Rafting Browns Canyon at 4000 cfs: flipping at Pinball

Well dang, what a start to the season! I have never seen the Arkansas River ripping like this.
On this trip, we have some chaos, some clean lines, and some great rapids.
If you are looking for an idea of what Browns Canyon entails at high water, this is a great reference.
This trip was brought to you by River Runners Buena Vista. To book a trip, click here: whitewater.net...
While you're there, feel free to request yours truly and get a video all your own.
Just remember, your guide may tip you over, but you can never over tip your guide!

[@H2oman420]

Some days you get to see the show, some days you are the show. Former Ark guide circa 1997-2010.

[@zachrandallphotography]

@@H2oman420 to true my dude, to true

[@wncred]

Glad you realized you need a better flip line…🤘

[@zachrandallphotography]

Get my proper line out again. In a pitch, I keep a 6ft Cam for this exact reason.

[@danielweeks3723]

Guide did a good job squaring up to those pusy waves except that one. With a standard 14 x 7 that wave wouldn't have flipped him, but the skinny is more fun and with 4 in the front and none inthe back that boat is easy to turn.

[@zachrandallphotography]

I agree, a 14er would've possibly handled those wave better. I've been running 16ers lately which is fun.

[@kevinpaulson-yb4cc]

Hard to believe the guide flipped there although he recovered well. As to the crew, for a commercial trip, they paddled in sync well. Way better than some I've run for sure. But as a professional guide, you don't always get to pick whom is in your boat. I've had a few nightmare trips of people that can't function in that type of environment.

[@zachrandallphotography]

Boats be flipping some times . As the guide, I was pretty surprised. It was alot of fun 😅

[@kevinpaulson-yb4cc]

Flipping is "not" fun, especially in a rapid that it should not have happened. Sure, it on occasion does occur, but it only endangers people and creates chaos needlessly.
When guiding with paying passengers, the goal should always be minimizing risk, maximizing fun, keep your boat "upright" and attempt to keep everyone in the boat.
I've had too many days of plucking swimmers out of rivers, flipped boats everywhere, people clueless about what the f__k is going on and utter chaos all around.
Like I said, the guide recovered well, his crew did well, but the story could have ended badly. That's exactly why as a guide, you are ultimately responsible for your passengers and their safety. This time it worked out, but that isn't always the case unfortunately.

[@danielweeks3723]

I think I've got the same boat, 3 thwart, 13 1/2',skinny.Floor pumps up tight and the narrowness makes it fast. I take that one until the water gets big.

[@zachrandallphotography]

Yessir, been running Nrs and hyside 13.5 footers at current flows. Still a dang good time

[@danielweeks3723]

Nice waves. A swimmer could go for a bit.

[@zachrandallphotography]

They were big for sure. I underestimated the weight of the boat and the angle of waves. I never want swimmers, but these gals were badass.

[@raftskibum]

To each their own, but I would've had the custy's stay holding chicken line or pulled oto the flipped boat until fully past all the carnage of pinball. And then exchange them back to your craft in the calm before zoom. I would not have told them to swim to another boat in the rapid. After the rapid, sure. In the rapid, it would not be my choice to say swim away. Flipping the boat back is definitely a priority, but I would suspect custy safety would be higher priority. Note - I went thru Browns at 4k last week, 3k and 2800 this past weekend. At all 3 levels, all of pinball's boulders are still covered pour overs with a lot of force pushing water down and swirling. I can't speak to what RR's wants you to do, but I just believe holding on to the floaty-est item until the calm makes more sense(unless they would be pinned/crushed under the boat). You and the ladies seemed to do well in everything else. Even the widowmaker in reverse.

[@zachrandallphotography]

I agree with that sentiment about holding onto the floatiest thing nearest. This was my first commercial flip, I trusted my training, team, crew, and the river to all help us out.

[@kianhill9583]

whitewater!!!!!

[@zachrandallphotography]

The whites of waters 🤟

[@rickrock1321]

T up

[@trentschon8187]

Poor guiding, get your act together.

[@zachrandallphotography]

@@trentschon8187 how do you figure? Elaborate.

[@KimberlyLong-cv5fw]

It's people like you that make the internet a negative place. Get your act together.