Say the words “class 4 rapids” and you’ll make my palms sweat. Of all the outdoor adventures in Utah, rafting is one I’m most afraid of. So rafting through Westwater Canyon on the Colorado River near Moab was a brave moment for me. I’m notoriously a “fish-out-of-water” when I’m in the water, and the thought of tackling an unpredictable element like a river gives me the shivers. That’s ironic considering that I have no qualms about backcountry skiing in avalanche terrain.
So when the time came to shoot an episode of KSL Outdoors about rafting on rapids with spooky names like Bowling Alley, Staircase, Big Hummer, Funnel Falls, Skull Rapid and the Room of Doom through an inescapable gorge, I was nervous. But you know what? I had an awesome time! Gone were memories of wrapping the raft around boulders in the worst, man-eater rapids in the west (on guided trips mind you.) Thanks to the Utah State Parks river rangers and their expert know-how, I can’t wait to go back and do it again. Maybe Cataract Canyon is next?
Here’s the full episode as it aired on KSL 5.
For this and other outdoor adventures in Utah, be sure to tune into KSL Outdoors every Saturday evening at 6:30 and again at midnight.