It's a general rule that floats will go in any weather. Weather here can change quickly and often does. Bad weather can last for only few minutes and appear at different locations. It's best to be prepared.

Prior to getting on the river several things need to be considered, the most important of which is hypothermia. Hypothermia is defined as abnormally low body temperature and can be further defined in three terms, acute, subacute and chronic. One should be concerned with subacute hypothermia which begins over a period of hours. During this exposure the body chills, beginning as shivering and shaking, confusion sets in and breathing and heart rate weaken, blood pressure drops. It can be fatal. As this takes several hours it is possible one might not even notice it happening. It's one of those things that "will never happen to me." It can be easily prevented.

Be prepared. Dress appropriately. Weather can change frequently. It's often cooler on the river than off. Bring warm clothes and have firestarting materials or emergency blankets. Utilize a "dry bag" to keep a second set of clothes and shoes dry.A good dry bag is a small investment to keep you safe and dry if you need to be. What you bring with you may help keep you alive. You cant use a cell phone if it's at the bottom of the river and you can't walk out of a deep river canyon if you're injured or have accidentally misplaced your canoe. We don't want to scare you but these things do happen. Be prepared.

Obviously avoid clothes that will retain water. There are many man made materials that dry quickly such as fleece. Fleece comes in different weights for varying degrees of warmth.

If you're looking for gear check our FAQ page for some good sources.

TRIP TIMING

People often ask when is the best time to float and how long does it take ??

We want you to have plenty of time to explore and enjoy the river. Please be aware that due to the length of most trips you should consider being on the river within a certain time usually before noon. We will be happy to assist you in suggesting a launch time for your benefit to maximize your experience and avoid any crowds.You should consider adjusting travel schedules accordingly if necessary. If for some reason youd need or want a later launch time please let us know beforehand.

And if for some reason you're getting a late start or running late please let us know you are coming. If you arrive too late the time required for the length of the float may prohibit you from launching. We don't want that to happen so please....give us a call and let us know your intentions.

Overnight or multi-day trips can launch at any time.

If you're looking for some solitude and want to avoid any "crowds" try and float during the week. It's as simple as that. Otherwise we can suggest the best time to float on the weekend and will do everything we can to give you as much information possible. We can tell you how fast the river is going and give you the distance you'll be travelling. You'll then have some idea of how fast you'll be travelling per hour. But everyone's speed differs depending on what they want to do and whether they want to actively paddle or leisurely float along.

Please consider how much time you'd like to spend on the river when deciding what time you want to start your float. This one choice is a deciding factor.

For Sale

Some of our boats have expressed interest in retirement and are looking for new homes. We've replaced part of the fleet with brand new Old Towns and we'll be having boats available for sale...If you're looking for an experienced boat at a fair price please ask...You won't have to fill out any adoption papers but you may have to promise to give them a good home...

DIRECTIONS Conveniently located on Rt 74 west in Mt. Sherman about 5 miles west of Jasper near the road to Camp Orr and Kyles Landing.