{"id":23806,"date":"2020-10-03T08:00:58","date_gmt":"2020-10-03T15:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=23806"},"modified":"2020-10-08T15:07:48","modified_gmt":"2020-10-08T22:07:48","slug":"class-iii-fun-and-the-perks-of-late-season-boating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2020\/10\/03\/class-iii-fun-and-the-perks-of-late-season-boating\/","title":{"rendered":"Class III Fun and the Perks of Late-Season Boating"},"content":{"rendered":"

High water guide training on the Shoshone section of the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs is terrifying. It’s a short section, no more than a mile, so new guides train by doing quick laps through the rapids, somewhat affectionately named “Shoshone Bombs.” Many of the other rookies seemed to love the huge waves and near misses, but I hated it. I hated watching the churning whitewater through the window of the van, I hated listening to our trainer yell over the roar of the entrance rapid, I hated the constant feeling of dread every time we pushed our boat into the water.<\/p>\n

The most problematic rapid on Shoshone is a boat-eating hole called Marty’s Diner, feared by new and experienced guides alike. However, when the river drops to below 3500 CFS, you can run the hole if you mess up the line. Despite the talk at the boathouse about how boring Shoshone gets in the late season, I decided that I would never again run Shoshone above that 3500 CFS sweet spot, thus avoiding the possibility of embarrassing flips and nasty swims. It turns out that I\u2019m a late-season boater. No wetsuits. No trees in the river. No mile-long class IV swims. Instead, the weather is warm, the rapids are usually more manageable, and it\u2019s all good times and smiles. Here are the top five perks for hitting the river once the water starts to drop.<\/p>\n

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#1 – The weather is awesome.
\n<\/strong>By mid- to late-July, boaters are usually more concerned about sunburns than hypothermia. In western Colorado and the desert southwest where I spend most of my river time, the temps regularly crack a hundred degrees. On one of these scorchers, there\u2019s nothing better than pulling on your biggest hat and your sun hoody, covering your legs with a brightly colored sarong, and jumping into the warm-but-not-too-warm water whenever the heat gets to be too much. This is the season of languorous swims in big eddies, cliff jumping, water fights, and sunbathing. Bonus points if you can keep your drinks cold.<\/p>\n

Even better, by the time August, September, and even October roll around, the daily highs are starting to drop into the delightful 70s and 80s. It\u2019s still warm enough for shorts, but cool enough that you might have to put on a jacket while you drink your morning coffee. All those side hikes you skipped because it was too hot earlier in the year? Now is the perfect time to explore.<\/p>\n