In Otter Words

It’s Robbie Burns Day

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:19:00 +0000

Today, eating Haggis is a favourite activity for some but I have always used this day as a good indicator of the coming rafting season. It’s like the day that Wiarton Willie shows up telling us of our coming spring.
No rodent is involved in this decision, nor how well cooked the Haggis is either - I consult the snow pack charts for Skoki lodge which is the head waters of our Red Deer River. And the chart looks definitely positive. Check it out for yourself.
Another indicator is the snow pack indicator on Limestone Mountain. Just for completeness I mention this, but it isn’t a major source of water for the Red Deer. You can see that the snow level is within the average range and above last year’s level.

This all looks very good. This year’s snow pack level is greater than last year’s snow level on this auspicious date – and we’ll take it !!! Get out skiing and enjoy this great snow now and be ready to catch it again later, when you’re rafting in the spring with high water on our beloved Red Deer River.

More snow in the mountains. Rafters delight!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:39:00 +0000

The Rafting season is a long ways away – but check out the dump of snow they got in the mountains. The snow pack chart shows quite a recent surge in depth. Great for our water conditions in the spring. Get out now and enjoy the snow if you’re a skier and catch it again when the high water of spring comes along and the rafting season is under way.
Snow pack at the headwaters of the Red Deer River.

Happy New Year !!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:07:00 +0000

According to this chart, the snow pack is building and is above average for today's date. Is that a good forecast of the rafting conditions for the coming year or what?? It is going to be a Happy New Year for sure. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Snow Pack at the headwaters of the Red Deer River

Happy New Year–Suggested Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:41:00 +0000

Travel off the beaten path ( paddle your own river)

Find your true calling ( I always wanted to be a river guide)

Stay young at heart ( you can never get too old to enjoy rafting)

Seek peace and understanding (steal the bucket from the other rafts)

Explore!, Dare! (get out rafting as often as possible)

Create a whole new year of exciting possibilities (catch the high water of June)

Happy New Year ! ( can’t wait for rafting season)

An Otter Retrospective

noreply@blogger.com (aims) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:37:00 +0000

Come with us on a journey, learning how he went from totterler to our illustrious leader, The Otter!

The Otter–The Man, The Moustache

White water Rafting Gift Certificates

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:49:00 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner. There is still time to order a white water rafting gift certificate and receive it by Christmas. We won’t charge a wetsuit rental if you order before Dec 25.

The snow pack in the mountains is building this winter. As of today it is right on an average level. We’ll take it!

Winter hasn’t started officially.

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:54:00 +0000

Here in Central Alberta we have just had a good dump of snow. It is always good for the farmers but great for the rivers too. This wonderful snowfall hit all areas of the watershed upstream of Sundre. Very nice!

We’ve also been watching the snow pack levels at the source of the Red Deer River. It is above average for this time of year.

So, we’re giving a thumbs-up to Mother Nature and anticipate the white water fun come the spring. Let it snow!

Today is one month to Christmas!!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:43:00 +0000

Solve your gift giving problem for that hard-to-buy-for person who has everything already. Why not give them an experience? White water rafting is something they will never forget. Gift Certificates are available for full or half day rafting tours. Cost - $114 and $84 respectively.

Call 1-800-661-7379 anytime. (During the day, the phone is monitored part-time for the winter months, and everyday in the early evening – leave a message and I will return your call, discretion assured.)

Snow accumulating in the mountains looks promising for the coming rafting season!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:10:00 +0000

The mountains have been getting some good dumps of snow. At Lake Louise, so much snow has fallen recently that they had to cancel the first training run of this Saturday’s downhill race.

With the head waters of the Red Deer River only 5kms north of the ski resort, this is a very good start on supplying us with water for another great season of white water rafting.

More white board comments

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:18:00 +0000

With the season winding down we have a few additions to the white boards. It being late in the season – still people are having a very good day on the river.

Missing out on the fun? Check messages left on the board. They had FUN!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Our guests have left us messages on the white boards. There is still lots of FUN to be had on the Red Deer River.

The board does the talking

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:43:00 +0000

Some of the comments left on the white boards.

The weather forecast is good

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:20:00 +0000

Need I say more?

Good time had by all!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:16:00 +0000

On Monday after the weekend of rafting, I got two emails. Guess they had a great time!!

Dear David
We had a great time.
You and your associates are awesome people.
I will try to bring more business to you.
Cheers
Tejinder

Hi!
Thank you for the wonderful rafting trip!

Take Care,
Rhonalyn & James

Comments from the White Boards

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:26:00 +0000

Often local people bring visiting relatives out for a day of rafting. There isn’t much rafting in P.E.I. or France either.

Super Sunday Special

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:33:00 +0000

For the last two weeks of July, if you book your full day rafting trip for a Sunday we will give you 10% off. And as a special bonus, we’ll include the wetsuit rental free. Combine this with our great location right in Sundre , on Highway 22, you can’t beat that for convenience and our modern facilities for comfort.
Leave the backwoods driving to professionals who know the road. Check out this video to see the conditions of the road that we can save you and your car from. This road, with its gravel trucks, logging trucks and oil field service vehicles is hard on a vehicle.

An Epic Day

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:19:00 +0000

Saturday was a busy day around here. Everyone had a fantastic day. Even the weather was with us! Check out the white board comments

Happy Canada Day

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 22:10:00 +0000

Canada Day is a federal holiday on July 1 to mark the anniversary of the date that Canada became a self-governing country. The anniversary of this date was called Dominion Day until 1982. Since 1983, July 1 has been officially known as Canada Day.

What do people do?

A wide range of events are organized, often outdoors. These include pancake breakfasts, parades, concerts, carnivals, festivals, firework displays and citizenship ceremonies for new Canadian citizens. Face painting is often used for a means of celebrations. These celebrations often have a patriotic mood.
There are other ways to celebrate Canada Day so get out and explore what our country is made of.
“God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada”

Finally, Sun everyday

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:52:00 +0000

The weather forecast for the next week shows no rain. After a very wet June this is a welcome change. With all that rain keeping the river up there is some very good rafting conditions on the Red Deer River. No matter what the weather you are going to get wet anyway, but it is so much nicer when the sun is out.

So get out and enjoy our fleeting summer – there are plenty of seats available this coming long weekend or for a more personal trip come out midweek.

White board comments from some happy paddlers

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 18:35:00 +0000

If you’re wondering what our guests have to say about Otter Rafting Adventures we can consult the white boards which are strategically mounted in our rafting center for making heart felt comments. Below you will find both from the men's and ladies rooms.

Rafting - Great for team building

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:52:00 +0000

Thank you to the TransAlta group for coming out rafting yesterday. We know you had a great day. Rafting is the perfect outing for team building.

“Teambuilding is important in any environment, its brings out the best in a team to ensure self development, positive communication, leadership skills and the ability to work closely together as a team to problem solve.”

”Work environments tend to focus on individuals and personal goals, with reward & recognition singling out the achievements of individual employees. "How to create effective teams is a challenge in every organization”

Having a Blast

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:02:00 +0000

The high water is hanging in there. The guides have a group out on the water today. They will be having a blast at these water levels.

People have asked me if the river is much different when it’s higher. As the water levels change, the number and size of rapids change. All changes in volume are relative to the current volume. When the water volumes are lower, any changes in water levels are significant. When it is high like today, it isn’t a lot different if it makes small changes to it’s volume except for the size of features.

There are many rapids on our Red Deer River with the most significant being Big Rock, Gooseberry (diagonal ledge), S-Bends and the Nationals.

Now, the Big Rock barely has a pillow on it showing that it is there. The wave train that follows it and the turbulence of it is a result of all the pressure as the water pours through the openings that the rock creates. As the two currents converge after going on either side of the rock many irregular shaped waves are created which oscillate in height.

The Diagonal Ledge is one large weir with a couple holes in it with a significant hole in the middle of it dominating the features. It requires a tight line for a safe route between two holes which offers very little forgiveness for a mistake.

The S-bends, where we stop for lunch, has a wave where we could park the bus in it. As the water volume changes it just gets deeper. It can easily flip a raft so we skirt it. We might just touch the edge of it - enough to tempt fate!

The Nationals are 10 foot standing waves. It is one big rollercoaster with the final wave even bigger and more abrupt as the rushing water piles into the slower moving water at the base of the rapid. As the raft hits this last wave the raft slows down abruptly – will you make it over the wave? or through it?

There are several other rapids requiring respect as well, too many to mention. This is the type of water most people miss not rafting in June.

For the ride of your life, get out on the river before this high water is gone to experience the power of water and enjoying a different way of loving mother nature .

The Water is High and Absolutely Crazy!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:11:00 +0000

This past weekend we’ve had the best rafting condition in several years. The water is high and absolutely amazing! For one couple, Saturday’s excitement wasn’t enough and they tried to change their plans to go Sunday as well. Didn’t work out but they’ll be back in a few weeks.

Who said rafting isn’t addicting? Especially when the conditions are crazy!

This high water season won’t last for ever, so if you want to give it a try – we have space available this coming weekend. Give me a call for some white water rafting you’ll talk about for years!!

Here is a picture from Saturday. When it’s wild and fast it is difficult to get a good picture. Still, you can see the guy at the front is hanging on to the rope!! What a wild trip! This is the kind of water everyone should try once in their life!

Book now for the memory of a lifetime!

1-800-661-7379

The “Divas” rafting Again!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:22:00 +0000

Saturday was another great day on the water! The “Divas” were out rafting again for their annual trip. It has been a ritual going on for more than 15 years! Even the final picture holding their guide!
And they weren’t disappointed (next time they want gloves for June rafting)! They said it was the "highest water ever" that they had been on! There is lots of snow in the mountains so the river will last a while. And with all the rain showers, they help to keep that river up and raging! Remember you are going to get wet anyway – might as well enjoy it!
If you've never tried 'high water' - than now is the time!

If the thought of 'high water' makes your stomach clench and your forehead wet and you know you really want to but are hesitating..........take a look at the picture below and see how happy the "Divas" were after their great trip down the Upper Red Deer River! You can face the challenge too!
This is water you don’t want to miss!
Give us a call and book your trip now!

1-800-661-7379

Catch the high water!

noreply@blogger.com (David Todd) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:52:00 +0000

We were on the river again on Saturday. The river has dropped some from last week. The floating trees cancelled a trip, they are so dangerous.

Everyone had a great day. The day started cool and overcast but once everyone was on the river the sky began to break up and by lunch the sun was out. What a perfect combination. Spring run-off and the sunshine.

It was just as well. Travis and the guys who came out on a stag outing, had a swim. The footage of their spill will really look good when it is shown at the wedding! It’s a trip they won’t ever forget!

There is plenty of snow in those mountains. Come out and catch the high water this year. You will have a blast!