Examining a River Guide

By: Sedale Turbovsky

rafting |ˈrafti ng | |røftɪŋ|

noun

The sport or pastime of traveling down a river on a raft.

Nestled in the heart of gold country lies Coloma, a mere 45 minuets outside of Sacramento this sleepy town lies dormant most of the year. Yet as winter looses its grip and spring begins to emerge Coloma begins to transform as well. Visit in June and it’s grown to at least double its population, a concentrating force has drawn rafters from all over the world, to work the pristine American river. The forks of the American river are some of the most rafted in the country, hosting more than 100,000 outdoor enthusiasts, travelers and weekend warriors annually. Apart from the excellent rafting and kayaking opportunities, there is something special in having the opportunity to rub shoulders with a special breed of professionals. They come from all the corners of the world to share their passion with you. These dedicated friends of the river are to be your guides, your traveling companions on your journey down the river. There is much spoken of rafting itself, but have you ever stopped to think, what it is that drives these people to pull up stakes and live by the river.

Now at first glance it might seem the answer is the nonstop partying that goes on in Coloma, indeed if you have the opportunity to visit you will see Coloma’s landmark institutions full to capacity on the weekends. By nature an easygoing group of people, there is always a place for one more at the Coloma Club, or if you prefer live entertainment as opposed to karaoke, you can always check out Marcos Cafe or The River Shack, establishments that generally host local artists on the weekends. I personally have always appreciated the ambient that is maintained in this tiny bohemian paradise, the right environment to just relax, brought together by the common experiences had during a day of rafting. All of this is indeed an attractive environment, yet at the end of the night, these guides return to camp, to start it all over again; actually that does sounds pretty awesome. Well reason number one then, a sort of perpetual party and lighthearted atmosphere that significantly reduces stress and offers a myriad of possibilities to entertain you. Yet that alone is not the only attraction for these intrepid river rats.

Have you ever dreamed of doing exactly what you love, and getting paid for it? For many in this world that is a distant possibility, yet there are a lucky few that achieve this kind of nirvana. Imagine waking up every morning to the peaceful sound of the river, breathing in the fresh morning air and walking, not commuting, to work. Your clock is often the first rays of the sun, and all the people that you have to take care of actually are stoked to be there. The boss calls you dude and they actually encourage shorts and a t-shirt, the best part is that it’s not part of some new age business plan, its just rafting. Then imagine that your job description includes playing in the river, visiting pristine wilderness camping sites, camping, and bbq on the beach. It sort of makes up for the early morning food prep, washing dirty wetsuits, you don’t want to imagine what that’s like, and endless hours organizing gear. Enjoyment can be found in any job, but living this way certainly makes it easier.

Now I wouldn't want you to go away thinking that due to all the partying and informality that you may end up with Johnny from the block as your guide, although you may. These men and women do go through formal training, CPR, first aid and whitewater rescue as well as guide school. Guide school includes training in reading water, river dynamics, ropes and knots as well as boat care, customer service, outdoor cooking and river etiquette. Yet for many these classes are just the beginning, from personal experience the satisfaction derived from learning and living the experience of being a river guide fosters a love for the outdoors and a passion that drives many to share it with others. So the next time you embark on a river voyage, or if you have yet to take a trip, ask the guide, how did you ended up here. I promise that the story he or she tells will be interesting, if not entertaining.