Everything The First Time Whitewater Rafter needs To Know!

1. Pick The Best River For You

All rivers are different and can accommodate different skill and experience levels. There are lots rivers that are good for beginners and for seasoned paddlers alike. Always research the difficulty of a river before you go so you can pick the best adventure for you and your group. We use the International Scale of River Difficulty which uses a Class I -VI system.

2. Unplug

In today’s world we are accustomed to taking our devices everywhere and posting our adventures in real time but, consider turning off your devices. Leave your cell phone in the car. JUST UNPLUG! Most cell phones don’t get good reception on the river anyway. Live in the moment, open your mind to the splash of water, the flow of the river and the chatter of your friends and family. Just be present.

3. Lather Up

Always wear sunblock! Even it it’s a cloudy day. The suns rays bounce off the waters shiny surface and make it easy to get sunburned. If your on a full day trip a second coat of sunblock at lunch is a good idea.

4.Hydrate

Paddling can be hard work so it’s always a good idea to be properly hydrated before your trip. Taking a extra bottle of water along is handy for hot sunny days. P.S. A hardy breakfast goes a long way to!

5. Don’t Bring Anything You Wouldn’t Want To Lose

If you want to keep it, don’t bring it. Each season someone’s expensive camera or cell phone either gets wet in its waterproof case or is lost to the whitewater. Heirloom rings and necklaces are not replaceable so it’s best to leave them at home.

6. What to Wear Whitewater Rafting

Quick dry or athletic clothing is a great option because its light weight, drys quickly and often times has UV protection built in. During early or late season trips wool and fleece are good. If it’s cold, a dry top or wet-suit can make all the difference. If you like to wear sunglasses they definitely help on a sunny day but, remember you could lose them so bring a cheap pair. Water shoes are made for the water so they are more comfortable wet and help protect your feet with the added bonus of drying quickly. Don’t forget to bring a change of dry clothes and a towel for after your rafting trip.

7. Equipment

Before you set out on the river you will need your equipment (Helmet, Paddle, Personal Flotation Device or PFD, Etc).Your Guide and other staff will be on hand to help you make sure your gear fits properly.  Once you get on the river make sure to always keep your gear on and snugly fastened. That way if you go for a swim your PFD can do its job.

8. Listen To Your Guide

Part of every great rafting trip is being well informed and knowing what to expect. Your guide will go over lots of useful river knowledge like:

• Safety Tips
• What to do if you fall out.
• Paddle Commands
• River History
• Points of Interest

The guide will also know whats ahead and where to paddle hard and where to relax. If you have questions at any time just ask, guides are always happy to help.

9. Team Work Makes the Dream Work

Rafting is a team sport and never is it more evident then when you paddle. Paddling together as a team makes all the difference when navigating through tough rapids. It provides power and maneuverability for your guide to put the raft where it needs to be. Your guide will go over paddle commands so when you hear them you will know how to stay in sync with your team.

10. Enjoy

Now that you know the basic format of a whitewater rafting trip, you can quit stressing about every little detail and focus on what matters. Your first whitewater rafting trip is always a amazing experience. Enjoy it!

5 Great Reasons Why You Should Get Outside

1. Vitamin D “ The Sunshine Vitamin ”

Unlike most vitamins that can easily be found in food, Vitamin D is best found outdoors. Vitamin D is made when bare skin is exposed to sunlight. The sun’s ultraviolet rays convert cholesterol in your skin into Vitamin D. Studies suggest that the average person needs between 15 and 20 minutes depending on skin tone of direct sun expose to produce the recommended amount of Vitamin D.

So why is this vitamin so important? Well, Vitamin D helps develop strong bones and teeth in kids and helps prevent osteoporosis in adults and the elderly. Vitamin D also helps regulate cell function which protects against several types of cancer. Studies also suggests Vitamin D may play a role in the prevention of diabetes. With this kind of stats it is easy to see why Vitamin D tops our list for great reason to be outdoors.

2. Dirt !

Now many of us have heard the old saying “ Just rub a little dirt on it”. Well as it turns out, dirt really can be good for you. New research on soil suggests that exposure to the bacteria and microbes in dirt can help boost our immune systems. Exposing ourselves to small amounts of bacteria and microbes found in soil triggers a positive immune response and helps protect us against more dangerous bacteria in the future.

Adults and children who regularly come into contact with dirt, pollen and animals are healthier overall and have less allergies. So the next time you think about getting your hands dirty, just know it’s a good thing!

3. Stress Relief – Something We all Need

Studies show that people who take a 20 minute walk in the woods or on a garden path feel more relaxed than those who take the same stroll on a city street. Even more interesting is the fact that people who simply live in natural areas and spend time outdoors have lower levels of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone.

Spending time outdoors can also help improve concentration and reduce anxiety and is being used more and more as a natural option to treat ADHD in kids. Psychologist sometimes incorporate nature walks as part of a treatment regimen for people suffering from depression.  Exactly why it helps is unclear. However researchers think that it allows the mind to refocus on things like the sound of water and the wind blowing in the trees. In essence it feels all of our six senses with nature and allows the person to relax and reset. How awesome is that!

4. Exercise

Mother nature is the perfect companion for getting your sweat on. Hiking, biking and swimming are just a few ways that being outdoors can help us stay in shape. When we exercise, our bodies release endorphins. These endorphins trigger positive feelings and interact with our brain receptors to reduce the feeling of pain.

Getting regular exercise can help prevent many chronic illnesses like heart disease and high blood pressure. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day elevates energy levels and improves sleep quality. Add that to the fact that outdoor exercise is cheap when compared to a gym membership and I’d say you have a perfect match.

5. Creativity

The great outdoors is second to none in beauty, so it’s no surprise that artists like Claude Monet and Andy Goldsworthy channel inspiration from it.

A study done by the University of Utah found that people scored 50% higher on creativity tests after spending time in nature. In fact creatively, focus, productivity and energy all get a boost from being in nature. There is a measurable ability of the natural world to filter into and inspire our lives. So, the next time you feel a little overwhelmed before you reach for that energy drink try a quick walk in the great outdoors instead.

Thank You Everyone For A Great 2018 Season!

We would like to thank everyone who had a part in making the 2018 Ocoee River rafting season so great. Please enjoy some of our favorite picture of this last season.

Carolina Ocoee’s Favorite Trail Mixes

Trail Mix is one of those rare foods that literally has something for everyone. Weather you have picky kids or just need that extra boost of energy, here are some of our favorites.

The Go Go Go Mix

This mix is packed with fruit that is an excellent source of vitamin B6, Carbs and Potassium that helps boost your energy.  The seeds are a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids and combat fatigue and inflammation. This mix is a great way to stay energized for a full day on the Ocoee River.

The Little Adventurer

This mix is a crowd pleaser and when you are on a big adventure (a road trip) with the whole family this will snack will keep them happy!

The Sweet Tooth

The Mix is just because you can! If you have given it your all, sometimes you just want a reward. This sweet reward has feel good dark chocolate for a day well spent.

Let us know what you think and if you have  a good trail mix recipe share it.

See you out there!

This July 4th All Military Raft For Free On The Ocoee River

You heard that right this July 4th all active and retired military get to raft for free on the middle Ocoee river. We could think of no better way to honor the great individuals that have chosen to serve our country. So get out your bathing suit and get ready to crash through the waves of the middle Ocoee river on us. We would love to see all branches of the military represented so please share this post with others. This trip is likely to book up fast so please call and make your reservation today.

On the Ocoee River there are many options a guest has in choosing a white water adventure company, 23 outfitters to be exact. Out of all these companies everyone of them has an outpost, boats, paddles, life jackets, and buses. We all raft down the same river and go through all the same rapids. So what would make anyone of the Ocoee River outfitters different than the others?

There is a lot of smoke and mirrors when it come to how a white water outfitter markets themselves. Some will boast about there outpost, gear, store or even a cheap price. Don’t be fooled into thinking that these things correlate into a quality white water adventure. You must look at our industry as you would a museum or a hospital. All hospitals are the same for the most part, the difference between them is the staff and doctors. A museum’s value is in the art, not the check in desk.

So when we are asked what makes us better than the other companies down the road the answer is always a definitive “OUR GUIDES.”

Now this is a bold statement I know, but it is totally true and this is why we feel so confident in making this remark.

1. At Carolina Ocoee we do not hire first year guides. No guide is going to cut their teeth trying to learning how to guide while you are in there boat. We hire seasoned and highly experienced guides only. We pride our self on being able to guarantee you a great trip.
2. Our sole focus is on providing the highest quality white water experience on the Ocoee River. Our guides have chosen guiding as a profession and they take it very seriously. To them this is not just a summer job of partying and playing on the river; this is there profession and they aim to be a pro at it. Seventy-five percent of our guest are repeat customers and we really pride ourselves off the quality of our trips. We will stop taking reservations before we put you with a guide that we don’t trust 100%.
3. We are unmatched when it comes to our level of experience. We have 9 nine guides on staff with a total of 115 years of experience.

Meet The Carolina Ocoee Guides.

This team gets it done every trip, every time. They are ready to give you the best trip possible on the Ocooe River.

Don’t forget you can request a guide!

The holiday season is upon us and most of you will be getting some well deserved time off.  It’s a season of friends and family. A time of gathering and a time of sharing. Here are a few ideas to make to most of your holiday.