Jackson Rafting Companies Boost Safety Precautions

Mother Nature is making for a more dangerous whitewater rafting season.

In fact, high water levels, and therefore bigger rapids, already claimed the life of one thrill-seeker this summer.

The adrenaline pumping activity brings thousands to Jackson, Wyo. each and every season. It’s what turned a first-job-out-of-college into a life-long career for Charlie Sands.

“I went to the bank, (with) about 600 bucks, bought a raft and I was in business a couple days later,” said Sands.

Jackson grew, tourism exploded, and the rest is history for Sands Whitewater and Scenic River Trips.

But the owner said business is taking a hit this summer season, thanks to a trio of Mother Nature’s finest gifts.

“We got a slow start with the mudslide that closed the canyon. We couldn’t get to it,” said Sands. “Then the weather was lousy all through June, then high water hit and it’s still here.”

According to the Bridger-Teton National Forest Service, the water level is five times what it’s been in recent years on this date, making for wilder, colder, and faster rapids.

In 40 years, there have been four commercial-related deaths on the Bridger-Teton stretch of the Snake river. One of them was just 10 days ago.

“They need to know that this is not a Disneyland ride,” suggested Sands.

To find out for ourselves, we geared up, buckled our life-jackets, and hopped a-board a raft full of other first-timers.

Our tour guide, Ben LaBrecque, warned us to wedge our feet tight or we might fall out. He said entire rafts occasionally overturn.

Minutes after conquering our first rapids, soaking wet but safe, we found eight youth group members floating in the river. Their private raft flipped by what LaBrecque called “a hole in the water.”

“It started spinning us around (and) we couldn’t get out of it,” said Jared Quincy, who was in the boat. “Then, it sucked us under and flipped us.”

“The more private boats down here, the more you see it for sure,” said LaBrecque.

Our commercial crew of 13 celebrated survival following the notorious Lunch Counter rapid.

With safety the number one goal, commercial companies are taking more pre-cautions by enforcing age restrictions for kids and the elderly, using only bigger, 14-man boats, and sending crews, regardless of company, out in teams.

“They all watch each other’s backs so-to-speak,” said Sands.

And new this year, a kayaker follows alongside.

They’re all measures Sands hopes will help keep adventurers out of the water and maintain his perfect safety record, at least until he retires in three years.

“I like the idea that my tombstone would say, ‘He lasted 50 years in the river business,'” said Sands.

A spokesperson with the Bridger-Teton National forest is encouraging visitors to be physically fit and fully able to participate before setting out on the Snake river.