White Water Rafting in Columbus GA

We decided to use our gift card, from Grandma Sharon, to go whitewater rafting down in Columbus Georgia on the Chattahoochee river. Sharon gave it to us for a Christmas present last December which was really cool. The course is man made I believe and includes class 2, 3,4, and 5 rapids. We did the challenge level at 5 o'clock which is after they open the damn for the more adventurous ride. It was a beautiful memorial day weekend. We really had perfect weather for it.

 

The shop

Family didn't approve but I thought this would be a great yard work hat.

We were all looking forward to the rafting...except maybe for Drew. He evidently did have a positive kayaking experience when he was in scouts. The way he tells it - it involved much crying and fearing for his life. So he was definitely the most nervous of us. We rafted down the river 2 times. A bus ferries us back and forth to the start. Our first time down we did some of the smaller rapids and got out of the raft to cool off and float down the "lazy river." Most of the ride really is just a peace float down the river in the raft. There is just a few specific spots where you hit the rapids. Drew and I enjoyed the time in the water and we did it twice when offered the opportunity. Emily preferred to stay in the raft.

At one of the smaller rapids I think our guide purposely turned our raft a bit sideways to slam us into a small wave. All 3 guys fell out of the right side of the boat. I probably could have stayed in if I really fought it but it seem easier to not resist and just join them in the water. The water was calm where we landed and we just floated on top and then climbed back in the raft.

We also did some "surfing" of the rapids by paddling back upstream to them and then kind of riding across them from left to right. It was a little unnerving but a lot of fun.

Us on the approach to a class 5 rapid! Drew and I in back. Emily and Diane in front.

You can't see but you might be able to tell from Diane's and Emily's faces... we are about to hit a wall of water.

Looks like Drew is pinching off a turd. :)

The class 5 rapid: Diane and Emily fell into the bottom of the boat with Diane landing on Emily but they both battled through it (see below). That's more than I can say for myself. I don't remember much - just the sensation of being pounded by water and then instantly underwater and being thrown around in every direction (like in a washing machine) before being spit out at the bottom of the rapid. The sea was angry that day my friends :) (kids won't get that reference). They told us what to expect if it happened and their description was about right. But I was still starting to panic about holding my breath any longer (about 6 seconds) and finding the surface when I finally made it and then swam to the side.

 

Going vertical! You can see I'm on my way out (bottom left). Drew said the guide pushed him back in.

As we started to emerge from the madness Drew yelled "We lost daddy!"

Columbus was a small, cute town. Seemed like there was lots of activities and shops in downtown in the area near the Whitewater Express shop. We walked to several restaurants (had pizza for an early dinner) and there was some live music going on when we left around 9 pm that night. They also have a trail that runs along the river and I think our guide said is was about 26 miles long. Lot's of stuff do in the area. Would probably be fun to spend a day or weekend there...but maybe not raft. I think I've had my fill of that for a while :)