Rafting in Nepal

Equipment

A raft is rubber boat. The US Army used to use these types of rubber boats. The use of rafts for commercial use was invented later on Raft come in various sizes but the popular size used in Nepal for commercial use is 14 ft or 16 ft. The most popular one is 16 ft (5 meters) long, and this takes 8 crew members plus guide and gear or up to 9 plus guide without gear. Smaller rafts are easier to handle but are more likely to be ‘flipped’ over on a wave. So, they are used in low water and rugged so, it is rare for it to be damaged or punctured. Even if it happens, this will not be serious as it has eleven separate compartments to keep it afloat. Self – draining rafts with an inflatable floor are known as self-bailing rafts challenging rivers. In the bucker rafts you have to bucket the water off the raft. These types of rafts are cheaper and are used in easy and moderate rivers like Trisuli, Upper Sun koshi, Seti, Bheri.

     Any raft can be paddled or rigged with an oar frame and rowed. In an oar powered raft, the guide sits in the middle and rows it down the river. In this style of rafting, the guests have no role to play. They just sit and relax and enjoy. Rafting in Nepal had started with this style when most of the big and white water Rivers were not explored. On the other hand, a paddle rafting is all about group participation and teamwork. All of the rafter have paddle at the back gives command. Ultimate Descents Nepal introduced a new concept of rafting in Nepal that by the active participation of all the members and using the self-bailing rafts, the rafters will be able to experience more challenges and bigger rapids and challenging rivers. In this style of rafting, trained kayakers work as a safety for swimmers. For the purpose of providing more challenge haven been named and developed and the safety standards have been worked out. In this system, cater-rafts are used to carry camping equipment so the crew boats are lighter and more maneuverable.

  Small inflatable canoes known as ‘Dukies’ are new in Nepal. A small 2 person River Cat is more practical in big volume rivers but not addition is the Russian made ‘Bublick’-like two big tractor inn-tubes, mounted vertical side by side and you sit inside and paddle and roll your way down the rapids.

   Kayak is a one or two person fiber boat. Kayaking is a sport and the kayaker must be trained and experienced. It provides a lot of fun and can cope up well with all the different/difficult rivers and conditions.

 A good life jacket is other essential equipment. Modern life jackets are comfortable and well fitting and have adjustable straps and buckles. The best ones have a minimum of 7 kg (151bs) of buoyancy for a large adult. The foam in the jackets perishes with time and also absorbs more water so that after 6 years, it may only have half the buoyancy.

Helmets are considered compulsory in any white water trip. The main danger is banging your head on the frame or oars or on the rocks if you fall from the raft. On paddle rafting, the helmet also protects your head from the paddle.

The Paddle is the most important equipment for rafting. The best paddles are plastic and alloy – light, strong and comfortable to use. All trips should carry comprehensive first – aid and repair kits. They must carry spare oars and paddles.

Waterproof container or barrels are provided to carry camera and valuables but many times they are not a hundred percent waterproof. Best advice is to wrap the items in plastic bags with a rubber band. A waterproof bag is provided to keep your clothes and sleeping bags. Harnesses are the belts used to tie different objects and metallic carabineers with locks are used to join the rope and harness.

In a multi day trip, the team should be self-sufficient. They should carry all the necessary camping and cooking gears.