F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- I consider myself quite the thrill seeker and try to seek out new adventures that I will find fun. I may not get out every weekend, but I try.
Thanks to the F.E. Warren Air Force Base Outdoor Recreation Center, I don’t have to try too hard to find adventures near me. I mostly use their services in the winter to go on ski trips, but recently I signed up to go on one of their first whitewater kayaking trips.
The trip was very well priced compared to what the Colorado river tour places offered. The adventure started the night before the trip at the base pool, where our group spent two hours with our instructor Sean, who had over 7 years of personal experience whitewater kayaking and was a certified instructor.
The most important drill we learned right off the bat was how to escape the kayak if we flipped upside down. Practicing in the pool felt comfortable, but out on the river when I did flip, I was thankful I had learned this skill. With only a little panic, I escaped my kayak unscathed and ready to go again.
Other techniques we learned were different paddle strokes, how to balance and independently use our upper and lower body to stay upright while maneuvering rapids. It was a quick lesson, but it taught the bare essentials, and we learned more on the river.
Game day had arrived. We all met up at Fall Hall, ensured we had our kayaks and safety equipment and were off to the Cache la Poudre River near Fort Collins, Colorado, which luckily wasn’t too far of a drive. We found a nice spot where the river water was high and set off to the water which was freezing. My Arizona desert blood could hardly handle the daggers piercing my leg as I gauged the temperature.
We applied what we learned in the pool, performing front strokes, getting through the fun, but challenging rapids. Staying upright was definitely a challenge when hitting rocks and my kayak just did not want to go the way I was paddling, even as I furiously paddled to the right, the rapids moved me left.
We kayaked for about three hours, learning a few different techniques along the way. This trip was a blast, with our great instructor who stayed close to ensure none of us drowned in the rapids that gave me one hell of a thrill ride through each one I faced.
I would sign up or even seek out more opportunities like this again. If you ever feel like getting off your rump or just looking for a new adventure, the ODR offers multiple trips a year that might be just right for you. Warren adventures are out there! Stay tuned to our website for more adventures!
Photos courtesy of Gus Schliffke.
