Get Ready for Wildlife Wednesday at Chilliwack River Rafting!

Get Ready for Wildlife Wednesday at Chilliwack River Rafting!

Ahh, the great outdoors! If you’re anything like us here at Chilliwack River Rafting, then taking a deep breath of fresh air smells better than a perfumed restaurant, watching a sunset means more than a picture, and being present in nature feels more exhilarating than any action packed 3D movie! We spend our days surrounded by our neighbors and sharing our workspace with them.

As you know, getting along with your fellow colleagues is important! You have to respect their boundaries, their way of life and their… unusual habits. In our office, we are not separated by a cubicle wall and don’t have to listen to co-workers hum Celine Dion’s “My heart will go on” as they overcome their heartbreak. Instead, we hear the chirping of different birds as seasons change, the scurrying of feet as we get too close, and the peering eyes that watch us float by. Alright, so maybe our neighbors are more easy-going than yours. So, here’s to the creatures we share our office with, and have been lucky enough to catch of glimpse of as we go through our day on the water!

1) Bald Eagles are often seen flying overhead and hanging out in big cedar trees on the side of the Chilliwack river. Hardly a day goes by where these gigantic birds don’t threaten to poop on our rafts. Just kidding, that hasn’t happened. Although I do have an irrational fear that one day it will.

An eagle watches the rafts go by on the Classic!

An eagle watches the rafts go by on the Classic!

2) Hummingbirds zoom around Chilliwack River Rafting’s base resort, you can see them on flowers and feeders everyday (if you’re quick enough to catch a glimpse). Sometimes when the door is open, they fly right into our office and hang out by the windows trying to get back outside. The office workers have to catch and release them. They are so tiny, light and soft to hold!

Hummingbird feeds right outside of Chilliwack River Rafting's office!

A Hummingbird feeds right outside of Chilliwack River Rafting’s office!

3) “THIEVES I SAY! THIEVES!!” These adorable, baby ‘coons were caught in the act of stealing our plums right next to our volleyball court. They almost got away with it too because they were so well camouflaged in the branches.

Baby racoons in the pear tree at Chilliwack River Rafting's resort!

Baby racoons in the plum tree at Chilliwack River Rafting’s resort!

4) Ooooh, aaaaaaaah, a mysterious and rare Canine! So elusive that they are almost never caught on film. No, but seriously how adorable is this fisherman’s dog. He just wanted to say a quick hello to all of the rafts at Fisherman’s drop!

A Friendly fisherman's dog!

A Friendly fisherman’s dog!

5) On a less cute note, check out these turkey vultures scoping out the scene for some dead fish snacks. Someone’s gotta do it!

Turkey vultures eating fish!

Turkey vultures eating fish, spotted at the top of the Chilliwack Classic

Keep posted for a wildlife story every Wednesday on our social media feeds. There will be bears, porcupines, deer, butterflies etc… in the next editions.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Chilliwack Canyon’s Class 4 Whitewater Rafting!

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Chilliwack Canyon’s Class 4 Whitewater Rafting!

Challenging Teamwork in the Chilliwack Canyon!

Who doesn’t love smashing through waves, feeling the raft buckle and jump with the power of the river, and working together as if your life depends on it? Rafting the Canyon with your friends and family tests your balance, endurance and courage.

Airborne! The stoke factor is high.

Airborne! The stoke factor is high.

Chilliwack River Rafting

Big Smash through the “Rocket Propelled Guide” Wave at the end of the Chilliwack Canyon.

There are 6 Classes of whitewater found on rivers. Class 1 is like your bathtub and requires no maneuvering. Class 2 means that there is some rough water, a few rocks, bumps and small drops that might require some maneuvering. Class 3 whitewater has medium sized waves, maybe a 3–5 ft drop, but not much considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering. Class 4 whitewater has large waves, long rapids, rocks, maybe a considerable drop and sharp maneuvers are necessary.

A Class 4 section of whitewater is a very different type of environment then where you usually spend time with your friends and family. It is entirely different than an amusement park where the roller coaster delivers thrill after thrill in a controlled setting. Anything can happen on the river. The water is cold, the canyon walls are high on both sides, and the rapids are loud, white and foaming. It is up to who is paddling in that moment to make the critical maneuvers and nail the correct lines. You get to see different sides of the people you go rafting with. Who paddles the best, who gets the most stoked and who’s the most out of their element.

Surprise Wave in the middle of the Canyon!

Surprise Wave in the middle of the Canyon!

Falling in and swimming a Class 4 rapid is an unique experience. Even the strongest of swimmers need a couple seconds to overcome the different sensation of being carried downstream by a swift current. The most fun place to be is in the raft, so most people swim right back to a raft and get pulled in. Sometimes the safety kayaker tows the swimmer to a raft or to shore. Helmets, personal flotation devices, wetsuits and shoes are all necessary equipment for being safe and comfortable on the river.

Chilliwack River Rafting

Everyone goes home with the biggest catch! A feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction!

The best part about extreme rapid running is the focus that comes with it. Nothing else matters except what is happening right now on the river and everything else fades out. It is awesome to feel that present and connected with your surroundings. Times slows down with each wave, then speeds up and over 2 hours has passed, the trip is almost finished!

 At the end of the day, no matter what happens, you go home with the satisfaction of facing up to your nervousness. There is a fullness that comes with being actively involved in a beautiful, fast paced environment like a river and playing with the current’s natural waves and eddies. Though the water is rocketing downstream fast and relentless, there is also harmony and peacefulness joining the flow.

The river is just an amazing place to be.