you a sense of accomplishment, and yet the biggest, baddest rapid is yet to come. There is another hour and a half, and the final rapid of the day is Mescal. A Grand Finale, if you will, worthy of it’s name.  Guides must navigate through two big drops with lots of rocks and and avoid being sucked into a roiling force of nature swirling just off to the right which has been known to suck boats into its vortex and not spit them out for days.

This is the stuff that Guides live for….and the rest of us just want to live through. Although no one has ever dropped into the vortex, the threat seems all too real. Eric and Mike thought it was the best “ride” of the whole trip. Me? My adrenaline kicked into high gear after being lulled into a sense of serenity just moments before I remember praying for my Guide to Do-The-Thing-He-Was-Born-To-Do. When my prayer worked and we were all safely at the landing take out,  I swore it was one of the best days I’d ever had…and that my Guide really was that omnipotent god ensuring my happiness and well-being.

The Salt River Rafting Company, LLC operates on the Salt River March and April, (depending on water levels) and moves to the Arkansas River in Colorado where they operate Independent Whitewater for the Summer. SRRC offers full day and multi-day (Wilderness) trips. And as the water level drops, they will pull out the “Duckies” and give you a chance to try your hand at running the rapids in these inflatable kayaks. Fun for the whole family and all ages! SRRC can be reached by calling 1-800-425-5253 or www.raftthesalt.com.