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BWR In the News
High Water Colorado Rafting!
June 26th, 2010Sudden warm temperatures created a fast and furious runoff a couple weeks ago. But the water has not dropped out after that as might be expected. River levels are still fantastic!
Read a Summit Daily article here about the runoff and all of the Colorado Rafting options in Summit County. Quotes from AVA owner Duke Bradford.
See information about all of our Colorado rafting trips!
Summit Daily article on 1188
February 16th, 2010The Summit Daily ran one of dozens of articles in papers across the state on the proposed River Outfitters Viability Act. Read the article here.
HB 1188 moves out of committee; Rally at the capitol
February 16th, 2010Read about the rally in the Denver Post blog.
Commercial rafting at risk in Colorado!
February 1st, 2010Commercial rafting is at risk in the state of Colorado. SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 10-1188!
A landowner along the Taylor River near Gunnison has informed a commercial rafting outfitter, Scenic River Tours, that they are not allowed to pass by his land with their rafting trips. He has declared the river that goes through his land “private waters.” SRT has run rafting trips there for over 20 years. This bill protects the rights of commercial rafting outfitters to run historically rafted sections of river in Colorado that pass through private land.
A similar circumstance in 2000 put a rafting outfitter near Lake City out of business because the company did not have the funds to fight the private landowner in court. This could be repeated across the state of Colorado if this bill does not pass.
If this bill does not pass, it would put rafting companies across the state at the risk of being “shut down” by private landowners who did not want rafting trips to pass through their land.
From the Colorado River Outfitters Association Fact Sheet on the issue:
Commercial river running contributed $142 million to Colorado’s economy in 2008 when more than 500,000 people enjoyed our scenic rivers. Yet, the ability to provide commercial river running is under serious threat because out-of-state landowners using their wealth want to prohibit licensed outfitters from providing trips on historically rafted rivers. The 2010 River Outfitters Viability Act protects Colorado’s tourism industry by clarifying the rights of commercial guides to operate on Colorado’s historically run rivers.
Background
• Commercial rafting contributed $142 million to Colorado’s economy in 2008 while providing river trips to more than 500,000 people.
• Out-of-state landowners are trying to close Colorado’s rivers, even though those same rivers belong to the people of Colorado and have been commercially rafted for more than 20 years.
• Raft guides must comply with all state and federal laws and regulations related to river outfitting or they will lose their license to operate.
• Current state law is unclear regarding the ability of commercial outfitters to float through private property.
Problem
• A newcomer purchased property to subdivide into ranchettes on the Taylor River near Gunnison and is threatening expensive legal action against commercial river outfitters, who have been providing river trips on the stretch of river for more than 20 years.
• Another out-of-state landowner drove a small commercial outfitter out of business on the Lake Fork near Lake City under similar circumstances in 2000.
• Commercial outfitters, the guides they employ, and the local economies that they support are at risk if wealthy out-of-state landowners successfully prohibit them from floating on Colorado’s rivers.
What the Bill Does and Does Not Do
• Establish that licensed outfitters, floating on historically commercially floated rivers cannot be charged with civil trespass if they make accidental contact with the bed or banks of Colorado’s rivers, or portage around hazards that would put their passengers at risk.
• Makes no changes to the rights that private boaters currently enjoy.
• Clearly protects landowners from liability if a rafter is injured while passing through their property.
• Does not change the ability of landowners to construct facilities on their properties
Consequence If Not Approved
• The ability of Colorado’s $142 million river rafting industry to operate on Colorado’s rivers would be put at serious risk.
FOR MORE INFO:
Go to the CROA website. Enter site, then click Membership
Denver Post article 1/31/10
Pueblo Chieftan Article 1/30/10
Aspen Daily news article 1/26/10
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
Join our Facebook Group in support of this bill!
MOST IMPORTANTLY, write your representatives and tell them you support commercial rafting in the state and the River Outfitters Viability Act. Find your representatives and contact them HERE.
Thanks for your support!
Breckenridge named one of top 31 places to go in world
January 16th, 2010The NY Times this week named Breckenridge as one of the top 31 places in the world to visit. Other places on the list included Patagonia Wine Country; Mysore, India; Antarctica; and Shanghai, China. Quite the company.
So if you were debating on where to go this summer, it’s settled–Breckenridge! With great nightlife and restaurants, stunning views, and some of the best and more accessible outdoor recreation (ahem, rafting!!??) in the world, how can you go wrong?
We’re lucky enough to have an office at the base of Breckenridge Ski Resort in the middle of this little slice of paradise. Come visit this summer and we’ll show you what Breckenridge and Colorado Whitewater Rafting are all about. See ya soon!
Buena Vista’s International Day of Climate Action
November 23rd, 2009We participated in 350.org’s worldwide International Day of Climate Action. Colorado Kayak Supply and several other local BV businesses set up this cool photo. Check out more details here and see photos below. A river twist on the idea!
A word on commercial rafting
July 31st, 2009(Duke Bradford is the owner of Breckenridge Whitewater Rafting and Chairman of the Colorado River Outfitters Association)
from The Mountain Mail 7/13/09
River rafting offers awards and risks
Duke Bradford
Recent rafting tragedies on the Arkansas River underscore the daunting power of Colorado rivers and the importance of taking safety precautions when venturing to enjoy all Mother Nature’s awesome gifts.
As an organization representing about 50 commercial rafting businesses, the Colorado River Outfitters Association is keenly aware of risks and rewards characterizing every river rafting experience. On the reward side, rafting is an outstanding way to enjoy the outdoors of Colorado and enjoy its incredible scenery from the water.
Rafting brings families, friends and strangers together in a collective experience. It gets kids away from video games and couch potatoes away from the television for a few hours or a few days of fun and adventure.
On commercial trips, river guides often double as interpreters and naturalists, educating and informing guests about state wildlife, geology, heritage and human history.
Colorado offers great rafting diversity. The association tracks flow and commercial use on nearly 30 stretches of water in eight major river basins. That smorgasbord of opportunities means rafting enthusiasts, depending upon their appetites and experience levels, can find everything from adrenaline-pumping rapids to mellower water at almost any time during a season that can run as long as six months.
Diversity makes rafting a cost-effective and accessible recreation option. With outstanding rafting available near Fort Collins, Durango and many places between, virtually everyone who lives in Colorado is within a few hour drive of a navigable stretch of river.
On the risk side of the equation, professional river outfitters must be continuously aware of any and all threats to the health and safety of their guests and employees.
From training guides, assessing river conditions and conducting pre-launch safety sessions to testing straps on life jackets, promoting use of sunscreen and maintaining vehicles transporting customers to the river – diligence is critical in all aspects of the operation.
Commercial outfitters in take these precautions because it’s smart business and the right thing to do, and because the industry is subject to a significant amount of regulation and management. Our businesses undergo stringent licensing and permitting requirements and work collaboratively with federal, state and local land managing and law enforcement agencies to ensure river recreation is as safe as possible.
Not everybody chooses to raft with a commercial outfitter, and that’s OK. The association is in favor of people enjoying Colorado rivers no matter how they get on the water, and the majority of private boaters in the state are smart, responsible and appropriately experienced for activities they pursue.
Despite the lack of regulatory oversight, the most conscientious private boaters follow many of the same precautions professionals follow. They check equipment condition, plan for emergencies and – perhaps most important – make an honest assessment of river conditions and their own abilities and limitations.
Checking river conditions can be as simple as checking snow conditions before heading to a ski resort. All navigable stretches of river in Colorado fall under oversight of one governing agency or another – in most cases it’s Colorado State Parks, Bureau of Land Management or U.S. Forest Service.
Although rivers are rarely, if ever, closed as are roads or specified runs at ski areas, governing agencies place specific stretches of water under advisement when conditions are unsafe. Although those stretches are not technically off limits, professional outfitters take the warnings seriously and will usually avoid those sections and find alternative adventures.
Private boaters should certainly do the same.
It’s worth emphasizing we’re talking here about individual stretches of river. With a waterway as long as the Arkansas River, it would be a mistake to assume conditions are consistent throughout the entire 150-mile length of the river – different stretches can have radically different personalities and features.
Using the skiing analogy again, it would be a similar misstep to assume snow conditions on back bowls at Vail are identical to conditions on kiddy slopes at the base of the mountain.
A private boater planning a trip should contact an appropriate governing agency to gauge conditions on the desired stretch of river.
If it’s unclear which agency to approach, people may always call a local rafting business and ask – we professional outfitters are happy to help prospective river runners – even those who choose to boat on their own. Safety on the river is top priority for all who enjoy waters of Colorado.
Duke Bradford is chairman of the Colorado River Outfitters Association.
Great Deals, Great Whitewater
June 1st, 2009The river levels are holding incredibly well, and there is great whitewater to be had on several Colorado rivers. Come check out a mellow float, some family fun, or some of the biggest, baddest Class IV & V in the state.
We’re still offering SCREAMIN’ deals on our trips. See the TRIP DISCOUNTS page (click the green button above) for more info! Or call us today at 877-RAFTING!
Another snowstorm socks Colorado!
April 22nd, 2009Up to 52 inches of snow fell in the foothills west and north of Denver last weekend and knocked out power to over 12,000 people in the state. Significant snowfall across much of the state helped to push snowpack levels to well above 100% in most drainages. This storm will significantly contribute to the water levels in Clear Creek. This river, only 30 miles west of Denver, offers Class III, IV and V sections–something for everyone!
The spring storm was just what we needed as the rafting season gets underway. Come check out the whitewater this summer! (SEE OUR DISCOUNT BELOW!)
More Snow=More Whitewater!
March 31st, 2009Much of Colorado saw great snowfall in the last week, with more to come in the next few days. Vail’s had 34 inches in the last 7 days! Snowpacks around the state are solid and should provide a beautiful river season on all of Colorado waterways.
The time to think about whitewater is now–book your rafting trip now for the BEST DEALS on incredible fun. Our discounts will never be as strong as right now!
Get 20% off BWR raft trips when you book and pay in full by April 10. Use promo code bwr09 to book or quote a trip for yourself online. Just click on any of the links next to our trip descriptions that say Book or Quote this Trip Now!
Or call us 7 days a week. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you find the right adventure!
See ya on the river soon!